THIS DENTIST OFFICE RIPPED ME OFF!
I was using blue shield insurance agency for my dental visits. I was given a very reasonable estimate for the work they were going to do, so I scheduled several appointments and paid my copay after every visit.
However, after a few weeks, I got a surprise when I found out my $50 fillings were now going to cost $150 and I had already done several of them. I asked the office staff about it, but they told me they had estimated my costs for a different plan than the one I had. I then called the insurance company several times to ask about the lower price plan, but it turns out they don't even offer that one in California.
I asked the dentist office again about how they estimate the costs and when their information was updated, but they repeatedly wouldn't give me specific information and kept saying it was based on the plan that wasn't offered in California!
I originally thought it was a simple mistake and asked the office staff to take some responsibility for giving me the wrong estimate, but they simply told me that I was responsible to pay the full amount. After several attempts to have them lower my bill with no success, I decided that this was a calculated scheme they use to get people to sign up for several treatments with a low estimate and then hit them with a higher bill later. One of the staff was even rude to me on the phone when I told her that I thought they made a mistake on my billing estimate.
I wish the staff and billing here weren't such a scam because Dr. Sorrick is actually a nice guy and a good dentist... however I think the office staff are intentionally deceptive and unwilling to take responsibility for their mistakes. Unless you want to pay 3x the amount you are quoted for your dental work, AVOID THIS OFFICE!
AS FOR THE REPLY BELOW
Unfortunately, the lower price plan which you speak of is the one you quoted me the estimate for! Not the plan I actually had, and now I have to pay the difference for your mistake?
You originally quoted my treatments at about 1/3 of what they actually cost, then after I had already done 2 of the most expensive treatments, the higher bills came in.
I double checked the pricing on the quotes and none of them match the numbers I wa given by Blue Shield. The only plan that matches those numbers is the IFP Hmo plan which isn't offered in that area.
Your office either needs to update its estimates, or give people the price you quoted them. Its an unfair business practice, making people pay more for your mistake. read more
