I am rather new to PA, I was looking for a doctor, I did not really know of any who I would like or who I would trust. I was told to call Doylestown Medical Associates P.C. as it was so close to my work, I could go on my lunch break. I called I was told I could not see a doctor because I was a new patient and I would have to wait weeks to see him. I was told I could get into see the Nurse Practitioner. I agreed. I went in for my visit, I should have asked how much the visit would be. I do have insurance that I pay through my employer $210.00 a month for a basic plan. I arrived 15 minutes early and filled out the paper work. I waited for the appointment and the office was running late so my appointment was not on time, I did go on my lunch break. I met with the Nurse Practitioner she was very nice and asked me a lot of questions. I was with her for about 20 minutes, She told me that she wanted me to go for some tests, I called my insurance company to find out how much the ultra sound would be and a scan, each test was $3000.00 out of pocket, I could not afford this, I went and had blood taken and told the office those tests were not affordable for me, a week later I called the office, had to leave a message to find out the results of my blood work, as I was still feeling awful, I ended up calling three times in total to find the results out. I was told the blood work was fine, I spoke to the medical assistant and told her I was still not feeling well, she came back on the phone and told me that perhaps I should go see another doctor there was nothing they could do. I understood that because I could not afford the tests they wanted me to take. I never went back to that doctor or any other doctor, I actually did google searches and found more answers there then I did at the doctor's office.
A month later I received a bill in the mail form this doctors office $230.00 for a New Patient Visit
with a Insurance adjustment of $66.00 dollars. I was in shock that a office would charge this much money for a 20 minute visit with a Nurse Practitioner. I called and spoke with the billing department after a much heated back and forth conversation on why this office can charge that amount, it came down to the more they charge for the office visit the more money they can make because this is what insurance company's make them charge. When I pointed out after her ram-baling on about a conference she went to that they taught her how to explain how the office can charge such a high amount, with a very strange example of a grocery store making money, Which I will say was just stupid, but I let her tell me what she learned in her conference which I am sure was paid for by the insurance company's in some way. I said and that's it, it's all about making money as much money as you can off of sick people. She hung up on me. Unfortunately I will have to pay this outrageous bill as it will get put on my credit report if I don't, I have learned that the medical industry is very sad, and when it comes down to it, it is all about money and nothing else. read more
