In searching for a new chiropractor, I posted in a local Facebook group asking for recommendations…read more Alexis Martinez, co-owner of this practice, responded and invited me to send her a direct message.
Because I do not like pricing surprises, I asked specifically about costs. Alexis told me that the initial exam is $97 and that follow-up visits typically range from $25 to $70, depending on a patient's needs. That pricing was within my budget, so I submitted an online scheduling request.
The next day, I received a call from a staff member named Kelly, who explained that if you do not have x-rays taken within the past year, the initial visit requires an additional $100 for x-rays. This increased the cost of the first visit to $197. I was shocked, as that was double the price Alexis told me, and I've never been required to get x-rays to be treated by a chiropractor.
However, it got worse when I learned that the initial visit does not include an adjustment. If you want to receive an adjustment during that first appointment, there is another $100 charge, bringing the total to $297. At this point, I chose not to book because this was far above what Alexis quoted me.
I contacted Alexis, who apologized and said she was "mortified." She stated that her husband, who is also a co-owner, was contacting the office manager to find out what was going on. She also explained that the employee I spoke with was very new and initially indicated that I had been given incorrect information.
The next day, the office manager, Kim, contacted me "to clear up any confusion." Yet, she told me that Kelly's explanation was accurate and reflects how the practice normally operates, although she stated they would honor the pricing Alexis originally provided "as a courtesy." Based on that assurance, I went ahead and scheduled my initial appointment for a couple of days later.
Because I was concerned about future costs, I called back and asked what adjustments would cost after the initial visit. Kim told me that individual adjustments are $100 per visit unless you enroll in a care plan, but she would not provide even a general estimate of what those plans cost. She kept stating "it just depends on what the doctor recommends."
This made me very uncomfortable and led me to read online reviews to better understand what treatment might actually cost. I'm glad I did, because multiple reviews report patients being charged over $1,000 for just one month of care.
This pricing structure was dramatically different from the $25 to $70 follow-up range I was quoted directly by the co-owner, Alexis, so I attempted to reach back out to her to get clarity about pricing. I was truly hoping this was just a misunderstanding of some sort. However, I found that Alexis had "blocked" me on Facebook, so I could not directly message her.
That, in addition to everything else that had transpired, made me completely lose trust in this business and I chose to cancel my appointment and seek care elsewhere.
