What was your last WOW bill?
By Amber
@AmbiePam (99998)
United States
April 3, 2008 9:42pm CST
So last night I had a crown fall out of my mouth. I made an appointment for this morning, and found out that the root canal that had been done last year was now re abcessed (is that a word?). She didn't think she could really save the tooth, so she told me she wanted to pull it. I said fine, and she gave me choices of a bridge or an implant (that would require another oral surgeon). A bridge is cheaper so I chose that. I have no dental insurance because I'm on SSI and they don't give that to people over 18 or over 21 who are on Medicaid. I DO have a discount card from a company. So she pulled the tooth, and boy did I ever feel it. I didn't say a word because frankly I've felt worse things than that, like most of you have. It was the only root canal I had ever had (the one last year) because that was also the first cavity I had ever had. Anyway, the temp bridge was put in, and after 5 hours I was set to leave. Then came the bill, which they had gone over with me before they did most of the work.
$3,062 dollars was my bill. With my discount card I saved $700, so it could have been closer to 4 thousand, but it wasn't thank goodness. They usually don't let people make payments, but they made an exception for me because of my circumstances. They have given me 90 days to pay it out, with the first payment being today. I put it on my credit card, and that was fine because I have a big limit. I have excellent credit, but I never charge alot because I have no desire to get into debt. Well, my parents are going to try to figure out a way to pay for the rest of it. They are so sweet. I know they felt so bad for me. Anyway, I'm happy with the care I got, I know they are the best around and the most fair. They don't cheat anyone, and they didn't even charge me for the X-rays they had to take today. But wow, what a bill.
What was the last bill you got that made you go, 'WOW!'
5 people like this
17 responses
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
4 Apr 08
I can't remember. I have dental work nearly every year. It is either root canal treatment, or broken or chipped teeth needing repair.
It is very expensive.
I have health insurance for dental,m but dentists charge over they limit anyway, so I always have to pay a gap.
I always have the gas too, & that is not covered by health insurance.
You have my sympathies.
@DonnaLawson (4032)
• United States
4 Apr 08
That is a *WOW* bill.. I haven't had one that bad, but for the last 3 months my utility bill has caused a lot of *OH CR*P*, can I say that, moments.. I know that a lot of people have huge utility bills but for just my husband and myself, (my son married and moved out in December) it has skyrocketed.. It is now costing more in utilities with just the two of us than it did with the three of us.. Go figure, prices will never be going down again for no reason, but wouldn't it be nice to receive a reasonable bill in the mail sometimes.. Good Luck to you..
@GardenGerty (164421)
• United States
4 Apr 08
I think the dentists are higher where you live, or I am just lucky. I do have insurance, that has paid about half of my current bill, but I still owe almost four hundred dollars. I had to have all my x rays because it had been too long and then three appointments to trim it down and to get it in shape for a new porcelain crown. The good thing is that by paying it all out this year you will have it as a tax deduction next year. Your parents are sweet.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (99998)
• United States
4 Apr 08
No, I won't get a tax deduction. I'm on SSI, and I don't have enough to pay taxes. I never thought that would happen, but living below the poverty line will do that. My dentist is quite reasonable. Oklahoma is usually on the lower end of costs. But she had to do a lot of work, plus enamel work on the right side of my mouth, followed by the temporary bridge after the tooth pulling, and she included the permanent bridge in the cost too. She wanted it all together so I know how much I'd end up paying. I'm just glad they are very efficient.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (164421)
• United States
4 Apr 08
I was not sure about the issues with SSI. I know people around here who have similar dental bills for similar work here. The one lady said "Why bother?", and that surprised me, as she is from a more affluent sector than I am. I will make payments, and get this taken care of. I intend to be using my teeth for another fifty years!!!!
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (99998)
• United States
4 Apr 08
I wonder if Medicare pays for dental work. I know being on Medicaid doesn't, but I think perhaps Medicare does. It should since people on Medicare have worked so long to finally retire, they at least should be able to keep their teeth! : )
1 person likes this
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
4 Apr 08
It was probably a dentist bill just like yours and like you I had a bridge put in....then they wanted to do another one but I said no...I have gum disease that they can't do anything about so it's not a good investment to put in another one. It would be throwing good money out the window!
1 person likes this
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
4 Apr 08
That is high, WOW..This is also why I tell my kids, you want to make a lot of money, become a dentist..
1 person likes this
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
4 Apr 08
Oh I know..When I first saw the movie, "snow dogs" I thought that was really gross..But if you can stomach it, look at your bill? I am sure a dentist lives very comfortably...
1 person likes this
@newzealtralian (3930)
• Australia
14 Apr 08
My second ever mobile phone bill was the worst. My so called friend at the time accidentally took it home with her and then accidentally made $700 in phone calls. Funny, I had it charging in the kitchen and she would have had to climb on the bench to reach it (was on the window sill, window closed of course, unhook it and then turn it off so I didn't know. Made a sound like an alarm clock when turning it on and off. It took me 2 years to pay it off along with the rest of the 2 year contract, and I was earning $500 a fortnight and barely able to pay my rent! Naturally, she turned around and said 'what are friends for?' after finally admitting she had used my phone. Heck, I was on a $20 a month contract to that I had a phone for emergencies (shared accomodations)and she blew that for me!
1 person likes this
@newzealtralian (3930)
• Australia
26 Apr 08
She never paid. Never will, but that's life. I've only spoken to her a couple of times since then.
@minnie_98214 (10557)
• United States
4 Apr 08
Holy cow thats a large bill. You are smart to try not to use your credit card too much i learned the hard way lol.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (99998)
• United States
5 Apr 08
Oh I know. For 9 years I had a credit card that I paid off the balance every month. I didn't let insterest acrue, because I didn't use it unless I had no other choice. But once I had to quit my last job, my days of paying the bill off each month were over. I STILL pay WAY more than the minimim balance, because if I didn't, I'd be in real trouble down the line.
@kareng (76663)
• United States
4 Apr 08
Holy cow! You could of gotten a complete set of dentures almost for that price! I think that was a bit high myself. I think the last Wow bill for me was the tires on his Ford F450 which is bigger than a 1 ton truck. It cost $1800 for new tires all around (6 tires total).
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (99998)
• United States
5 Apr 08
You think they would included the price of pulling all my teeth in the cost for the dentures too? LOL, I checked around to make sure today, and they actually gave me a good price compared to what I found today. Of course the 3,000 dollars included pulling the tooth, administering enamel polisher to the right side of my mouth (constant throwing up from the migraines had worn down my enamel), the temporary bridge, and the cost of the bridge coming in. They couldn't make it themselves, they had to send off the prototype of my teeth to get it made.
@p3halliwel2005 (3156)
• Philippines
4 Apr 08
Wow that is a big dentist bill really a WOW. That was indeed expensive for a dentist. I get that when I see my electric bill and it reaches 4,000 pesos. I know it's high and it's because of the use of the computer. 5 of us in the household take turns using the computer so it's mostly on and the constant opening of the refrigerator...and the constant ironing. I got it lowered lately though because I hired a maid to iron for us.
@AmbiePam (99998)
• United States
5 Apr 08
How much is 4,000 pesos? Is that like 400 dollars? I'm REALLY bad at converting money. I'm sorry, lol. My electric bill went nuts last month and this month it went way down. I was annoyed because I didn't do anything different, they just charged more for electricity last month. My neighbor had been getting a 35 dollar bill from the utility company (mine was like 70 a month), and he got his bill at it had risen to 90 dollars! Mine had gone to 91 dollars which is stupid. I live in a very small place. How could I cost that much? Still, I think 4,000 pesos is much more than 91 dollars. Ouch!
@Modestah (11177)
• United States
5 Apr 08
my last big wow bill would be teh 1700 dollar car repair, which I first thought was 700 and then it went to 1400 - but now 1700 and the engine light is still on.
We recently cancelled our dental insurance because no one around here would take it - though they would file it and I would get some discount, it just did not seem worth the 1200 dollars a year for the amount of service we were using and still having to pay the deductible plus any amount the provider went over.
well, then my one root canaled tooth decided to crumble! I now have a jagged bit of tooth left and it looks just horrible, plus does not feel very good... I dread to find out how much it will cost to extract this portion as it will likely require oral surgery since so little of it remains outside the gingiva... and then to get the bridge.
your tooth should never have abscessed (again) if the root canal was properly done. The living material of a root canaled tooth has been removed and replaced with gutta percha. she must have left some of the nerve tissue in the tooth when she did the root canal. is she a certified endodontist?
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (99998)
• United States
5 Apr 08
She didn't do the original root canal. A guy that worked a year ago at that place did it. He left that place 6 months ago to start another practice by himself. So she wasn't responsible. She told me that rarely does a tooth get re abscessed, but when I first came in to the male dentist all that time ago, it was really bad. He wasn't sure he was going to be able to save it. He probably should have pulled it then, but he didn't want to. She had the good sense this time to tell me she could try to save it, but she wouldn't feel good goig to sleep at night knowing if she saved it, eventually she would have to pull it back out again, thus causing me more money. I really like her. She's a Christian, and she goes out of her way to help people who can't afford dental care. It was nice of her to not charge me for the 3 sets of X-rays they took.
@SheliaLee (2736)
• United States
5 Apr 08
Hi Amber! Thank the Lord my family and I have insurance, but when Amanda was a baby and had to have her heart surgery we didn't have any insurance at the time and my husband wasn't working. We were very blessed to receive help from an agency called Crippled Childrens Clinic. They also paid for all of Amanda's doctor visits that she had to go to before her surgery. We received a statement from the hospital after it was all said and done just as an itemized statement. If we had had to pay it the bill was for over $35,000!! We were very blessed to get the help that we did.
@gemini_rose (16264)
•
4 Apr 08
Oh my goodness that is a huge bill, just wandered what ssi is though? I am touching wood heavily as I say this but so far we have been lucky and not had any huge bills in yet, still time I guess but hopefully not! The last big bill we had was when my hubby kept running his mobile up and we had 2 or 3 months where it came in that high that we had to use our overdraft to pay it off. I hope you manage to get the credit card sorted, horrid things they are.
@AmbiePam (99998)
• United States
5 Apr 08
I'm 27 and unfortunately many health problems put me on SSI about a year ago. Basically they give me a small sum each month to live on. Oklahoma, my state gives the least SSI of any state in the country, or so I've been told. A few other states give the minimum as well. It's not much to live on, and it actually rates lower than the country's poverty level, but that's OK, I'm still alive and kicking. It's not really Social Security like when people retire, because I didn't work long enough to build much up. SSI stands for State Supplemental Income. I hope to get better, get off SSI, and go on to work and live a happy life off any other help. : )
@gemini_rose (16264)
•
5 Apr 08
Ah right, it is kind of like what we get over here, except I do not think some people do too badly off it from what I hear, perhaps you should come live here and get a bit more!! I am sorry to hear you have ill health though and hope you get better real soon x
@Hatley (163772)
• Garden Grove, California
4 Apr 08
I had to sit down when I read the paperwork from my shoulderjoint replacement that was done because I had fallen and smashed all the bones in my shoulder. the bill was 86,000 dollars and thank God I had insurance that paid all of it. I was in the hospital a total of four days. the surgery took two hours and boy was that an expensive fall as I had to goto a carehouse for a month and that cost me twohundred dollars out of my own pocket as my co pay for that.this was just two years ago. I was nonplussed when I went to see the orthopedic surgeon later for my checkup as his office was in a very shabby building and the room had water stains on the ceiling and he got a big chunk of that eighty six thousand dollars so wow again
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (164421)
• United States
4 Apr 08
He probably has to pay insurance as well. I am fortunate to not have had many hospital stays, and the last time I did, my deductible was already met.
@queenofarms (1659)
• United States
4 Apr 08
My cellphone bill a couple of months ago made me go WOW. My daughter had been taliking to some guy in the UK and texting him. She ran the bill up to $1752.00. I wanted to kill her. Thank God she got a tax return and could pay the bill or I wouldn't have a phone.
1 person likes this
@queenofarms (1659)
• United States
4 Apr 08
LOL...She never shuts up...Been like that since the day she learned how to talk. I tell her all the time, I bet you talk in your sleep.
1 person likes this
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
3 May 08
Wow,
that was a big bill for sucha small tooth. Hmmm, the last big bill I had was for a Ambulance ride to the hospital for $1,000 for 9 miles. Talk about bowled over. I was shockedand confused
on how they could charge so much for such a short ride.
that was a big bill for sucha small tooth. Hmmm, the last big bill I had was for a Ambulance ride to the hospital for $1,000 for 9 miles. Talk about bowled over. I was shockedand confused on how they could charge so much for such a short ride.
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
5 Apr 08
every bill for me is wow but wow I can't pay that,
the last one was an audit from the income tax people for my 2005 income, they said that I owe them 78.00 and they are just getting around to it now. now that is a wow.
@checapricorn (16060)
• United States
5 Apr 08
wow...what a $$$$$$$$$$$$! lol..you're very lucky to have a very supportive parents..lol, My last wow bill is also about my braces but I was given 2 years to pay it and its all paid now!
1 person likes this
