THIS PLACE IS A SCAM!
td;dr: They coded a routine check-up wrong, sent me a massive bill and tried every scummy tactic in the book to get me to give up on fixing it.
My months-long kafkaesque mis-adventure dealing with the Westmed Billing Department From The Black Lagoon started last September when I:
A) Went in for a routine check-up
B) Was explicitly told routine blood work was covered as preventative care, and the blood drawing itself was straight-up free.
C) Was subsequently hit with a massive, surprise bill for said blood work and the blood drawing because Westmed coded it wrong.
Like any normal person, I called in to ask why my bill was wrong. Predictably, I got ping-ponged around between Westmed and my insurance provider. Westmed would explain insurance is very complicated, routinely transfer and disconnect me, and then have no idea what I was talking about when I immediately call back. After a half-dozen or so calls with just Westmed, I finally got Westmed, United Healthcare, and myself on a 3-way conference call, where Westmed suddenly realized that, oh look, they coded it wrong and now agreed to fix it. Problem Solved!!!
Oh wait, a few weeks later I get another bill that's identical to the one they said they would "fix". Try not to fall out of your chair in shock, but when I call into Westmed, they have no idea what I'm talking about, can't find any records, explain that insurance is impossibly complicated, transfer/disconnect me, ping-pong me to my insurance company, etc. Finally, they agreed to re-fix the bill and said verbally I owed them no money. I demanded they give it to me in writing and - get this - they send me an email at the end of October saying I owe them no money, and my bill went to zero. It only took me literally an entire month! How convenient!
The end (not really)
So, four months later, I get a massive bill out of the blue from Westmed again. How could I expect anything else, really. So, I call in and - all together now - they have no idea what I'm talking about, can't find any records, explain how complicated insurance can be, etc. I finally get transferred to a disinterested manager who promises to call me back (he doesn't). I have a few more of the most useless phone calls in my life (including one where I scheduled a call back, only for the person on the other end to pick up and immediately hang up without saying anything, forcing me to wait another half hour). I'm finally transferred to a manager who blames my insurance company, promises to call my insurance company, and tries to explain to me how complicated health insurance. I said I have it in writing from Westmed that I owe them no money, and I asked the guy to send me an email so I can email him back with the proof. The guy agrees, then never emails me.
The bill is currently unresolved.
PS. My doctor kinda sucked as well. read more