As some of you may know, I moved back to TN after 7 years in the Carolinas. I am not very good when it comes to doing annual checkups with the Dr. much less going to the Dr. in general. The last time I went for an annual exam was 2 years ago, back in 2023.
Anyhow, I scheduled my visit here back on 4/17. I had a nice visit with the Dr. and no complaints with her service etc. During my visit, she took my vitals, did some bloodwork and asked about a medication that I listed that I had been taking. This was exactly the same conversation and things that were done when I went to the Dr. the last time in 2023 back in Charlotte.
Last week, I received a bill from this visit. I was perplexed as an "Annual Wellness" visit is fully covered under my insurance. I thought that maybe it was coded incorrectly so I called yesterday to inquire about it. The lady said she would follow up with me which she did today and put me in touch with the person over the practice. This lady tells me that because I discussed my medication with the doctor during my wellness visit that it doesn't fall under the annual wellness part and is considered a separate visit. My response was, I filled out paperwork and, in the paperwork, you asked me to list any medications that were prescribed to me which I did. The Doctor asked me about the medication during my visit, and I responded and elaborated my thoughts about it. I felt any good Doc would do this, right? So, I then asked them, should I have not answered the question? They didn't have a response to that of course and blamed the insurance company for how this works.
My problem here is that when I went 2 years back in Charlotte, it was the first time I met with that Dr. and that was the time this medication was prescribed to me. I never got a bill from them because of this. I understand different practices etc, but this office said it's because of the insurance. To me this is just another way to bleed money off people and honestly it just makes me not want to go back, nor talk about things that could be wrong out of fear that I might get charged for multiple visits. None of this was disclosed to me at the time as I went in on good faith that I was having a routine annual checkup and nothing more. At no point did this visit feel any different than the one two years ago.
After some back and forth trying to understand, the lady on the phone then proceeds to tell me that they have signs up in their offices that state this very scenario that I am calling in and questioning. At that point, I spoke up and said Well...that right there should tell you all you need to know if you need a sign up to disclose this and I am not the only person that has called in questioning this very thing. It's not right, you know it's not right but you're making bank off it, so it is what it is.
End of the day, it's just a racquet to bleed more money off of people. So, PSA to any of you guys going for your annual visit, be careful and make sure you understand this so you aren't caught by surprise like I was. FWIW, I felt the Doctor was great, but I was not expecting to be charged with a separate visit for answering her question about the medication I have been taking.
Anyhow, I scheduled my visit here back on 4/17. I had a nice visit with the Dr. and no complaints with her service etc. During my visit, she took my vitals, did some bloodwork and asked about a medication that I listed that I had been taking. This was exactly the same conversation and things that were done when I went to the Dr. the last time in 2023 back in Charlotte.
Last week, I received a bill from this visit. I was perplexed as an "Annual Wellness" visit is fully covered under my insurance. I thought that maybe it was coded incorrectly so I called yesterday to inquire about it. The lady said she would follow up with me which she did today and put me in touch with the person over the practice. This lady tells me that because I discussed my medication with the doctor during my wellness visit that it doesn't fall under the annual wellness part and is considered a separate visit. My response was, I filled out paperwork and, in the paperwork, you asked me to list any medications that were prescribed to me which I did. The Doctor asked me about the medication during my visit, and I responded and elaborated my thoughts about it. I felt any good Doc would do this, right? So, I then asked them, should I have not answered the question? They didn't have a response to that of course and blamed the insurance company for how this works.
My problem here is that when I went 2 years back in Charlotte, it was the first time I met with that Dr. and that was the time this medication was prescribed to me. I never got a bill from them because of this. I understand different practices etc, but this office said it's because of the insurance. To me this is just another way to bleed money off people and honestly it just makes me not want to go back, nor talk about things that could be wrong out of fear that I might get charged for multiple visits. None of this was disclosed to me at the time as I went in on good faith that I was having a routine annual checkup and nothing more. At no point did this visit feel any different than the one two years ago.
After some back and forth trying to understand, the lady on the phone then proceeds to tell me that they have signs up in their offices that state this very scenario that I am calling in and questioning. At that point, I spoke up and said Well...that right there should tell you all you need to know if you need a sign up to disclose this and I am not the only person that has called in questioning this very thing. It's not right, you know it's not right but you're making bank off it, so it is what it is.
End of the day, it's just a racquet to bleed more money off of people. So, PSA to any of you guys going for your annual visit, be careful and make sure you understand this so you aren't caught by surprise like I was. FWIW, I felt the Doctor was great, but I was not expecting to be charged with a separate visit for answering her question about the medication I have been taking.
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