Triple check to make sure this doctor accepts your insurance!
I called Dr. Cook's office back in December to set up an appointment because I was having severe foot pain. The very first question I always ask when setting up an appointment to see a new doctor is "Is Dr. ____ taking new patients?". If the answer is "yes," then I always follow up with "Does Dr. ____ take [name of insurance company] insurance?". Only if the answer to both of the first two questions is "yes" will I then proceed to set up an appointment. My initial phone call with Dr. Cook's office was no different. Fast forward to my first visit and I really thought Dr. Cook was very knowledgeable and thorough. He had a suspicion of what was causing my pain, so he gave me a few remedies and wanted to see me back in a couple of weeks. I set an appointment and came back in the middle of January. By my second appointment, the pain was worse, so he set me up with a brace and was going to have his billing department contact my insurance company to make sure I would be covered to get orthodics and I was to set up an appointment for 2 weeks from then to come in to the office and be fit for custom orthodics. A few days later, I get a call from his office letting me know that orthodics were covered on my insurance and we could go ahead with the scheduled fitting. Fast forward to the day before my appointment and I get a text from Dr. Cook's office reminding me about my appointment the next day. So, I go in to the office on the day of my appointment (showed up about 15 min early) and put my name on the list. Next thing I know, the lady at the front desk calls me over and tells me that, unfortunately, Dr. Cook doesn't accept my insurance at all and I won't be able to be seen at all that day (or ever again by him) unless I pay the all cash rate, which was quoted to me at $65. Now, by this 3rd appointment, I am in excruciating pain every day because of whatever is going on with my foot. I had been looking forward to this appointment since I had left his office the last time. So, naturally, I was extremely frustrated and confused. I asked the lady at the front desk why I was just NOW being informed that they didn't accept my insurance. Her response was "For the past 2 appointments, we have been billing your insurance under Dr. ____ (I forget the name of the doctor she mentioned, but it was a doctor I had never seen or made an appointment with in my entire life) but he has been retired for awhile and we can no longer bill you under him." I asked why I wasn't told either time they had contacted me between my last appointment and that moment, because at this point, I have taken time out of my day to drive to the office, as well as pay for parking at the office. She replied "I do apologize ma'am. At this office, we don't take the responsibility of checking if our patients' insurances are accepted. That responsibility falls on the patient." At this point, I am absolutely upset. I had done my part to make sure that they accepted my insurance when I made my very first appointment only a month and a half before that! Not once was I ever made aware that they were billing my insurance under an entirely different doctor!! And, if I had already had 2 appointments with Dr. Cook with no incidents, why would I check to make sure my insurance was covered again on the 3rd visit?!?!
Dr. Cook seems fairly competent, but it is absolutely unacceptable how the entire office staff handled this situation. Dr. Cook was standing near the desk when this all went down, but said and did NOTHING-he just looked on.
Needless to say, I took all of my medical records and left. Luckily, I was able to make an appointment with another DPM just a couple of days after
My point in writing this whole long review is not necessarily to scare anyone away from visiting Dr. Cook. As I stated before, both of the appointments which I actually got to have with him were enjoyable and he listened to all of my concerns. Just please make sure that you triple and quadruple check with your insurance company (not with his office staff) to make sure you will be covered. read more
