Double dip on dental insurance?

[JEDI]

I buy my own health insurance since it's freakin cheaper than what my company offers even tho they substidize 60%.

$170/month (dental included in the package, no option to remove it) vs $300/month + dental ($5/month).

My dental and my company's dental are not the same company.

checkup/cleaning/xray is $150 at my local dentist.

My dental pays 50% since it's out of network. My company's dental pays 100% no matter who, up to the customary charges.

Is it possible to double dip? (ie: get back $225)

 

[j00fek]

check in to it with HR

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

Insurance Fraud FTL

 

[theknight571]

The way it was explained to me:

Filling : $100

Bill primary dental insurance: It covers 60%

Balance : $40

Bill secondary dental insurance: It covers 50% of the remaining balance

Total I owe: $20

We initially thought it would be free (by combining insurances)... but apparently thats not the way it works.

 

[FoBoT]

insurance companies usually pay the provider directly

but you can't cheat anyone without getting in trouble


remember, honesty is the best policy

 

[kranky]

Look at your policies for information concerning "coordination of benefits". It should explain the details of how this would work.

Years ago a co-worker's daughter was hit by a passing truck's side mirror while waiting to cross a street and it caused serious head trauma. Coordinating benefits was not that popular then because few people had multiple medical insurance coverages. Not only did they collect about a million from suing the trucking company, but they got another $200,000 by filing all their medical claims with both insurance companies. It was a loophole that got plugged with the "coordination of benefits" clause.

 

[marvdmartian]

IF your dentist could bill the original amount to both companies, and they'd each pay their part, this would work.

HOWEVER, that's not the way reality works, and you're going to get hit like theknight571 talked about.

Also, you should talk to the folks in personnel, and find out what the maximum amounts for various dental work is, for your company's dental insurance. Some companies try to go cheap, and while your dentist will charge $150, the insurance company might consider that it should only cost $100 to do that work.....which leaves you still owing $50, unless your dentist does like most doctors, and overcharges the insurance knowing they'll only pay a percentage.

Oh yeah, and hello to someone from the FSM!! I lived in Guam for 7 years, and remember having you guys as our "neighbors".

 

[Turin39789]

I work in insurance, and everyone pretty much has the right of it. You could do this kind of double dipping back in the olden days when not many people had more than one policy. But now its watched for, your forms should have asked you if you have other insurance etc. The primary carrier will pay their usual and customary amount and any responsibility left over for you to pay will go to your secondary policy and they will pay their bit.

 

[JEDI]

hm.. if i have 2 dental policies, which would be considered primary, and which secondary?