"Medicaid…no one pays?" by Chaos | The Pilot: Southern Pines, NC

Medicaid…no one pays?

Blog: Chaos

March 2, 2010

I took my son to the dentist. I was informed that he was in deep need of orthodontic work. He has a “mess” in his mouth and would need the work sooner rather than later. So we discuss our options when the dentist asks; “do you have Medicaid?” I very politely said no I do not. She then says and I quote “that’s too bad, if you did have Medicaid his braces would be free”. Free? Free? Last time I checked Medicaid is run from the tax payer money. There is nothing free about it. How can a seemingly educated person stand there and tell me the cost would be free. It is this kind of mentality that is ultimately going to break our healthcare system. I am so frustrated…where in the world did self responsibility go? When did become Ok to burden your neighbors with your issues? Who decided that I could pay taxes so someone else’s children can get braces, but I have to get a second job to get braces on my own children? When are we going to stop saying; the taxpayers are paying, so it’s free!

tneal14 3 years, 2 months ago

Wow, that is so true!!! It is going to get a lot worse. Everyone who is working will have even more of a tax burden to pay for others who don't or, I should say, WON'T work. This health plan is supposed to cover how many more people? Who is going to pay for it all? We are-that's who! Frightening. Just gross.

Poundman 3 years, 2 months ago

One problem is that some Orthodontist, Dentist and Doctors will perform extra unnecessary expensive work to pad their bank accounts. They do the same with patients that have good health insurance, I have seen it first hand several times.

njnqueen 3 years, 2 months ago

I had a similar experience recently when my teenager, who has braces that I am working extra hours to pay, was told he needed oral surgery to bring down an impacted tooth. When we went to the oral surgeon's office, I found out my insurance considers this kind of work as "cosmetic" and would not pay so I had to pay out-of pocket ($1160). The lady who took my money told me that if we had Medicaid, it would have cost me NOTHING. Then, we were told at the next visit that he needed all four wisdom teeth removed and again my insurance would not pay (that would cost between $1500 and $2000) but, if we had Medicaid it would have paid for it, but I don't cause I work. If this "cosmetic" for MY insurance, why is it not for Medicaid?

oldsneakers 3 years, 2 months ago

I have a job, I pay taxes, yet I understand that there are those who for various reasons don't have the resources (financial, physical, intellectual) to keep themselves healthy. We could as a society ignore them, let them rot, or pitch in to help. Some time ago, the later was chosen. True, there will be those that abuse, take advantage of the system, just like unemployment compensation, auto insurance scams and more. Should we point the accusatory finger at the safety net or at those that abuse its lofty/Christian goals?

Regarding the impacted tooth: I think this is more of an issue of "insurance company ducking its responsibilities." Since when is an impacted tooth or wisdom tooth mal-positioning a COSMETIC issue? I would have advised them if they did not pay, your next communication would be to the insurance commissioner (after checking the policy of course).

buddysmith 3 years, 1 month ago

I am tired of paying for the less fortunate. there is a difference, in my opinion, between the poor and the useless. in my line of work I have, on many occasions, had the chance to see the useless, and how they feel entitled to leech on the producers. I call them, carreer public assistance people. I wonder when it became acceptable for children to have babies at 12, 13,14,15 years old???? We, as producers, will spend our working lifetime paying for these useless people. It has become a never ending cycle of lifestyle that is never going to change until the laws do. besides medicaid, ever watch what those food stamp debit cards really pay for? i watched them pay for, sodas, little debbie cakes, honey buns. how about this? meat, vegetables, and dairy products only!!! I know I will be called insensitive, but we,as producers and taxpayers, had better wake up and demand accountability of our lawmakers to overhaul this public assistance nightmare that we are now stuck with!