Dentist refuses to respect patient's insurance limit, charges them $1200 for dental work, patient responds with $1 monthly payments: ‘My limit was $400’

Author image for Bar Mor Hazut
Bar Mor Hazut • Senior Editor
Sep 28, 2026 9:45 AM EDT

Who doesn't love the dentist?

Well, the patient below, for starters. Mostly because their dentist was scamming them out of their money. Despite being as transparent as possible and clearly telling both the dentist and his secretary that they could only pay $400 for the treatment, the dentist ignored that statement and proceeded to do dental work worth thousands of dollars. When the patient finished and went to pay, they tried to explain their financial situation again, but were told there was nothing that could be done since the treatment was already finished. You could tell neither the dentist nor his secretary cared that they were basically stealing money from the patient, and we wouldn't even be surprised if we learned they did that on purpose.

Luckily, the patient was not quick to hand over the extra $800 the dentist was demanding. Instead, they paid the $400 they signed up for and asked the secretary to bill them the rest. After that, every time they received a bill in the mail, they made a payment for exactly $1 to the dentist's office. No more, no less. Pettiness goes both ways, as it turns out.

4 years and many payments later, the patient got a call from the doctor's office. The conversation ended up taking quite a surprising turn of events, so we'll let you read the rest of the story below to find out the conclusion of the payment debacle…

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  • Serious dentist sitting and using a computer
    via Wavebreakmedia

    Serious dentist sitting and using a computer.

    Photo is a representation of scenes.

  • Dentist didn't obey my limit and sent me big bill...

    This is going back like 15 years ago but, I needed dental work, my insurance was maxed out (d $1k limits), so I went in, I told the
    via DavidinCT
  • dentist that I am clear, I have a max of $400 that I can pay, no more work than that.
    via DavidinCT
  • I sit down in the chair, and even confirmed it, next thing I know he did a bunch of, while you're in there things.
    via DavidinCT
  • I get back to the person to pay/setup an appointment with and she tells me the bill for today is $1200. I was like I told you both that my limit
    via DavidinCT
  • was $400, no more, she said "Well he did the work so this is the bill". I said I have $400 to put down as I said. She took payment and would bill me the rest.
    via DavidinCT
  • For the next 4 years, when I got the bill, I would send $1, no more. No late fees because I was making a payment, so just very little would go to it.
    via DavidinCT
  • Dental Insurance Claim Form with Stethoscope
    via kamitana

    Dental Insurance Claim Form with Stethoscope.

    Stock photo unrelated.

  • I get a call 4 1/2 years later from someone in the office, telling the doctor passed away. She asked me, why
    via DavidinCT
  • have you been paying only $1 a month? I told her the story, that I authorized $400, I paid that but, the bill was $1200. She said, oh, and she
    via DavidinCT
  • just wrote the balance off (no credit effect here), and she said she was sorry that happened.
    via DavidinCT

  • The fact that the person in the office was able to write off the balance immediately tells you all you need to know about this dentist and his operation. It's clear that this was not the first time this happened, and that the money wasn't really an issue. Why put the poor patient through all that? If we could have talked to this guy and asked, we would've…

    The dentist works in mysterious ways, right?

  • jaytftw Medical prices are a scam.
    via jaytftw
  • Lokismoke I'm a lawyer that focuses on debt. It is shocking how often your results depend on who picked up the phone when you call.
    via Lokismoke
  • Particularly with the IRS. Sometimes if a phone call wasn't going my way, I'll hang up to see if I get someone more agreeable to my position.
    via Lokismoke
  • yippeecutover The fact that the staff member just listened to your story, went "oh", and immediately wiped the slate clean tells you everything about what working for that guy must have been like.
    via yippeecutover
  • Jealous-Neat615 Denistry is such a mix of essential care and total scam.
    via Jealous-Neat615
  • fashion_mullet This is why you pay cash, never get dental, and find a dentist that is OK with that. Will save you thousands over the years.
    via fashion_mullet

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insurance dentist work client petty revenge payment money dental health insurance
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