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Not too long ago, my son needed some dental work done. Since he had no dental insurance and had a tooth ache, I had two choices: wait 2 weeks to be seen at a local dental clinic or check out ameriplan. I chose the latter.

I signed him up for the basic Ameriplan ($14.95/month) because I thought I was not only helping my son, but an aidmate as well. Well, it may be $14.95/month but the signup fee was $39.95! and the closest dentist was Aspen Dental 

While Aspen did see him right away, he had to come back for either an extraction or a root canal - he chose the extraction the following week. When he returned he had to wait 2 hours to be seen! When they finally treated him, they charged him $160 for the extraction.

They tried to upsell him additional treatments, but he refused due to the expense. 

I cancelled Ameriplan the following day. Today, I checked my bank account only to find that I have been charged $14.95 again! AFTER I received confirmation that the account was canceled. Of course I cannot contact them because they are closed. 

So choose very carefully before signing up for these discount plans... they may cost you more in the long run.... 

total costs: 

membership fee 39.95

monthly fee      14.95

monthly fee      14.95  (unauthorized)

extraction       160.00

total charges:  229.85

Please post your personal experience with ameriplan. 

I am frequently asked how to get help for unmet dental needs. First, I would like everyone to know that this is the very reason I became involved with dentistry. I was a patient in pain with limited resources, but more significantly, I lacked education. I invite all of you to ask questions about dental care and here are a few tips for getting the care you need.

• Contact your local community colleges to determine if they have a dental hygiene school. Dental Hygiene School's can provide many services and resources to get you back to health.
• Locate your state's dental schools. If you have one within a reasonable distance, you can find the help you need for 50% or less than regular dental fees.
• Contact your state's dental society. The state dental society is an organization for dentists, but can frequently give guidance to those seeking help. Some state organizations specifically provide information for those in need.
• Other great resources for finding free and low-cost dental care are local health departments and social services.

Whatever you do, stay encouraged and keep trying. It will take perseverance, but your health is worth it.     Feel free to email any questions you have on your search.

Hi, everyone. I wanted to let you all know about the Dental Plus Discount Program, which is only $19.95 a month and includes your entire household. Members save up to 80% on Dental, plus savings on Vision, Rx and Chiropractic, too. There are medical discount plans, too. http://www.BenefitsByRosie.com