I'm Going to use the Credit Card

**freedeal** · 10-09-2006, 05:35 PM

I need to talk this out to someone so decided here is the best place to get comments.

My son has to have oral surgery next week. He has to be put in the hospital to be put to sleep. It will be outpatient surgery. Anyway, when the doctor's office called the insurance they said they won't pay for it. Because he is 11 they want the surgery done in the office. So now the dental insurance won't pay for the hospital part and the medical insurance won't pay for anything. Well, the hospital wants their money up front. I have to pay by Friday to keep the surgery from being cancelled.

We have had so much dental work (orthodontist -$6000) that we have paid this year and have taken the money out of savings that I don't want to do that again.

I am considering putting the $3000 (the hospital costs) on the credit card and pay it off after the first of the year with the income taxes. I really don't want to do this but I just can't feel good about dipping into the savings again. Also, the dentists requires their money up front to so I paid that with our regular checking account.

So is this crazy to consider putting this on the credit card? I hate credit cards but have one just in case. I also use this card when I buy something online because I don't want to use the debit card. We don't have a balance on it right now - don't normally carry a balance.

PS - Now I know why I came back here recently. God knew I would need someone to "talk" to. I tend to stress over these types of things.

**Telephus44** · 10-09-2006, 05:52 PM

When DH had his wisdom teeth taken out (about $4700) we put it on a credit card (well, dental insurance kicked in a little bit, maybe $500-$600, but the balance went on the card).

I think that while you can look at credit cards with the "credit cards means debt and debt it evil" mentality, that in some situations (such as yours - not the "I have to buy a 50" Plasma TV situations!) credit cards are useful tools to manage debt load. It will leave your savings intact for future emergencies and allow you to pay off your debt over time rather than having to scramble right now to come up with the funds. The only reason I WOULDN'T use the credit card is if it came with an exorbitant interest rate (DH actually has one at 34.99% - needless to say, we don't use it at all).

I wouldn't hesitate to do the same thing if I were in your shoes.

(Also - since you said you've spent a lot on dental work this year - make sure that you save your paperwork, and look at possibly taking the deduction for medical expenses on your taxes)

**slowtypinwoman** · 10-09-2006, 06:09 PM

Can you do half and half? I think that while a CC is a good thing to have, I tend to find other things break when I'm low on cash.

**nuisance26** · 10-09-2006, 06:14 PM

~I had my wisdom teeth out this spring. I was knocked out at the Oral Surgeons office. Can you call around to another surgeon who operates in office?~

**lanford66** · 10-10-2006, 09:52 AM

I'm with everyon else here too. This is an emergency, not a "pleasure" purchase. My son had his wisdom teeth cut out last year and he was 16. His orthodontist said they were coming in and because we didn't want $4000 worth of orthodontics to go up in smoke, and we had to do it. We have no dental insurance, but because they were not actually through the skin yet, it is considered a medical surgery and should be covered as a medical expense. Our health insurance covered it at 100%. I would personally call your health insurance and question this extensively especially if they aren't through the skin. Is there any way for them to do the surgery at the office? My son had his done in office and both women I work with their child had it done in the dental office too.

**Start-Living** · 10-10-2006, 12:17 PM

All the ladies here makes very good pionts....
One more thing that I want to add is------ If you're going to pay in full upfront, make sure to ask them if there's a discount.
A lot of places will give you a discount.
When BF had his wisdom teeth pull-out a year ago, we have to pay cash for the whole thing (no dental insurance), and they gave us a 10% discount.

**peanut** · 10-10-2006, 01:48 PM

Wow! Am I ever happy for the Canadian medical situation now! $3000 for day surgery?! DD#2 just had her wisdom teeth pulled this spring. For two teeth it was $800. Insurance covered all of it. It was done in the dentist's office.

Jean

**Cricket1** · 10-10-2006, 08:04 PM

Two things that may be totally unrelated to your situation, but maybe not. My son has had extensive dental work done and we don't have any dental insurance. He had to have two teeth removed by an oral surgeon before and he's had two teeth removed by his regular dentist. I can't remember what the oral surgeon charged, but his regular dentist was soooooo much cheaper.

Both the oral surgeon and dentist thought about putting him in the hospital to do all of his work at once, but the cost was ridiculous. We did get some of the oral surgeon bill covered b/c the doctor wrote a note to the (medical)insurance company and explained why the procedure was medically necessary. At the time, my son had an absessed (sp?) tooth that was was causing his cheek to bulge. The oral surgeon called it a facial absess and therefore a portion was covered by medical.

It may help to have the surgeon involved write a letter (or someone in his office)to the insurance companies. I also know (from other experiences) if you contest the bill (I can't think of the right term right now)with the insurance company, they are more apt to pay it.

Good luck! If all else fails, use the credit card. Dental health is so important.

**kabin63** · 10-10-2006, 08:50 PM

I say do what you have to do. You have weighed the pros and cons, but your son is the most important right now. You will be ok.

**freedeal** · 10-10-2006, 10:10 PM

Thanks for all the responses. I'll post more tomorrow. For now, the doctors are writing letters for medical neccesity- we will see how that goes. My son has an unusal tolerence to the medication they give to numb you for the surgery. After two dentists - the last a pediatric dentist spent more than 1 1/2 hours trying to give him enough gas and shots so he wouldn't feel anything he could feel everything. He actually became more sensitive to the pain and had more pain than if he would not had anything thing. The medicine has an adverse reaction on him. The gum has somehow wrapped itself around one tooth that will have to be cut out. So even in the oral surgeon's office they are not willing to chance anything with him being able to feel the pain.

And as much as I hate the idea of paying the bill, I would much rather him be pain free and pay the bill.

I could use all the good thoughts and prayers not only for the bill situation to work out but also for the surgery to go smooth.

**3-boys-4-me** · 10-10-2006, 10:18 PM

Credit cards are supposed to be used for emergency situations. This is an emergency. Use it, pay it off as soon as you can. Thinking of you!

**freedeal** · 10-13-2006, 01:28 PM

Went to the hospital this morning and got DS all registered. The charge ended up being less that what we expected. Since I took DS to get a physical at our family doctor and no labs or x-rays were needed I only had to pay $2000. So this is already better than we expected.

I did put it on the CC and I didn't feel bad about it at all. I think I would have been more worried if we kept taking from our EF. The doctor is still waiting for another reply from the insurance so there is still a possibilty that they will cover all but $75 - which is what the normal outpatient surgery copay is with our insurance.

**yankeegal** · 10-13-2006, 02:39 PM

Originally Posted by lanford66

I'm with everyon else here too. This is an emergency, not a "pleasure" purchase. My son had his wisdom teeth cut out last year and he was 16. His orthodontist said they were coming in and because we didn't want $4000 worth of orthodontics to go up in smoke, and we had to do it. We have no dental insurance, but because they were not actually through the skin yet, it is considered a medical surgery and should be covered as a medical expense. Our health insurance covered it at 100%. I would personally call your health insurance and question this extensively especially if they aren't through the skin. Is there any way for them to do the surgery at the office? My son had his done in office and both women I work with their child had it done in the dental office too.

I agree with contacting the insurance personally. This is a timely subject for me as my DS will be getting his out next week, in the office and our health insurance is covering it fully. We have no dental insurance either.

**Puffy** · 10-13-2006, 03:56 PM

Remember that dental is considered as a medical expense on your taxes and can be considered a deduction if all of the medical/dental bills (not counting the ones insurance pays) are I think 2% of your adjusted gross income. Ask your accountant or check your tax software, not sure if it is still 2% or not but that can certainly help you pay off the credit card. With a family it's pretty easy to hit 2% of the adjusted income to be able to itemize the medical bills.

**Telephus44** · 10-13-2006, 04:42 PM

Originally Posted by Puffy

Remember that dental is considered as a medical expense on your taxes and can be considered a deduction if all of the medical/dental bills (not counting the ones insurance pays) are I think 2% of your adjusted gross income. Ask your accountant or check your tax software, not sure if it is still 2% or not but that can certainly help you pay off the credit card. With a family it's pretty easy to hit 2% of the adjusted income to be able to itemize the medical bills.

Actually, it's anything (combined medical and dental expenses) in excess of 7.5% of your AGI. But I'd still make sure to look at this at tax time!