Do I have to pay this?

[bitterlogic]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Los Angeles, California

My question is a matter of billing. On October 27th, I visited the dentist and had some work done. I was told via email on October 25th that my insurance would only cover $83 of this visit and I would have to pay out of pocket for the rest, $991. That was fine and they sent a new estimate reflecting the new pricing without insurance. When i arrived at the office, I signed yet another treatment plan with the same $991 value being the total. The procedure took place, I paid the balance in full and was on my way.


Two weeks later I receive an email stating my account at the practice has a balance on it. I called to see what was going on and they said the balance was because they accidentally charged me the in-network patient fees instead of their in-office fees. I reminded them of the two estimates they had sent AFTER they informed me that I would not be covered by insurance and asked that they match the prices on the estimates and write off the account balance to zero. The office manager said they could not do this because they are under “strict contract” from Blue Shield barring them from matching the prices to uninsured patients.

So my question is, do I have to pay the difference? How could a business perform a service, take my payment and then 2 weeks later come back and say “you owe us more” after everything is said and done?

 

[quincy]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Los Angeles, California

My question is a matter of billing. On October 27th, I visited the dentist and had some work done. I was told via email on October 25th that my insurance would only cover $83 of this visit and I would have to pay out of pocket for the rest, $991. That was fine and they sent a new estimate reflecting the new pricing without insurance. When i arrived at the office, I signed yet another treatment plan with the same $991 value being the total. The procedure took place, I paid the balance in full and was on my way.


Two weeks later I receive an email stating my account at the practice has a balance on it. I called to see what was going on and they said the balance was because they accidentally charged me the in-network patient fees instead of their in-office fees. I reminded them of the two estimates they had sent AFTER they informed me that I would not be covered by insurance and asked that they match the prices on the estimates and write off the account balance to zero. The office manager said they could not do this because they are under “strict contract” from Blue Shield barring them from matching the prices to uninsured patients.

So my question is, do I have to pay the difference? How could a business perform a service, take my payment and then 2 weeks later come back and say “you owe us more” after everything is said and done?

What is the balance the office says is owing?

 

[bitterlogic]

What is the balance the office says is owing?

The balance is $357. The original estimates show discounts totaling $540, which were taken away and converted into fees once they figured out they made a mistake after I had paid.

 

[LdiJ]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Los Angeles, California

My question is a matter of billing. On October 27th, I visited the dentist and had some work done. I was told via email on October 25th that my insurance would only cover $83 of this visit and I would have to pay out of pocket for the rest, $991. That was fine and they sent a new estimate reflecting the new pricing without insurance. When i arrived at the office, I signed yet another treatment plan with the same $991 value being the total. The procedure took place, I paid the balance in full and was on my way.


Two weeks later I receive an email stating my account at the practice has a balance on it. I called to see what was going on and they said the balance was because they accidentally charged me the in-network patient fees instead of their in-office fees. I reminded them of the two estimates they had sent AFTER they informed me that I would not be covered by insurance and asked that they match the prices on the estimates and write off the account balance to zero. The office manager said they could not do this because they are under “strict contract” from Blue Shield barring them from matching the prices to uninsured patients.

So my question is, do I have to pay the difference? How could a business perform a service, take my payment and then 2 weeks later come back and say “you owe us more” after everything is said and done?

Ask to speak to the Dentist himself/herself. I had something similar happen at a doctor's office and the people handing it were adamant that they could not honor the estimate, but once I spoke with the Doctor himself, the estimate was honored.

And by the way, I sincerely doubt that their contract with Blue Shield bars them from charging matching prices to uninsured patients.