Dr.s Office Hung up on me!! (Long)

cnchavez69

I received a payment plan for my OB visits and service and was confused as to why I'd get this when I have insurance.  My HR director AND the insurance both thought it was strange and that the insurance should be billed first.  I guess this is not how the office works.  I called and spoke with the bookkeeper, and she said if they waited till the very end to bill the insurance more than likely they would never get payment so this is how they collect. They consider it a deposit and then whatever is left over after the delivery I?ll either get refunded to me or get a bill for the remaining due.  It sounded strange and I just told the lady I didn?t quite agree with the method as I have insurance who should be billed first and that my hr dept and insurance thought it was a funny way of doing it as well.  SO then she started to explain it again?so I told her okay well lets move on and get it done with so I could get back to work as I was on my work phone.  So she got mad and said I didn?t need to yell and be CONDESCENDING TO HER and she wasn?t going to take my billing payment!!!  Mind you i'm sitting in my cubicle with other co-workers around and no one heard anything.  So I laughed and said are you kidding I just want to pay what I need to then to get it over with and she started explaining that how at the end of the day we are all people and I don't need to be rude and that she was going to talk to my doctor about my attitude and that she would take my payment info from me IN PERSON when I came in at the end of the month?hahahaha so I said please just take my info so you can get the money you guys need and we can be done with it. So then she got mad at that and said she had someone listening in on the convo and I said okay that is fine and that pissed her off even more so she said over me have a nice day and hung up on me!!!! hahaha.  So I called back to the front desk and made my payment through the receptionist with no problem.  So funny. I can't wait to see if I get a "talking to" by my Doctor the next time I go.  

dkolody13

I would call my insurance carrier and see if they have a network manager who can deal with her- you dont need to deal with that.  If they filed the claim in a timely fashion there is no reason the insurance co would deny it.  I would definately look into this...

AlliVe

that is insane...

so you have to pay upfront? why the hell have insurance then??

vlahop

That would make me want to find a new doctor.  That is a really wierd way to bill you.

cnchavez69

I'm Looking further into it.  I made a tiny payment, nothing that hurts me at all.  I have their billing policies at home and i distinctly remember in it that they ONLY do a payment plan if there is no insurance.  So i'm going to take it with me to the doctors office next time and wave it under her nose.  THEN i'll be condescending!

Roosky

Are you sure she's not pregnant?...she sounds a little hormonal to me.

rouge411

My doctor's office tried to get me to give them a deposit... I think it was something like $800??? At first it didn't seem optional, but since I used to work for Blue Cross and I know that the office is in-network with my insurance and I shouldn't have to pay anything up front, I balked and said I was not comfortable paying it, especially since DH and I are both in grad school and we don't really have a lot of money floating around. Then she backed off and said, "Oh, well it's not mandatory at all."

I wonder how many other people they trick into this... it's not the patients' faults that the office agreed to accept a maternity case rate and don't get paid until delivery! Plus, I know they got paid $320 for my first visit and $190 each for the 2 u/s that they did in the office... ridiculous.

CALL YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY. You shouldn't have to pay a deposit - it's likely a violation of their participating provider contract with the insurance.

cnchavez69

Oh thanks rouge for the ammo.  I have Blue Cross myself and my doctor is in their network.  I appreciate the info.  

rbidi

You handled it perfectly! That's insane, you are the CUSTOMER. The docter works for you as well, how dare she act like he's your parent or anything. You are choosing them, and you can easily choose someone else. She needs to get it together.

Roothie427

Roosky:

Are you sure she's not pregnant?...she sounds a little hormonal to me.

LOL!! That is what I was going to ask!

aprilmama410

vlahop:

That would make me want to find a new doctor.  That is a really wierd way to bill you.

ditto

shihtzu51

I know some offices due make people pay either up front or along the way then submit it to insurance and reimburse you for whatever they pay.  My dentist has been doing this for years.  It's kind of a pain, but I've always gotten reimbursed a couple weeks later so it's no big deal.  I guess it works out better for the offices to make sure they get paid. 

amberdl28

not quite in the 2nd trimester yet but my OBs office called my insurance and did all the work and I have to pay 500 for prental, delivery and postnatal care. My insurance only covers a certain amount and the rest I have to pay. I pay a 100 a month for the first 5 months and then im done. This way its done and over with. The only bills I will get after the baby is the hospital bill. I doubt my insurance will cover everything but so far they have been awesome. I have had 4 ultrasounds and the have covered all of them.

 

Good Luck 

Daisy22

I have blue cross blue shield of ga and I had to pay $100 universal maternity payment. It covers my routine appts, delievery, 2 post delievery appts, and 2 u/s. My bloodwork, any nonroutine appts, and extra u/s are billed separately at my regular 90/10. Most OB offices around me talk to your insurance and then tells you what you owe up front. Usually it's your universal maternity payment and any deductible they know you have left for the year. My friends have had to pay anywhere from $100-$1500 depending on their insurance plan.