Never been treated this bad before, like I'm sub-human.
Made appointment by phone few days before visit, explicitly asking if they accept my exact insurance type and what estimated cost would be for just the visual once-over quick check for skin issues, moles gone bad, etc. They checked and said yes there are no problems for us to bill your specific insurance. From experience I know that visual check takes literally minutes by a trained dermatologist. I was already prepared to 'eat' the exorbitant estimated with PPO insurance cost of between $90 and $120 for a quick visual full body skin check visual check over by a PA (not the doctor), plus extra for biopsy, etc. With that, approaching $500+ per hour rate for their PA, in mind I was naturally prepared to be a bit vigilant about signed of them wasting my valuable time - really would not seem fair if they did that. I'm a freelancer and get paid by the hour. They said come at 9:00 for a 9:30 apt so as to fill out intake paperwork. I arrived at 9:25 and immediately handed over insurance card and driver licence (after hello their immediate focus was insurance), filled out intake forms in 5 min and sat and waited from 9:30 on... after 5 min an office worker informed me that they needed to verify my insurance with my provider. I gave permission and also politely asked why do you need that, I already explicitly checked with you and you already told me you you were fine with my insurance before I came? They said they needed to check... I waited...another patient arrived and was immediately seen. At 9:50 I asked very politely why did they request me to come so early if they are not seeing me yet? The front desk worker said you should have been here at 9am for the 9:30 apt. I replied why, I filled out the paperwork in 5 min have been waiting since...and went on to say "isn't the real reason for the delay that you decided to re-check my insurance...even though you already explicitly assured me that it was OK before I made the appointment?" she only then admitted that was the reason for the delay and so I said clearly and politely that I want you to know that you are taking MY time with this, just be sure you understand. About 10 minutes later, Dr Houston (as I found out he was) appeared from the back and shook my hand and then immediately stated while motioning me to the door "I'm going to have to ask you to leave!"... I was shocked... I asked who are you and why are you asking me to leave? He replied that he was asking me to leave because, he claimed, it turned out that my insurance had expired last month... I politely said I'm sorry that's news to me...it hasn't expired I pay every month... he said I'll be happy to see you after you get insurance. I told him not only was his information incorrect but most shockingly his money first, patient last attitude really sucked. I said this because he didn't make any offer to figure it out further even after I politely suggested that I really am insured, or to offer to make an arrangement to pay later, nothing... he just literally immediately showed me out the door and told me to leave!!...oh and come back when you really have insurance. Remember, we are talking about me coming for a 5 to 10 minute visual exam by his PA. I told him I wouldn't dream of coming back to see him. Confused, I went from his office to the office of my insurance broker who readily confirmed that I indeed do still have the same active insurance that I have held since 2010. The insurance company then researched and found the doctor's office had called-in and had been referred to the correct department but the doctor's office had then given the incorrect information when asking if I was insured - strange since they had my insurance card to read from. I'm dumbfounded by the impulsive negative uncaring arrogant money-focused attitude of this Dr. as I experienced it. I really think it is extremely unprofessional and unethical. By the way, it is evening now and they have not contacted me to apologize, nothing. I guess I'm just uninsured trash to their way of thinking. read more