Principal Financial Group

I have never dealt with such an inept company. You can tell they are trying to avoid giving you any information. I wanted to compare costs for in-​house dentist vs. an out-​of-​house dentist. I had an estimate with codes and they said they cannot tell me, they don’t have the information. But, I say, you have the contract with the dentist, you are a party to it, why can’t you look up the contract amount. They said I have to go to the dentist to get the numbers. Well, the dentist won’t just give me the numbers, they want me to come in and get an estimate, basically charge you for a visit just to give you the numbers that they end up having to submit and get approved by Principal! Aren’t these my benefits that I pay a good fee for and I can’t get any information! What a scam!

I totally understand the frustration of everybody on this page. Needless to say, I am also fed up of this insurance. Every time I visit my dentist he bills my insurance and I get an explanation of benefits. The document lists services and numbers but nothing makes sense. The remarks are a joke and they use numbers that if you try to match to what is charged, allowed or not covered, nothing adds up at all. Basically, there is no logic and the explanation of benefits is completely useless! I called the insurance once to tell somebody on the phone to explain to me how I was charged for some dental work. They did not know, they had to work the numbers out and when they came back they had the most unrealistically and ridiculous breakdown based on co-​pays, percentages, co-​insurance and all kind of shit that I just told them it was a ridiculous and I didn’t want to hear anymore of that garbage. I hope somebody starts a class action against companies like this one because there is no transparency at all and they profit on this widespread ignorance (not that people are ignorant as in stupid but they lack the information to know that a cavity will cost X dollars and a crown costs Y dollars upfront). I cannot believe there is no legislation that forces these companies to tell people what they actually cover before you stop at the dentist and the job is done. They should list codes that are universally accepted by dentists in the entire nation so before you visit the dentist you know that a cleaning has code D345 and so that you have to pay $ 30 or he tells you that you will need a crown which has code R540 and it will cost you $ 500. All this should be done upfront! Instead, you go to the dentist, you don’t know what you will have to pay. Basically, it’s like going to the bakery, getting a loaf of bread and then he tells you that he needs to contact the guy that bakes the bread, then later tells you you owe $ 15 for it … seriously? Meanwhile, these bastards make money in truckloads because they will take as much as they can and there is no clear way to predict how much you will have to pay so you can compare insurances and next time sign up under another insurance company.

My former employer had Met Life Dental which was great! My current employer has Principal and what a disappointment.
The carrier is questioning the need for a new filling. I was asked to fill out a questionnaire, which i did. It is unclear if Principal received it. I just received another letter addressed to me stating «We previously requested the following information», which is followed by a list of things including office notes, x-​rays, etc., things that Principal should be getting directly from the dental Provider. The letters are clearly form letters intended to expedite their processes without being focused on the consumer.
As for contact, Courtney of Des Moines Iowa provides a toll free number with no extension. When I call the number the first option is for an extension. I do not recommend this provider and as someone who can influence the provider decision with my employer, we will look for other choices on renewal.

Worst dental insurance company ever! They would rather have me walk around with no front teeth than offer the services insurance is supposed to cover! Never, ever buy into this dental plan!!!

Do not buy this Dental Plan. They will not pay for Deep Cleaning!

They take $ 15.00 yearly out of what was once my 401k with AMC Theaters. Getting this account to close has been an ordeal, and makes me suspect they do it on purpose to profit off the lazy.
This needs to stop.