RL Anger

[TNP]

@surreality Two things to look into if you haven't already: first is dental insurance. I'm not certain how long a wait there is before you can use it for major work (if there is one) but it's worth exploring every available plan since you're talking that much money. Once you're done, just cancel the policy.

Second is dental discount plans. They're not insurance but you get a discounted price if you use the ones in their network. That can save you a lot of money, if not as much as actual insurance.

[RnMissionRun]

@surreality Holy cow that's a lot of money! Are you getting implants or something?

[surreality]

@RnMissionRun Yep.

Need full top and bottom. With extra screws (minimum 6 each) 'cause they need to use the smaller size screws because I have a more child-than-adult-sized skull.

Bad genes, braces broke things more by ripping the enamel off with the adhesives they used (you used to be able to see the square HOLES it left behind until I had to get veneers across the top six at least, you can still see them elsewhere, where they were just filled), and 'let's save money by going to the teaching clinic! That sounds like a bad idea... But saving money!!!' destroyed the rest. (Some of their fillings didn't even last a single day.)

I'm the unhappiest of campers on all the levels.

[Sunny]

@surreality

I couldn't afford implants, as yeah, that is about the cost they run. I will say that dentures (I have a full set top and bottom due to car accident stuff) are not at all that bad. Mine fit so well I don't have to use glue or anything, and I can eat just fine and such. That runs more in the range of 5k, and gives room to maneuver for the big bill.

ETA: plus I can pull them out and chase people with them, which is always a complete win.

[RnMissionRun]

Dentures don't seem to be as bad as most people think.

I have no personal experience with them but I had a really close friend who had all of his teeth removed when he was 32 (due to gingivitis) and within a week he was eating like a champ. He said it took about 3 days to get used to them, after that things were pretty much back to normal.

Dental insurance is fairly cheap, can be bought as a standalone thing (ie, doesn't need to be packaged with health insurance) and there's usually no waiting time to have work done. It'll also cut the cost of dentures in half (sometimes more, depending on your plan). If you qualify for ObamaCare, you should check to see if your state's insurance broker offers dental. Here in MD it's available through the Health Exchange for $4.99/month and it's a good plan through Delta Dental, one of the major providers. The total cost for both plates should be under $3000, with insurance, which beats the heck out of $50k+!

[Sunny]

@RnMissionRun said in RL Anger:

I have no personal experience with them but I had a really close friend who had all of his teeth removed when he was 32 (due to gingivitis) and within a week he was eating like a champ. He said it took about 3 days to get used to them, after that things were pretty much back to normal.

Can verify.

[surreality]

We actually looked at all the plans on the exchange this year while it was open, and none of them covered our usual dentist. Which is... kinda alllllllll the side-eye for that. Guess they just don't like 'us poors'. But we will be shopping around.

Average cost is supposedly around $34k for this in the US. $28k was like, oh, hey, maybe we're in one of the luckier areas. NOPE. How they justify more than $20k over the national average is a story I want to hear, though.

ETA: We are going to look into the discount plans, though, because we DO like the periodontist who would be doing the actual implant work. Probably best to just call his office and ask which ones he accepts (insurance, too).

ETA2: Naturally, the insurance through husband's work has no dental. "Oh, we'll be adding that... maybe next year." <facepalm>

[Tyche]

@surreality In Mexico, you can get dental implants from $8900 to $11000.

[jibberthehut]

When home health care can't get their ass out of their head, get IV medication to the house on time, figure out what time the god damned lab nurse is coming, can't include half the stuff that is needed and then spend the entire day, calling and changing stuff, then calling to apologize, then calling to change more stuff and....

I still don't fucking know what is happening tomorrow, just that I have stuff to last us till Saturday and after that, people better have their shit together.

And apparently they don't supply nitrile gloves, and we're supposed to just have a box of them on our own hanging around. Dude, dealing with an IV line that goes RIGHT to my spouses heart... pretty sure when you tell me 'And always wear gloves for sterility" that... you know, you supply gloves and I don't have to go out and pay 12 bucks for a box that will last me 2 weeks.

Jesus take the wheel or I will slaughter people.

[Aria]

Jesus tittyfucking Christ.

Why is it so hard to find a new psychiatrist? Every single place I have called on my insurance company's list of of doctors who are in-network and accepting new patients in fact tells me they either aren't accepting new patients or don't accept insurance at all. The least expensive out-of-pocket option was $275 for the initial appointment and $140 for every 15-minute checkup after that, and requires them every two weeks for the first three months of a 'new' medication -- which mine would be, despite the fact that they haven't changed in four years.

I found one -- ONE -- place that accepts new patients and insurance. Their next open appointment is in, like, June.

....Unless I am seeking drug rehab at any of these facilities, in which case they will all accept new patients and my insurance.

I am starting to think that it would be easier and cheaper to develop a coke habit than continue taking Zoloft and hey, bonus, I wouldn't be exhausted all the time!

[Auspice]

@Aria

I gave up months ago for similar reasons. It's a PITA. Everyone's like 'Just pay up front and bill your insurance for reimbursement.'

Yes, because I have $300+ just floating around to pay for each appointment.

[Aria]

@Auspice said in RL Anger:

@Aria

I gave up months ago for similar reasons. It's a PITA. Everyone's like 'Just pay up front and bill your insurance for reimbursement.'

Yes, because I have $300+ just floating around to pay for each appointment.

I had one lady tell me that the initial intake appointment is a 90-minute assessment and very thorough, and also costs $450.

I burst out laughing.

And am now looking at this telepsychiatry thing in the hopes that I can get just a few months of meds until June. This whole "my primary care doc was willing to fill my prescriptions as long as I continued therapy!" thing was amazing until it turned into "and now she's retired and her partner won't write me a refill despite knowing that I have exactly 32 pills left", which is a nightmare. I even asked if they could just give me a one month refill as a courtesy while I look for another doctor thinking I could cut them in half and stretch out until June if I get desperate enough. It was suggested that if I keep asking, I should find another primary care office instead.

"America, BEST HEALTHCARE IN THE WORLD. "

[Auspice]

@Aria

For a brief, wonderful time I was able to do the telepsychiatry thing through my insurance. It was nice. I could see my psychologist from the comfort of home through video conference and it was like, $20 a session. It was great.

Then my insurance dropped that benefit, those fuckers. At least the teledoc is still only $5 each time and is available 24/7 (that's been really great the times I've needed it).

ETA: I will warn they can't prescribe certain things, however. BUT. They can usually send a note to your primary care doc with their recommendations, etc., to work in tandem with them so you CAN get it.

[Aria]

@Auspice said in RL Anger:

@Aria

For a brief, wonderful time I was able to do the telepsychiatry thing through my insurance. It was nice. I could see my psychologist from the comfort of home through video conference and it was like, $20 a session. It was great.

Then my insurance dropped that benefit, those fuckers. At least the teledoc is still only $5 each time and is available 24/7 (that's been really great the times I've needed it).

ETA: I will warn they can't prescribe certain things, however. BUT. They can usually send a note to your primary care doc with their recommendations, etc., to work in tandem with them so you CAN get it.

I really hope that's not going to be the case. I mean, seriously. I specified on the drop-down box on the intake form that I'm looking for medication management. I am on the most prescribed psychiatric medication in the US, on the second lowest dosage that they make, for completely on-label usage, my prescription hasn't changed for years, and I have the paperwork to prove it from the last two doctors that have provided it to me. There is no reason this should be so goddamn hard.

[TNP]

@Aria Call your insurance company. Explain to them the situation and request in network exceptions.

[Arkandel]

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/will-smiths-rumored-new-role-causing-controversy-skin-color-113504252.html

This is just plain stupid. Will Smith isn't black enough for a role? Wtf.

[Ganymede]

@Arkandel

What the critics meant to say was that Idris Elba or Mahershala Ali would be better choices because they are better actors.

[Pyrephox]

@Ganymede Eh. Will Smith is actually an impressive dramatic actor, when he's put in a role that calls for it. He's sort of like Jim Carrey in that way - the performance you get out of him really depends on the source material and how much the director is willing to insist that he play the role, and not Will Smith.

[Arkandel]

@Pyrephox said in RL Anger:

@Ganymede Eh. Will Smith is actually an impressive dramatic actor, when he's put in a role that calls for it. He's sort of like Jim Carrey in that way - the performance you get out of him really depends on the source material and how much the director is willing to insist that he play the role, and not Will Smith.

Sure, but the controversy isn't that he's not a good enough actor. It's that he's not a black enough actor.

[Ganymede]

@Pyrephox said in RL Anger:

Eh. Will Smith is actually an impressive dramatic actor, when he's put in a role that calls for it.

I know, but he's still not as good as Idris Elba or Mahershala Ali. Especially the latter.

---

@Arkandel said in RL Anger:

Sure, but the controversy isn't that he's not a good enough actor. It's that he's not a black enough actor.

Maybe he isn't. I don't know. I'm not going to presume to know "who is black enough" and who is not.