If I could do zero stars I would!!!!! I made the appointment online about a week in advance to do…read moremy shingles vaccine. They make you put in your credit card as a backup in case your insurance doesn't go through. I made sure it was accepted and even asked the day of my shot if everything was good and she said yes. They saw me at my scheduled time, but I was also the last appointment, which was probably in my favor. Although the lady was nice who was giving me the shot, she lacked knowledge about the shot and I felt like I was educating her. It was odd!
A week later, our credit card was billed for $295!!! I was livid! Trying to call the billing department is nearly impossible! I waited a few times on hold trying to get through on 8/16. The first time was 20 minutes and they gave an option to call you back, which I accepted but no one ever called. I called back and waited another 40+ minutes before a billing department answered. I spoke to the lady in the billing department. She was over verifying my identity and then had my old mailing address still on file, so she changed it for me at that time. She told me I would need an authorization number from my insurance and that I would need to provide a valid ID number. For the record, I have Tri Care and my husband is the primary insurance holder. She told me to call back with the information when I had it. I asked if there was a direct line and she said no. I knew this was going to be an issue trying to call back.
I called Tri Care and they said I didn't need an authorization number and per the CDC, I was eligible for the shot. She suggested speaking to the authorization department to see what to do next. However, that department said I needed a referral and said I would need to pay the bill. We asked to speak with the claims department again, since that was not correct information. They confirmed I didn't need an authorization per the CDC and I was eligible for the shot. They suggested giving the number on the back of my military ID to the Minute Clinic. I have never heard of that, but figured I would try it. They also gave a reference number for the Minute Clinic to call them if they needed help with the claim.
I tried calling Minute Clinic and was on hold and then it said it was closed. I called back and tried to speak with someone else, but they were not in the billing department. However, they said they could help. They still had my old mailing address and it was never changed by the other lady I spoke with. So, he said he would change it. He said my insurance is eligible and I should have never been billed. So, he would send the note the accounting department and he would request a refund for me. He said it would take 5-6 billing days and to call back next Friday to find out the status.
I called back on Thursday, but had no luck getting through. I have to call during working hours since they will be closed by 5:00 pm EST. However, I work too, so I tried calling twice and was on hold for over 40 minutes. I had to get back to work, so I hung up. I tried again on Friday. I decided to let the phone stay on while I continued working. I was on hold for 2 HOURS!!! Are you kidding me??? I worked while waiting for someone to answer. How can a business run this way? I finally got someone and she had to transfer me to billing, which I thought I was holding for. That took a few more minutes. Then, I got the lady I spoke with a week before. Is she the only one in the billing department? She insisted on verifying me with more than 3 questions and insisted I give my address. Guess what? They never changed my address? She expected me to remember my old mailing address from 7 years ago. I asked to be verified another way and she insisted I give my old address. I had to stop and look it up in order to proceed! That is unacceptable! She verified my email, my phone number, and DOB, but that wasn't enough for her. She was ridiculous! Then, she wanted to update my address again. I said no thanks! It won't get updated anyway.
I asked her about the bill and nothing had been done. According to the lady, the information I gave the guy wasn't in the system nor was the information about what he told me on the refund and billing department. Then, she slipped up and said that's not what was in his notes. I was livid! I gave her the military ID and she finally said it was accepted by their system, but it would take another 30 days for the insurance to process it and then another 5-6 business days to get the $295 refund!!! Unacceptable!! I will NEVER EVER EVER use them again! I will get my second shot from another pharmacy before I ever go back there! The lady wanted my current address again. I asked why? You didn't put it in the first time and the guy didn't put it in the second time, so what's the point of doing it a third time? She insisted she would put it in. I bet the next time I call back it won't be in the system!!! By the time I got off the phone, it was over 2.5 hours l