Monterey, CA Seniors Struggling With Dental Bills Easy Prey For Finance Companies

View From A Nonprofit Serving Carmel, Carmel Valley, Gonzalez, Greenfield, King City, Marina, Monterey, Pacific Grove, Pebble Beach, Salinas, Seaside And Soledad California

There was a disturbing story today in the New York Times today about an increasing number of seniors being forced into using credit with extremely high interest rates to get dental work done.  One of the Clients that Hands to Help Seniors assisted with was a woman who checked into the hospital which then lost her dentures and refused to admit it.  They sent her home and she lost almost 40 pounds before we were able to come in and raise money to buy her new dentures.  Dentures and other dental work, unfortunately, is not covered by Medicare and many seniors just can't afford important work like crowns, root canals and dentures.  The NYT profiled Patricia Gannon, a 78 year old woman who needed $5,700 for a partial denture.  She told the dentist that she couldn't afford it, but her dentist had a pact with a loan company which gave her the money at a 23% interest rate, which would rise to 33% if she missed a payment.  She received yet another credit card from the dentist to get more work done, and her monthly payment now amounts to $214, about one-third of her monthly Social Security check.  "I am worried that I will be paying for this until I die," Ms. Gannon told the Times.  This is a terrible situation, particularly for those with dementia or Alzheimer's who don't realize the financial mess they may be getting into.  Also interviewed by the Times was Diane Koi-Thompson whose 87-year old father signed up for a credit card without realizing it when he went to the dentist.  "My dad had no idea he had a credit card, let alone that he was behind on it," she told the Times.  These predatory practices must be stopped.  If you would like to help seniors with dental bills, please click on the donate button on our web site.

Please note that this blog reflects my personal opinion and may or may not reflect the opinion of Hands to Help Seniors and the individual members comprising the Board of Governors.