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LETTERS Membership has its benefits // I


recently received an “extra special” benefit from membership through my ADA/Great West Insurance policy and wanted to share this experience with other members. Through the policy, I have office overhead protec- tion with a 30-day waiting period, disability income with a 90-day waiting period, and I also have the med cash plan.


In September 2010, I was in the hospital for 12 days. I went back to work after 30 days part- time, and after 60 days, I was back full-time. I filed my med cash claim, expecting the $100 a day for the policy I bought. To my surprise, I got $200 a day for the days I was in ICU. Because I was out of work less than my wait- ing period, I did not bother to file for office overhead or disability income.


This May, I called Great West about my dis- ability policies. I thought that when I turned 63 my coverage would max out at 24 months, and I wanted to check on that. It is true that my coverage now would be for just 24 months, but my premium also would decrease because it was no longer an extended time period. The agent was very helpful, explaining that because it was only two years, the risk was less and so my premium would go down. I did not expect that. In fact, I was thinking about dropping coverage if it only covered two years at the same price I had been pay- ing. Then she continued to tell me other benefits, including that if I was hospitalized for five consecutive days, the waiting period is waived for office overhead and disability


Going above and beyond //


This June we received an inquiry to the MDA website that stated, “My St. Louis dentist has gone so far above the call of duty … that is worth way more than just a gift basket. I would like to submit a letter to whatever organization oversees the dentists in Missouri or St. Louis and would appreci- ate your help.” While we know all our members provide charitable work and are lauded by your patients, we don’t often have the pleasure of the public contacting the MDA in this manner … and so, we thought we’d share this praise shared, which is positive for the entire profession.


D


r. Larry Doerr (UMKC 81) might oth- erwise blend into the Kirkwood com- munity as a gentle, humble dentist


providing reasonably-priced services in a busy, yet unpretentious office. As my family’s per- sonal dentist for several years, the quality of the care and services have always been very good. It wasn’t until a recent experience with my 85-year-old mother’s dental problems that I noticed what an exceptional and compas- sionate person he is in representing his field.


Over the last six months my mother has experienced health and dental issues that have made the multi-step process needed to accommodate her dental woes even more complicated. She needed two decayed back teeth pulled, and although we tried to manage by adjusting her existing bridge, it was determined that a new bridge was the only option so that it might affix to the one remaining molar. There was timing involved


to coordinate the blood thinning medication adjustments, removal of the decayed teeth, major plastic surgery on her lip for skin cancer that could not wait, and then the molds/ad- justments for the bridge process. Somewhere during this time period also came a foot stress fracture that made it nearly impossible for her to walk with the already limited capabilities on her walker.


Early on, Dr. Doerr took special interest in making sure we made it through all the obstacles to get her dental issues addressed. The office would call ahead so that he could personally come outside to meet us during the snow storms and another time was ready with an umbrella in the rain to help get her into the building safely. I always noticed that he had patients waiting in the other dental chairs! To reduce the frequency of her visits to the office, Dr. Doerr came to her retire- ment center on two separate weekends


to address the teeth molds needed for the bridge that would ultimately make her life a little easier.


There is no question that Dr. Doerr has gone above and beyond the call of duty and is someone we consider our “hero” as we struggle to accommodate the geriatric needs of both of our parents. Because he obviously has enough patients, my hope is that this let- ter will make its way into the right hands and that he might receive some sort of recogni- tion from his peers in the dental industry.


Your consideration regarding this story of a dentist who is passionate about his field and through his efforts made a success story hap- pen for us, is appreciated.


JANICE DIVINCEN Kirkwood, Mo.


income. I immediately said that I was in the hospital that long in 2010, and I told her I filed for med cash but not the other insurance. She said I would have been eligible, but claims must be filed within 15 months of the inci- dent. However, she added that because my med cash claim was on file, she would check for an exemption of the 15-month rule.


Two days later she called back—an exemption could be granted! She went on to explain how to file and what information was needed. I got money I never expected! How many in- surance companies would do that? Member- ship has its benefits.


GREGORY CASALONE, DDS (UMKC 77


ISSUE 4 | JUL/AUG 2013 | focus 11


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