I had a dentist appt tomorrow for routine cleaning etc. Received a call today to discuss protocols. I.e. call when arrived stay in parking lot until called etc. She then says there is $10 PPE surcharge in addition to regular charges. When asked what that was she advised its for the cost of masks, gloves and visor. I said but your staff always wore masks, gloves and visors before covid. She said sorry this is our policy.
I cancelled the appt.
Anyone else hearing these things with other businesses?
Sounds like you should have gone to dental school
I’d gladly pay the $10. They are getting crushed by COVID, it’s the least I can do. Do you not tip on your takeout too?
Sounds like you should have gone to dental school
I actually wanted to when I was kid in grade school because I thought my dentist was cool. But all the adults told me I was underachieving if I went to dental school. Stupid me for listening to the adults.
I’d gladly pay the $10. They are getting crushed by COVID, it’s the least I can do. Do you not tip on your takeout too?
Hahaha, I was thinking the same thing as well. Sure, it's nickel and diming, but I'm in Procurement and purchasing PPE. I see the costs all along the supply chain, and the prices if you're not buying in bulk. I wouldn't throw up a fuss over $10.
They strike and promote themselves all the time
Yes. They work their asses off but obviously so do docs
Yes. Dentists get away with a ton and a lot sure do get paid a ton
We hope for COLA adjustments every yr, that’s about it
It’s a largely unregulated industry which is why when you find a good one you stay put. $10 isn’t enough to make me move on from someone I’m comfortable with especially since the $10 isn’t frivolous - they are going through supplies like water.
Absolutely this; but at least from what I inferred from the OP, the dentist's office did not suggest this (or, if they did, it was done poorly).
I think consumers are willing to eat some cost passthroughs by medical providers at this point; I would also expect that the providers would be open about it, rather than tacking it on the day before the procedure.
I’d gladly pay the $10. They are getting crushed by COVID, it’s the least I can do. Do you not tip on your takeout too?
Exactly. The last thing they want is to piss customers off so you can bet any extra charges are out of pure necessity.
Besides, this will be nothing once the real covid bill hits everyone.
But if they did tack on another $10, I would gladly pay it because I value my dentist and his assistants a great deal.
My grandfather and his father were both dentists, and I've been going to the dentist regularly ever since I can remember. As a result, I am VERY picky when I choose my dentist. I want a guy who knows what he is doing, is a real craftsman, and doesn't try to shove extra charges or unneeded work (or x-rays) down my throat all the time like some dentists I have seen. My dentist and his wife are both DMDs (an MD who specializes in dentistry), charge a bit less than many others, and offer cash discounts on some services like X-rays for non-insurance patients. So if my dentist says he needs an extra $10 to cover the now-required extra PPE, he's going to get it from me with no argument because I know he's not gouging me like the dental factory that my wife uses because it is convenient.
Anti-dentite.
I don’t really see much of problem here. If you don’t want to pay it that’s completely fine, but this isn’t a business trying to fuck you out of $10 - they aren’t making anywhere near their normal profit margins and their costs on materiel have gone way up.
But, dentists, apparently get away with billing for stuff like this. In general, dental coverage is BS. In my experience after having been through several different dental carriers through different jobs. It doesn't matter who the carrier is, how much I or the employer have paid. The coverage, or lack thereof, is all the same. They all cover the minimum items and all reject the same things. For example, all carriers seem to only cover basic tooth fillings for a cavity that no dentist still uses. They do not cover commonly used materials. They do not cover a lot of common procedures. As a result, a lot of dentists play fast and loose with billing.
For example, when my oldest was recommended for braces, we took him for free evaluations at 4 different orthodontists; 2 in network and 2 out of network. We ended up going with an out of network. Not the only factor, but certainly part of it, was they were cheaper than the only in network office we liked. All 4 had an almost identical course of treatment. We got 4 different quotes, all with very different charges that were not covered by insurance. The in network doctors seemed to charge for more common items that the carrier doesn't pay for and/or charge more.