Need Assistance: Unexpected Double Billing from Dental Provider
Hi everyone,
I’m relatively new to dental insurance, and I’m confused about a recent billing issue with my dental provider. Two months after having my wisdom teeth removed, I received another bill. Initially, I was quoted $724 to pay, with some of that amount covered by insurance and others categorized as non-billable. The dentist’s office assured me that if the insurance required more later, they would take care of it. My account with Principal reflected this same amount.
However, a few days later, that figure changed to $863, which I found strange. On the day of the surgery in December 2024, they asked for the $724 upfront, and I paid it, thinking that would be the end of it.
Now, I received a bill two months later stating I owe an additional $445, which I don’t understand. Upon reviewing the EOB (Explanation of Benefits) in my account, I noticed that certain items have been removed. Intuitively, I thought that removing items would lower my bill, but it seems to have increased it instead.
I’ve attached screenshots for reference. Can anyone help me make sense of this situation? Do I have a chance to contest this, or should I give up on buying that digital piano I wanted to get since I might need to pay my dentist instead? 🥲🥲
Here’s my December EOB: https://imgur.com/a/39ILrPg
And here’s the January statement that arrived one month later in February: https://imgur.com/a/T66JA4i
It sounds like you’re in a frustrating situation, and I can understand why this would be concerning, especially as you’re still getting accustomed to dental insurance practices. Here are a few steps you can take to help clarify what’s happening and potentially resolve the issue:
Review Your Explanation of Benefits (EOB): Take a close look at both EOB documents to see if you can identify what specific items were removed or changed. Sometimes, dental practices code procedures differently, and that can affect what is covered by insurance.
Contact Your Dental Provider: Reach out to your dental office for clarification. Explain the situation and ask why you received a second bill and what led to the increase in charges. They should be able to provide you with itemized details or reasoning behind the additional billing.
Call Your Insurance Company: Contact Principal (or your insurance provider) directly to discuss your case. They may be able to explain the changes in billing and why some services were adjusted or removed. They can also help determine if the initial quote was accurate based on what was performed.
Understand Your Benefits: Make sure you understand your dental plan’s coverage details. What is covered, what isn’t, and how much you are responsible for after insurance pays can vary.
Request an Itemized Bill: If you haven’t already, ask for an itemized statement from your dental provider that outlines all services rendered and charges. This can help clarify where the increases are coming from.
Consider a Dispute: If you believe the charges are unjustified after you’ve gathered all your information, ask about the process for disputing the bill both with your dental provider and insurance.
Get everything in writing: Once you have clarity or an agreement, make sure to get it in writing to avoid further confusion.
Ultimately, you should not have to sacrifice your own personal spending due to unclear billing practices. If it comes down to it and you believe you were overcharged, consider seeking advice from a consumer advocacy organization or a legal advisor specializing in medical billing issues. Good luck, and I hope you can get this resolved soon!