Dental insurance has made it difficult for patients to receive care and for dental practices to be reimbursed, one dentist says.
Rob Bang, DDS, practices at Wing, Mack, Smith and Bang in Newark, Ohio. He recently spoke with Becker's about why he'd like to see the end of dental insurance.
Editor's note: This response was lightly edited for length and clarity.
Question: What is one trend you would like to see end in dentistry?
Dr. Rob Bang: The trend I’d like to see end in dentistry the most is dental "insurance." I’d like to see this industry die as quickly as possible. They serve neither the patient nor the practitioner; rather, they do their best to rob both. The premiums they charge to patients for what they pay out is ludicrous. Their maximum benefits to patients in many cases haven’t changed since the 1980s. That $1,500 benefit actually meant something back then. Now, it doesn’t buy very much dentistry at all. On the other side, they’ve done their best to avoid paying dentists for the services provided. They consistently deny legitimate procedures because they say it was unnecessary or claim there was not sufficient evidence on the radiographs and intraoral pictures we send. Claims have to be submitted multiple times, often accompanied by narratives after they’re denied, in hopes of getting paid.
Both patients and doctors would win if the dental insurance industry dies. The only loser in the situation would be the insurance companies, and it would be well deserved.