Doctor charged me more than I was first told

[lilblu]

I went to the eye doctor about a month ago as a new patient and was charged $150 without insurance. I knew this beforehand so I was ok with it. The doctor told me to come back in a month. I asked how much that visit would cost and he said $60. So the day before my appointment I called to confirm the cost and was told $60 by the receptionist. The doctor ended up charging me $120! I was shocked and told them it was only supposed to be $60 and that I was told that by both the receptionist and the doctor. So the nurse spoke to the doctor and came back out and said $85. I decided not to argue and paid that.

The nurse said the doctor had to do a more comprehensive exam than he originally expected so they had to charge me more for that. But then she said that next time I should ask the doctor how much it's going to be beforehand. I'm not sure if she meant I should ask during the exam or before I come in, because that's what I had done. I had taken a sedative before I went in so it didn't even occur to me to question what she meant by that.

If I had known that they could change the price like that, I would have checked during the exam. Usually, when I pay without insurance I'm told a price beforehand and the doctor sticks to it unless he needs to do something extra, like blood work and I know enough to ask how much more I'm going to be charged.

I'd like to get opinions on whether this doctor had the right to change prices on me like he did. I don't know if he was trying to scam me or not. I think he should've said during the exam that the other stuff he was doing would cost extra. He only did one extra thing that he didn't even do during the first exam when I was charged $150. Thoughts?

 

[ruthyb]

To be honest, I think that's wrong if he quoted you a price and he knew that it would cost more he should have said durin the exam "oh I need to do this and it will cost this much extra", totally wrong IMO.x

 

[natalie_ca]

IMHO if there was a range in price, they should have specified. For example: $60 to $85. However, they specified $60.00 so that is what you should have been charged. If he needed to do a more comprehensive exam, then he should have stated so during the exam and let you know that there was going to be an additional charge so that you could make the decision as to whether to go ahead with it or not.

A few years ago I was sent to see a glaucoma specialist. I was told the price was going to be $60.00. During part of the exam they tried to take a picture of my retinas, but because I'm heavy, I couldn't get into the proper alignment for them to get the picture, so it wasn't done. When I was leaving I went to pay the $60.00 bill and was told that the price was only $35.00. I told them I the letter I received said the price was $60.00. Turns out the picture of my retinas was $25.00 but since they didn't take the pictures, I wasn't charged for them. And get this! The pictures were just for my chart record, and not of significant importance.

The fact that your eye doctor didn't tell you that he was going to do something more that would cost more than what you were quoted, was just wrong IMHO. I don't think you should have had to pay anything above the $60.00.

 

[kittkatt]

I had that happen to me when I had to go see a heart specialist to have a stress test done (had to pay out-of-pocket, too). Like you, I called to verify the cost the day before - just to make sure. When it was time to pay, they tried charging me more - $500.00 instead of the $250.00 I was quoted - saying that that was their normal fee for out-of-pocket paying patients. I stood my ground and told them that I was quoted $250.00, which is what they charged for patients who paid in full up front at the time of the visit - not the normal $500.00 for people who "charged" the amount. Since I was paying in full up front, there was no way I was gonna pay the $500.00 - and I didn't.

Sometimes, I think you have to get everything in writing beforehand..

I agree with the others: you shouldn't have had to pay more than what you were quoted....shame on them!

 

[GoldyCat]

I went to a new eye doctor last month and they had a form with the basic fee and the cost for additional testing. I had to sign giving them permission to do the extra tests and agreeing to the fees before they did anything.

If you were quoted a specific fee, that's what you should have had to pay. Next time I would ask again at the office, even if you've been told ahead of time.

 

[blueyedgirl5946]

I would have stood my ground and paid them $60.

 

[swampwitch]

Your doctor was wrong to increase the price like that, does sound pretty scammy to me. It's difficult, though, to argue prices with a doctor, since s/he can have a direct impact on your health, or in this case, your eyes! It's not like you are bartering over the cost of a skirt or vase or something! You did the right thing to compromise, but I'd look for another eye doctor.

When I broke a healthy molar almost a year ago (evidently I clench my jaws at night when stressed), my dentist told me it would cost $3K for an implant. Turns out you need 2 doctors for this - a surgeon and a doctor who fits the new tooth. Both doctors agreed it would cost about $3K, too.

Unfortunately, each doctor charged $3K for his services so the total was $6K. I have a new dentist now.

 

[pookie-poo]

You might want to get everything in writing if you have to deal with this office/doctor in the future. Although, I'm not sure I would want to return to this office....if I decided to find a new doctor, I would be sure to tell this office exactly why I was leaving.