I've reported this office to the Dental Board of California and the BBB and I highly suggest anyone…read moreelse with a billing complaint do the same thing--and, judging by the negative reviews, there are quite a few. Are the dentists and hygienists amazing? Absolutely. Unfortunately, the billing department is horrendous, deceptive, dishonest, and all-around appalling. Like others have said, they lied and tricked me into authorizing services based on a small dollar amount they promised I would owe, which was vastly incorrect. Each conversation I had with staff following the incorrect billing amount resulted in inconsistent reasons, assuming I could get a response at all.
I was a patient here for nearly 12 years and genuinely loved my dentist. When my insurance changed this year and they became out-of-network, I called billing on January 26th to confirm expenses for OON since paying a small fee might have been worth it to stay with my dentist. They took my insurance information and said they'd "run" it and call me back with a dollar amount. On January 29th, they called back and confirmed I would owe $0 for my exam and cleaning. I specifically reiterated this and they confirmed.
At my February 11th appointment, when I found out I needed my 5-year x-rays, I told my hygienist I couldn't authorize them without knowing my cost given my OON status. She went to billing, returned with "$38" written on paper, and confirmed billing had verified it. I authorized solely based on that number.
Then I received a bill for $254, which included fees for the cleaning, exam, and more than $38 for the x-rays. I immediately paid $38 online and left the remaining $216 unpaid.
When I disputed it over the phone, Yesenia repeatedly said "services were rendered" and then claimed staff CANNOT give a dollar amount I'll owe and have NO way to do so. Yet they had. Twice. I explained this, and that I can't be held accountable for staff making mistakes, to which she explicitly repeated "services were rendered." I asked to speak with a manager who acknowledged the mistake, saying staff should never have given me a cost and that they can't, but that only my dentist could waive the balance. She promised a follow-up that never came. When I called back myself weeks later, a third staff member, Gabby, had no knowledge of my previous conversation and completely contradicted what the first two had told me. She stated that the staff had given me an "estimate" and it was my insurance's problem to resolve. (It isn't my insurance's problem. They covered 100% for my exam and cleaning and 80% for my x-rays. The problem is the billing department billed ABOVE that coverage limit and lied about what I would owe in order to get my money.) I told her that the manager a few weeks prior told me staff should NOT have given me a cost at all and that I was awaiting a bill adjustment decision. Gabby repeatedly responded with, "we gave you an estimate" and had no interest in listening or following up with the manager.
As I was currently in the middle of a big life change, I couldn't afford to be sent to collections, and I paid the deceptive $216 I shouldn't have owed. I let Gabby know I'd be filing complaints.
There is a very common thread in the 1-star reviews here and I beg people to listen. The billing department is filled with deception and a lack of empathy. Had they been honest from the start and told me that they couldn't give me a dollar amount, I'd have understood and canceled my appointment, as I can't afford extra medical expenses of that magnitude. I should never have trusted these people.
PLEASE FILE YOUR COMPLAINTS WITH THE DENTAL BOARD.
