i had an interesting experience. On the phone prior to my first appointment- the first thing I asked was if they accepted my Cigna insurance. Once I was told yes, they booked me for the next morning- I was stoked. I have been in a pretty good amount of back and hip pain.
Office is clean and orderly. the doctor is very kind and knowledgeable. But once I arrived at the office at 6:30am I was informed that they don't take Cigna. The doctor told me that the first part of the consult would be no charge- and then the full initial consult would be $100. The doctor continued to reassure me that most people don't even use their insurance because the office visit is less than their $40-$50 co-pay. I understand that- but I have a $10 co-pay. and the difference between $10 and $40 adds up when you need to have repetitive treatments. I was already there- figured what the heck. Let's do the free part of the consult.
The doc checked a few things and proceed to tell me a few findings- and asked me if I wanted to do the full consult. This is where I take responsibility. This is where I should have left. I guess I thought the initial consult was going to happen that day- or I would leave with an adjustment or something- but the next 5 minutes consisted of me learning that I need to go get xrays and come back two days later for a one hour appointment that is included in the $100 to go over the findings. I paid $100 and left. I don't feel like I learned anything more about my back or issues after the free part ended and when I agreed to the $100 part. That's a little lame. Also- getting xrays in two days is a little rough for someone who works two jobs- I guess it just seemed like everything moved really quickly. Yes- xrays are standard- but to just take $100 to tell me to go get xrays? I feel like that charge should have been collected at the appointment where he goes over the findings. . and at the same time... Had I been told on the phone when I called that they didn't take my insurance and it would be $100 for the consult, I would have looked elsewhere. I pay a lot for my insurance each month for a reason. I want to use it- not pay even more. When I called I asked if my insurance was accepted first- for a reason. Because cost and these things are important to me.
I called the office to cancel the one hour appointment that was scheduled for two days later. And since that was included in the $100, and I only saw the doctor for 20 minutes during the first appointment, I asked to have that refunded- since I won't be taking the doctors hour of time during the rest of the consult. She notified me that the one hour two-day later appointment wasn't part of the $100 charge- that was like a doctor going over blood work results. so the $100 really was for the extra 5 minutes of the doc telling me to go get xrays and checking my reflexes. I always try to settle disputes with the business first before turning to Yelp. It is the right thing to do. After a few negotiating calls back and forth- they agreed to refund me $50- which I appreciate- but as a small business owner myself wouldn't have been my next course of action had I been presented with a similar situation. And trust me- I have had to make my fair share of accommodations as a business owner. But I literally feel like I threw away $50. Such a bad feeling- I hate wasting money.
After writing this- I realize that I am disappointed for two reasons. 1. I wasn't prepared for what an initial consult was at a chiropractor. I had been to a chiropractor once before years ago, and was adjusted that day- and left feeling great. I had those expectations whether those were best practices or not. My fault? Their fault? Who knows. Probably both. And the second thing- is that I was misinformed about what insurance they do take, and consequently made an in-the-moment choice (coming from a girl of pro-con lists for everything) to pay the $100 that I immediately regretted.
If you are in network (and are SURE of that) this place is clean, the doc is kind and knowledgeable, and from other reviews it looks like you will receive great care. I just urge you to check your insurance with the business first, and I urge the business to handle situations like this better. read more
