New dentist can refuse medical card?

ruaille buaille

I used to go to this dentist for a few years but havent gone in a while. A few months ago I recieved a medical card because I lost my job. I think I need to get a filling in my tooth so I decided that I needed to see a dentist but I didnt want to go back to my usual dentist cause I wasnt really that happy with the work he does. So anyway I went into a new dentist recommended to me and the receptionist said that I couldnt register as a new client with them because I had a medical card and I would have to go back to the dentist I was with before?
I thought that even if I have a medical card that I can go to any dentist? Why do I have to stick with the same dentist that I was a paying customer with before??

hfallada

I don't even think you can get any dental work done on the medical card unless its an emergency. Maybe the dentist has to wait a long time for payment from the HSE. But I think it's probably because dentist get little or no money from the medical card anymore.

Like at the end of a day. A dentist is a business person. They can pick and choose their customers.

hawthorne

Not every dentist takes part in the medical card sheme.
You have to ask the HSE for a list of dentists who take part. Or simply phone around and ask if the dentist would do work under the medical card sheme.
You are entitled to the following inside a calender year (means for this year 01/01/2013 to 31/12/2013):

A free examination
Two normal fillings
One emergency extraction
Prescription for pain killers
You also still get your new dentures part paid- if it is your first set.

As I said- only at a dentist who takes part in the sheme.
Good luck.

m'lady

hawthorne wrote: »

Not every dentist takes part in the medical card sheme.
You have to ask the HSE for a list of dentists who take part. Or simply phone around and ask if the dentist would do work under the medical card sheme.
You are entitled to the following inside a calender year (means for this year 01/01/2013 to 31/12/2013):

A free examination
Two normal fillings
One emergency extraction
Prescription for pain killers
You also still get your new dentures part paid- if it is your first set.

As I said- only at a dentist who takes part in the sheme.
Good luck.

Is it not as many extractions as one needs? I'm almost certain I read that recently..

hawthorne

m'lady wrote: »

Is it not as many extractions as one needs? I'm almost certain I read that recently..

You are indeed correct:

http://www.hse.ie/eng/services/list/2/dental/

ladygem

Why don't they cover cleanings?? Might prevent fillings and extractions ?