4-26-2016

Everyone,

As discussed one LPTPW Thread ago, I've been working with my Dentist, Endodontist, and Dental Insurance to get a pre-authorization for services on Tooth #14. (A molar on the upper left side.) This tooth requires a root canal and new crown.

Also, just made aware of yesterday, (from EOB forms), my Anthem Blue Cross Medicare Supplement informs me that I am going to be billed $150.00 for services NOT allowed by Medicare, yet were authorized to be performed. This is a shock to me, as Medical Providers, (doctors and labs), are usually informed electronically at time of service what is and is not covered by Medicare and Medicare Supplements. Yet, it seems that for two separate services last month that Medicare allowed the services to be performed without alerting the providers that these services were NOT allowed by Medicare. NOW, I am being stuck with these bills.

The root canal will cost a Total of $781.00, and the new crown $900. Of these figures, I am responsible for $1,225.00. The insurance is ONLY paying $192.00 on the root canal, and $264.00 on the crown.

Also, as discovered last time, when withdrawing funds from GoFundMe, Fees are taken out of the Total Raised before I see a penny of what is raised. So, to adjust for those fees so that when I withdraw donated funds I will actually be able to pay my bills, I am increasing the asking of donations to $1,450.00.

Details are on my GoFundMe Page: TimeLord's GoFundMe Page.

Any and all help is GREATLY appreciated. NOTE, that for some reason the GoFundMe Page still reflects prior donations as still current which show as $440 towards the $1,450.00... Be aware that the $440 was from last year's emergency, and were withdrawn entirely. So, as of this date, Total Raised is $0.00.

Thank you, everyone, for your understanding, and generosity.


TL

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TimeLord04
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An Anonymous donor just deposited $200 to my GoFundMe Page! :-)

This is GREATLY appreciated, and THANK YOU, whomever you are! :-)

$1,250 left to go.


TL

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TimeLord04
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A generous donor made contact with me. This person will be sending money to me outside of the GoFundMe Page to eliminate the Fees that they take out. Donation being sent is $500.00.

Thank you VERY VERY MUCH!!! This helps IMMENSELY! I will be able to get the root canal sooner than I thought I would, now! :-)

So, that leaves $750 to go on the GoFundMe Page! Any and all donations are GREATLY appreciated.


TL

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TimeLord04
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Well, BAD NEWS MADE WORSE!!!

Tooth 14, the tooth that did need a root canal and crown, just fractured tonight at dinner. :-(

I'm going in tomorrow or Sunday into Foster City to an Emergency Dentist. Most likely, they will pull this tooth. I don't think it can be saved! :-(

It HURTS!!! I will be taking 2 Aleve in the next couple of minutes. ...AND, tonight I'm wearing my old bleaching trays as night guards to keep this from getting "worse"...???... (Can it get worse???)

THIS SUCKS!!!!!

I have NO IDEA how much an Emergency Dentist costs; thankfully, they take my Anthem Blue Cross PPO Individual Plan. Though, as usual, they won't pay much to the dentist... I have NO IDEA what my out of pocket expense will be on this. :-(


TL

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TimeLord04
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Got to the Emergency Dentist. They took X-Rays, and examined the tooth. X-Rays didn't reveal enough information to determine whether or not the tooth is salvageable. So, even though I wanted it pulled, they chose to do nothing, and as such aren't even charging me for the exam and X-Rays.

So, I have to suffer until Monday and walk in to my Endodontist for exploratory and possible root canal. If she determines the tooth is salvageable, she'll perform the root canal as originally planned. Then Tuesday I MUST get to my regular dentist for crown, or post and crown...

In the meantime, I'm being told to eat soup. :-(


TL

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TimeLord04
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In light of my current situation; please keep the donations coming. Even small donations will help.

Thank you everyone. :-)

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TimeLord04
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OK - Update:

Called my dentist this morning at 8 AM - Pacific. Told them what happened, asked them to call the Emergency Dentist in Foster City to get their X-Rays and then let me know how to proceed.

At 9:30 AM, my dentist called me back and said it's up to me; but, that in reviewing the new X-Rays, the crack in the tooth goes pretty deep. So I told them I would elect to have it pulled. They told me that my dentist does NOT do extractions.

So, I called Foster City back and told them that I needed to have the tooth pulled, and then asked when they could get me in. They initially put me in for tomorrow morning. Later, I got a call back from them and they told me I could have it done today at 2:40.

I got there at 1:15, (I left home early because the East Bay traffic varies widely day by day, hour by hour), and sat until they took me back at 2:00. I sat in the dentist's chair, (only one dentist was in their office today), and FINALLY at 3:10 he began work extracting the tooth. It took until 5:15!!!!! The bulk of the tooth came out pretty easily and quickly; but, the roots broke off and were left behind. So, the dentist had to dig them out... Yeah, no fun...

I left their office at 5:30, got home at 6:20, just got through with dinner and dishes... (By the way, first solid food I've had since Friday night when the tooth broke!)

Now, I have to go out to the pharmacy to pick up the antibiotic and pain meds that Foster City called in to my local Walgreen's here in Danville.

WHAT A DAY!!!!!


TL

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TimeLord04
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Sorry to read your dental tale of woe.
I think it must be a world wide "thing" about dentists, some will not pull a tooth, so leave you in pain until you can find one that will do the deed :-(
As for the actual extraction, I've had one that was VERY tough to pull, it didn't break, but once it was out and was sitting in the chair for a few minutes she came in and warned me I "might have some bruising in places you wouldn't expect bruising" - she had kneel on my chest with the nurse holding my bottom jaw to get the last bit out". I'm glad to say she was quite light and there were no bruises, but my jaw ached for a few days and I had a black eye...

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Bob Smith
Member of Seti PIPPS (Pluto is a Planet Protest Society)
Somewhere in the (un)known Universe?

Sorry to read your dental tale of woe.
I think it must be a world wide "thing" about dentists, some will not pull a tooth, so leave you in pain until you can find one that will do the deed :-(
As for the actual extraction, I've had one that was VERY tough to pull, it didn't break, but once it was out and was sitting in the chair for a few minutes she came in and warned me I "might have some bruising in places you wouldn't expect bruising" - she had kneel on my chest with the nurse holding my bottom jaw to get the last bit out". I'm glad to say she was quite light and there were no bruises, but my jaw ached for a few days and I had a black eye...

Thankfully, I had no bruising. I had very little swelling on the left side of my face. Also, I've been VERY pleasantly surprised that there's been no real pain after having the tooth pulled.

I have to go back to Foster City for a recheck on Monday.


TL

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TimeLord04
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5-5-2016

After discussing my dental issues with a friend last night on the phone; he stated that, a few years ago, he was verbally quoted that a dental implant would cost him $2,000. So, in that light, I have adjusted my GoFundMe Campaign to match that goal.

Foster City states that they cannot start work on an implant for Tooth 14 until after six months of healing has occurred. It will take longer than that to gather the necessary funds.

So, please, keep donations coming. Thank you all in advance. I too, will be saving what I can towards this work.

Yesterday, a generous donor put in $10 towards the implant procedure. Thank you VERY much. :-)


TL

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TimeLord04
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Italian dentists all pull teeth out. Now there is a special laurea course in dentistry, so a simple MD cannot do any dentistry operation, even if many still do but it is against the law.
Tullio

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A VERY generous donor has contributed $100.00 to my campaign. :-)

Thank you SOOOO MUCH!!!!! :-)

Every donation counts. :-)


TL

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TimeLord04
Have TARDIS, will travel...
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I'm in my friend, its not much but it all adds up! Hang in there!

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-"Young" James

"To my mathematical brain, the numbers alone make thinking about aliens perfectly rational. The real challenge is to work out what aliens might actually be like." -Steven Hawking

I'm in my friend, its not much but it all adds up! Hang in there!

Thank you my friend! :-) Every little bit helps. :-)


TL

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TimeLord04
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Ok maybe this isn't helping your teeth TL, but you'll get a kick out of this youtube video, look for something on the counter...

I know you you will want to see this.

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The T1 Trust, PRR T1 Class 4-4-4-4 #5550, 1 of America's First HST's

Just got the EOB Forms from Anthem Blue Cross in today's mail. (05-13-2016.) Total due by me to Emergency Dentist for Extraction of Tooth #14: $343.00 I paid this amount today by phone with my Bank Debit Card.

Total Funds Raised for Dental Implant at Tooth #14 Location: $338.00

Please continue donating what you are able to donate; it is GREATLY appreciated. See my GoFundMe Page for complete details.

Thank you VERY VERY much to those whom have donated. For those whom cannot donate, I understand. Your prayers and thoughts will do.

Every little bit helps, the proposed Dental Implant is more expensive than I thought it would be; but, I am NOT changing the Fund Raising Goal.


TL

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TimeLord04
Have TARDIS, will travel...
Come along K-9!
Join Calm Chaos