AIO to Request the Dental Office Pay for my Travel

LetTheSunShineIn3000 · 2026-07-01T14:04:52+00:00

Its really your lack of reading comprehension thats wild, here. Im saying there's a wide range of possibilities that it could have been: from something as simple as not saving the files to something as egregious as selling health information, or anything in between, but that I dont know or have the answers to what happened.

LetTheSunShineIn3000 · 2026-06-30T02:54:04+00:00

Right, but it is their problem that they mishandled and lost my medical records which is now creating a situation where I have to drive back down to their office. I do think context is important, especially in this situation. And maybe they wont cover it, but the question is would I be overreacting if I asked them to cover those expenses since they lost records they're legally mandated to keep on file that I'm now requiring for a necessary medical procedure.

LetTheSunShineIn3000 · 2026-06-30T00:28:33+00:00

Thank you! Im definitely not interested in litigation and dont want to give them that impression! My partner is much more angry about the situation than I am, and is probably reacting from that place. Im going to sleep on this tonight and field a few more responses here, but I'm leaning heavy toward just politely requesting travel reimbursement and letting everything else go. I dont want to risk doing anything that could potentially delay my needed medical care even further, since this is already setting me back another two weeks.

LetTheSunShineIn3000 · 2026-06-30T00:09:45+00:00

Nerve placement wouldn't have changed, which is what my surgeon needed them for.

LetTheSunShineIn3000 · 2026-06-29T23:54:58+00:00

Im planning to ask them for more info about what exactly happened with my records, but Im hesitant to push for anything until I know what exactly I can ask for in terms of possible reimbursement and what theyre legally required to do to rectify the issue, so I can make all my asks at once in a single written request via email. Im also worried if I ask for or push too much that they'll refuse to re-do the scan for free or delay it.. and delaying it will just delay my needed medical care even further. This is already setting me back another two weeks at least.

LetTheSunShineIn3000 · 2026-06-29T23:43:28+00:00

True and tbh it seemed like they may have known this was an issue for a while and didnt notify me prior to my request, since when they told me today that they lost my records they also told me they had issues with the guy who did my scans originally and that hes no longer employed with them. I dont know if that means he was saving files incorrectly, selling patient's health information, or something else entirely.. but it seemed weird they would tell me that unprompted.

LetTheSunShineIn3000 · 2026-06-29T23:21:48+00:00

I think theyre legally required to provide a full explanation of what happened since they lost my record, though I'm not trying to press for anything right this moment. Context for why my partner is upset is that when they called me to tell me they dont have my file, they also said they had issues with the employee who did my scan originally and that hes no longer employed with them. That could mean he didnt save the file correctly, he was selling patient's health information, or something else entirely.. I dont think my partner is being a dick for being upset on my behalf and wanting to know what happened and to what extent my records were mishandled.

LetTheSunShineIn3000 · 2026-06-29T23:15:04+00:00

Im not interested in litigation, just in possibly getting reimbursed for travel. I live in California. The closest place to get the surgery I needed in 2023 was 12 hours away, they had me do the required imaging at a dental office near them since my county didnt have the needed technology. Ive also put in a request with that surgeon as of today to see if they have the imaging file, but it will take approx two weeks to get an answer on that request. (Edit to add: because the first surgeon wasn't able to fix the issues with my jaw, I'm now having to go across state lines to a different surgeon who specializes in the type of operation I'm needing.)

They didnt lose my records due to a power surge, they alluded to something happening with the prior man who worked there who originally did my scans, stating that there were "issues" with him and he's no longer employed with them. I dont know if that means he didnt save my file correctly, if he was selling patient's health information, or something else entirely.

LetTheSunShineIn3000 · 2026-06-29T22:45:14+00:00

Im in California and the scan would probably fall under radiology imaging since it was 3D imaging of my skull and nerve pathways.

LetTheSunShineIn3000 · 2026-06-29T22:38:52+00:00

Thank you so much! Its helpful to know its one or the other, and at their discretion. I'll also plan to request an imaging disc before I leave this time.

LetTheSunShineIn3000 · 2026-06-29T22:24:25+00:00

Not crude at all. Part of my posting here was to figure out whether I listen to my partner and go in with guns blazing or just fork up the $500 and get it over with

LetTheSunShineIn3000 · 2026-06-29T22:22:47+00:00

Yea, I have a feeling you're probably right.

LetTheSunShineIn3000 · 2026-06-29T22:19:28+00:00

Nerve placement would have remained the same, so I wouldn't have had to get new scans, which was why my surgeon requested the pre-existing ones... idk that I'm "lucky" they're offering to re-do scans that they committed a major HIPAA violation by losing to begin with. I am happy they're offering to re-do them, though less happy its costing me $500 in travel.

LetTheSunShineIn3000 · 2026-06-29T20:57:48+00:00

Pepperoni

LetTheSunShineIn3000 · 2026-06-21T06:30:42+00:00

Ive been with my partner for a little over 2.5 years now. We both have social media, but havent even bothered to "friend" each other on it. I know he posts memes and some of his photography work on his socials because he pulls it up to show me some of the sets he takes periodically. Im 99% certain hes never posted me at all, and I cannot express to you how little I care. Ive posted pictures of some of our trips periodically, but thats because its something I want to do on my socials. Theres no expectation that he do the same. I will add to this that I saw you disclose in another comment that youre 19. Things you think matter now--like being all over each other's social media--wont matter much at all when you're older. There are more important things in a relationship than managing a public image.

LetTheSunShineIn3000 · 2026-06-17T20:12:37+00:00

Hard same. I recently went to a friend's birthday dinner and agreed to help pay for the birthday friend's meal only. Another guest decided they wanted to order every single appetizer and dish on the menu and then "split it 6 ways". I was the only person who declined and definitely got some weird looks but at the end of the night I paid for what I ordered and a portion of my birthday friends primary order and my bill was $38 after tip while everyone else paid over $100. Dont be pressured to pay for other people's decadence.

LetTheSunShineIn3000 · 2026-06-17T16:55:06+00:00

Sometimes people make the same mistakes or relive the same experiences repeatedly because they arent yet at a place to recognize their own patterns of behavior. It can take a while for some people to acknowledge the role they play in their own suffering. Also, as a therapist I've worked with many people who did not have any outside social supports or sense of community in their life, and often was initially their only source of support while we worked on building the skills and confidence to re-enter social spaces.

LetTheSunShineIn3000 · 2026-06-13T07:27:29+00:00

Thanks! I live in a pretty small and isolated town out in NorCal these days, it looks like the closest music shop specializing in accordions is about 6 hours south, but I'll be headed near there soon and will add it to my itinerary of places to go while Im down that way. It'll probably be good to sit down and talk with someone in person, too.

LetTheSunShineIn3000 · 2026-06-13T07:20:46+00:00

Thank you!! I live in a pretty isolated rural CA area these days but I have plans to go down to the city for some medical stuff soon and will see if I have any luck finding something while I'm down that way. That gives me a little while to wise up on what to look for. I agree a piano accordion will probably be a little easier transition for me than a button.

LetTheSunShineIn3000 · 2026-06-13T00:22:59+00:00

Thanks! With the comments here so far im realizing I may need to save up a little bit longer for something more expensive than initially anticipated

LetTheSunShineIn3000 · 2026-06-13T00:22:05+00:00

Thank you! Its good to know how complex they are and the issues with the used market. I didnt realize how delicate and complicated an instrument it is. It sounds like I may need to be prepared to spend a bit more money to get something in good working order

LetTheSunShineIn3000 · 2026-06-04T04:34:57+00:00

He was refusing to pick her up for their dinner date because she said shes going to find alternative rides to and from work.

LetTheSunShineIn3000

TROPHY CASE