Totally get where you’re coming from. I’ve only ever gotten a truly “all-in” estimate once, and honestly, it was because I kept pushing for it and asked about literally every possible add-on. Most places just don’t volunteer that stuff upfront. With insurance, I usually call my provider myself—dental offices have given me the runaround too many times. It’s annoying, but at least then I know for sure what’s covered. The whole process can feel like a maze sometimes...
I swear, those “all-in” estimates are like unicorns—everyone talks about them but you never see one in the wild. Last time I asked for a full cost breakdown, the receptionist handed me a sheet that was basically “here’s what we know… and here’s what we might add later.” Ever get that feeling they’re making it up as they go? I’ve started bringing a notebook and writing everything down, just to keep track of what’s real and what’s extra fluff. Insurance calls are a whole other circus, but at least if I mess it up, it’s on me, not them.
Man, I totally get you on the “all-in” estimate thing. It’s like, just tell me up front if I’m gonna need to sell a kidney or not, right? I started asking for EVERYTHING in writing too. One dentist even tried to charge extra for “surgical supplies” after the fact… like, isn’t that part of the deal? Insurance is a headache, but at least when you keep your own notes, you’ve got receipts if they try anything funny.
I’ve run into that “surgical supplies” line too and it drives me nuts. Did you ever push back on those surprise add-ons, or just eat the cost? Also, how do you handle it if insurance denies something you thought was covered?
That “surgical supplies” fee gets me every time—like, what exactly are we supplying here, gold-plated gauze? I’ve actually asked for itemized bills a couple times, just to see if they’d budge. Once, the office shaved off a bit after I pointed out some vague charges. As for insurance denials, I’ll usually call and ask for specifics. Sometimes it’s just a missing code or paperwork. Other times… yeah, you end up eating the cost. It’s frustrating, but pushing back has worked for me at least once or twice.
