or in this case "saves" to ask.
Older daughter is getting braces next month. She has a metal allergy and we've dealt with consultations and orthodontists (three) since last April. Anyhow, we decided to return to the first orthodontist who my daughter felt comfortable with. He doesn't happen to be in network for our PPO, so I forego a $1K benefit. The oral surgeon who needs to remove three teeth IS in network. The $190 picture (3D cat scan cone picture) was billed under the ortho, no benefits to be paid. The same picture would be covered if it was billed under the oral surgeon (both are in the same big dental practice). I asked if the $190 picture could be re-submitted under the covered doc. The answer, as I had figured, was "no" but they opted to remove that charge from the overall fee for braces.
So with two five minute phone calls (one to the dental insurance provider and the other to the billing and benefits coordinator at the dental practice) saved me $190. 
Sometimes it pays to ask ...
July 11th, 2012 at 06:56 pm
July 11th, 2012 at 07:00 pm 1342029614
July 11th, 2012 at 07:15 pm 1342030509
July 11th, 2012 at 07:23 pm 1342031020
We looked into Invisalign, but because she has an impacted canine and the tooth next to it is rotated 90 degrees, we need to resort to the conventional approach to close a gap, bring down the canine, and move molars forward
July 11th, 2012 at 08:44 pm 1342035892
July 11th, 2012 at 10:58 pm 1342043898