annoyed with my pediatrican

first i was charged 3 co payments for the mmr shot since i seperated it and when i told the head dr i was annoyed his response was we held open a spot for your daughter when it could have been used for another patient. its not like we saw the doctor and the nurse took all of 2 minutes to do the shot. then they charged us a 25 dollar fee on top to administer the shot so thats 75 for the 3 shots plus the 60 dollars in co pays .

fast forward to this week. my daughter was suppose to get a flu shot on wednesday. she woke up on sunday with a runny nose and was warm to me. i cancelled the shot and rescheduled her appt. today i get a letter in the mail that i missed my appointment and they would appreciate if we contacted them to let them know or next time they will charge us. i think im done with this doctor after the flu shot. if i have to go through this bs with the new baby im going to be really mad.

Re: annoyed with my pediatrican

That seems crazy!!! I think it is bad enough that we even need to pay a copay for shots and well visits. I know some people only pay copays for sick visits.

Re: annoyed with my pediatrican

Re: annoyed with my pediatrican

I would search for a new doctor asap!!

Re: annoyed with my pediatrican

plus my insurance doesnt cover all of the shots only a percentage. yeah i think im going to look around.

Re: annoyed with my pediatrican

Posted by pmpkn087

Posted by Michelle

That seems crazy!!! I think it is bad enough that we even need to pay a copay for shots and well visits. I know some people only pay copays for sick visits.

I am one of those people. I can't believe you have to pay for well visits. But, that's more your insurance company than your doctor. But you think they would work with you a little more.

Corinne, it doesn't sound like they're too organized.

Re: annoyed with my pediatrican

Corinne I am having the same kind of issues with my Ped except they are being really snotty and to the point of rude and agressive.. I am looking for a new one as well..

Re: annoyed with my pediatrican

I'm sorry, that's creepy

Re: annoyed with my pediatrican

I think I had to pay each time also when I split the MMR. It didn't bother me. I don't ever pay for any other well visits though.

Message edited 10/20/2007 3:56:38 AM.

Re: annoyed with my pediatrican

When I asked about splittig the shots, I was told it was 3 separate visits and that my insurance may not cover the shots.

I don't fault them for charging you 3 visits only because they need to list 3 separate visits to get paid for administering 3 separate shots.

I'm not sure what their cancellation policy was, if they gave you a copy when you first visited or if they have it posted. If cancelling was a regular thing, I could see them charging you. The fact is you didn't cancel - you rescheduled.

I've switched pediatricians over one's refusal to bill my secondary insurance company. I would definitely get an office that works with you. I know for me it made a world of difference.

Re: annoyed with my pediatrican

When you receive the EOB double check that they are allowed to charge you the copays..It will say "patient responsibility"...My insurance doesnt charge for well visits but they charge a copay upon the administration of the shot BUT its not usually the regular copay...Its usually a percentage of the cost of the shot...a doctor of mine charged me the regular copay (they thought I had a different plan) for each shot. I double checked the EOB and brought it to the doctors office the next appointment..they credited me the copays.

Re: annoyed with my pediatrican

Are you not supposed to have a co-pay for well visits? I've been paying $15 each time. I will have to call my insurance co. and find out. I dont pay extra though when he gets a shot.

ETA: I spoke with my dr. and I know this is the case for many, when you seperate the MMR shot is IS more expensive and the insurance company's dont always cover it the same as if it were done in 1 shot.

Message edited 10/20/2007 10:58:12 AM.

Re: annoyed with my pediatrican

personally, i think it s more of an insurance issue than your peds issue..
if he sees you for a visit, he has to charge you something.. that's just the legal way to do it! you are responsible for a copay every time your ped charges you unless your insurance company desides elsewise ie: not being charged for well visits.. otherwise it is insurance freud on your peds part. If you split the shots, the ped has to get 3 different shots which makes sense that he charges you 3 separate visits IMO.
Switch your ped if you dont like him but otherwise i think you;ll have the same problem elsewhere.

Re: annoyed with my pediatrican

Posted by jellybean1420

Are you not supposed to have a co-pay for well visits? I've been paying $15 each time. I will have to call my insurance co. and find out. I dont pay extra though when he gets a shot.

ETA: I spoke with my dr. and I know this is the case for many, when you seperate the MMR shot is IS more expensive and the insurance company's dont always cover it the same as if it were done in 1 shot.

Re: annoyed with my pediatrican

im suppose to be paying for well visits but coming in for 3 shots in not considered a well visit. i dont mind paying one co pay for the mmr but my decision to split it up and be charged 3 co pays is ridulous an then they charge the insurance 25 administration fee to give the shot which insurance does not cover.

update i called them to tell them i did cancelled the appt. they siad they had no record of this and also no record of her new appt so now i had to make another one becuase they wont honor the appt they gave me. so annoyed.

Re: annoyed with my pediatrican

Re: annoyed with my pediatrican

Posted by nrthshgrl

When I asked about splittig the shots, I was told it was 3 separate visits and that my insurance may not cover the shots.

I don't fault them for charging you 3 visits only because they need to list 3 separate visits to get paid for administering 3 separate shots.

I'm not sure what their cancellation policy was, if they gave you a copy when you first visited or if they have it posted. If cancelling was a regular thing, I could see them charging you. The fact is you didn't cancel - you rescheduled.

I've switched pediatricians over one's refusal to bill my secondary insurance company. I would definitely get an office that works with you. I know for me it made a world of difference.