I have submitted this complaint to the BBB, Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulations, and my insurance company.
I was scheduled for an appointment with Dr. Tatiana Paunescu at 4:30 PM on Monday February 3rd, 2014. This is her website: http://www.lehighdentalgroup.com/ Neither of the women depicted are her. When I called to make an appointment, she asked if I had a PPO or HMO. I said PPO accidentally and she was thrilled. I corrected myself and her attitude quickly changed, asking me if I was sure I wanted to see her. I said I was sure and that she was in my network. She instructed me to call Humana One immediately, make her my primary dentist, have them put me on the roster, and if I could, tell them I had pain. She said if I didn't do this, Humana one would not cover my exam. I did as she asked, but did not tell my Humana One representative I had pain, as I did not actually have pain and I knew my exam was covered anyway. I went in for my appointment as scheduled, and heard the dentist in an exam room having an argument with a patient. The patient was asking Dr. Paunescu why she was so mad, and she was telling him that he should have kept his appointment with her. Apparently, it was on one of the days where it was below zero and he couldn't make it, and from what I heard he had canceled his appointment appropriately. From the tone she used to yell at her patient, I should have left right away. I decided I had already made my appointment and for all I knew, this patient had been giving her problems before I arrived. I was put into an exam room for 10 minutes with a paper bib, and watched the news on a wall mounted TV while I listened to the dentist yell at her assistant about an unknown box that was left in another office. I was growing very uncomfortable but thought that, since it was the end of the day, perhaps the dentist was a bit grumpy. Dr. Paunescu came into my exam room and immediately started barking demands at me. "Why are you here?" I told her I had made an appointment for an exam and cleaning. She yelled "But how long since you have been to a dentist?" I told her it had been a few years and I was glad she could take me on as a patient. I was trying to be kind and hopefully calm her down. Then she got louder and said "BUT WHY ARE YOU SEEING A DENTIST NOW?!" I calmly told her I had insurance now and was able to afford an exam. From that point on things got so much worse. She clearly didn't want to examine me and was trying to get me out of her office. She told me she was just going to look in my mouth today and tell me all the things I would need done in the future. I told her that no, I was scheduled for an exam and cleaning. She began giving me disgusted looks like I was the worst person in the world. She had absolutely no shame about making me feel like I didn't belong in her office. She asked what my insurance was and I told her. She was not pleased. She said "Oh... Humana One C550? Your copay is $30." She was, at this point, looking at an old and dirty printed piece of paper that allegedly had a list of prices she charged. I should mention that she would not let me see it. I told her my copay was supposed to be $10 and I had just double checked my policy online. She said she didn't care, she didn't listen to the insurance company; She said that she was charging me $25 to look in my mouth and for a "sanitation fee" which was $5. I told her I had never heard of a sanitation fee before, and that I was sure my copay was $10. I was offering to pull my information up for her on the computer when she started yelling at me to leave. She then said"...perhaps you should leave. It is better for both of us. It is better for both of us if you find another dentist." I was so taken aback. I started taking the paper bib off and sitting up in the exam chair to gather my things, really confused as to how I was being kicked out of her office. I was asking her if I should just come back with my policy information to prove what I was covered for and she got even more angry with me, telling me that if I came back and tried to leave again she was going to charge me for the full appointment and make me pay. I just stared at her for a moment, when she did something that struck me speechless. She told me I had to pay her the $5 sanitation fee. I started walking away and she began sweeping her hand around the office, indicating to me I owed her $5 to sanitize it. I told her I would not be paying her $5 and she just smiled at me and repeated "It's better for both of us if you find another dentist. I was shaking as I left. I had never in my life been treated so badly. read more
