Actually shaking and fucking crying. $3,400 for five teeth. I thought there’d be a payment plan or something but no. They really expected me to pay $3,400 in full today.

I wasn’t informed of payment options. I wasn’t informed of the price before a week ago. I’ve been preparing and waiting for this for over a fucking year!

Financial worker asked how much I could afford today. Said $10. Then she told me I couldn’t get the surgery. Told her I guess I’m just too poor to fucking exist. Just left. So sick of it. I’m begging for wage slavery and begging for thousands of dollars in medical debt. I’m begging for these awful fucking things, credit cards as well. It’s like I’m going around screaming “kick me in the nuts!” at the nut-kicking convention and nobody can fucking hear me, or worse, hears me and says they’d rather kick someone who’s wasted away more of their time behind a cash register than I have in the nuts.

My teeth are gonna come in crooked, penetrating my sinuses and squeezing my other teeth together so hard I don’t go a day without bleeding and swelling. It’s only gonna get worse.

FUCK.

  • ihaveibs@lemmygrad.ml
    10·
    2 years ago

    Are there any dental/orthodontal services that work on a sliding scale/provide payment plans based on financial need? Are there any nonprofit clinics or groups that can help you find care? Could you be eligible for Medicaid in your state?

    I am so sorry this is happening to you. It’s fucked up beyond words. There may be some resources available that can help you through it, even though it should not fall on you to navigate these things.

    • SovereignState@lemmygrad.mlOP
      13·
      2 years ago

      Thank you comrade. I apologized to the financial worker, said I’m not mad at her but I’m just mad that I’m too poor to afford necessary surgeries. She gave me a sticky note: “MAY xxth: FREE CLINIC 3 TEETH LOCAL ANESTHESIA” which is epic. Basically saying that they’ll remove up to 3 of the teeth for free, and I won’t get put under for the process. Which is… good that it exists I guess, I will go to it and get what I can get done done. But it’s utterly more horrifying than what I expected today, some loopy gas and an IV sleeping fluid. I get to witness the surgical destruction of my gums and the strategic removal of part of my skull :)

      So I guess really I’m just too poor to afford not to be put into excruciating pain for an hour and to have all of the problem teeth removed. Seriously I’ll DM ppl an x-ray of my mouth if they want (it’s really fucked up looking and honestly kind of metal. album cover worthy), these teeth need gone.

      I am feeling a little better after your and others’ responses. Thank you.

      • ihaveibs@lemmygrad.ml
        9·
        2 years ago

        If it makes you feel better, my understanding is the local anesthetic will prevent you from feeling pain but the drilling and all that will be pretty uncomfortable rattling around in your skull. You might need to ask about getting prescribed painkillers afterward as well. I wish I knew more about the process so I could help more! Definitely talk with the people at the clinic about your options and how you could get the other two teeth removed (I have no way of knowing how likely this is, but if you explain the situation they may even remove all 5 for you. The people that work at these free clinics genuinely want to help)

        Hoping all works out for you! It obviously is cruel and unjust, but if you have the ability to navigate the different services around you you should be able to get the care you need, even if under nonideal circumstances. Unfortunately, many are unable to do so :/ You could potentially try to find a health care navigator (which is free) to help you as well. Stay strong comrade!