ComplaintsforHarold Slutsky DMD PC

• Initial Complaint

  06/15/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I received treatment from Dr. Slutsky from January 2021-March 2022. At that time I had ***** health insurance which was responsible for a portion of my treatment. The treatment ended in March 2022 at that time I still had ***** and continued to have ***** until January 2023. Per the attached financial agreement I signed in December 2020 "Regardless of the terms of the payment schedule of this financial agreement the account must be paid in full before the orthodontic appliances (I.E. Braces) are removed". Based off of that and the fact that I had paid my portion of the treatment in full I assumed my financial treatment was paid. In June 2023 I received a bill for $531 with the explanation that it was for a bill that was sent to my insurance in January 2023, ten months after my treatment ended. At that time I no longer had the ***** insurance and my new insurance is not paying for treatment that took place in 2022. At no time was I shown a schedule or signed anything agreeing to maintain the same insurance for over a year after my treatment was completed. I actually was told several time my treatment wouldn't be completed until they had been paid. This appears to be a billing issue on their end and abuse of the patients who trust them to provide accurate statements that the account is paid in full. I would like this balance to be adjusted as it is not only a bad business practice to unknowingly bill some ones insurance for over a year after they finished treatment, but goes against what I was told during the course of my treatment.

  Business response

  06/28/2023

  Our office disagrees with the complainant's claim that her bill should have been adjusted.  At the time orthodontic treatment was completed, what our office believed to be the patient's balance for treatment was paid in full.  As a courtesy to patients, due to the fact that insurance carriers often fail to pay on a timely basis, our office often removes orthodontic appliances when the patient balance is fully paid, but the insurance carrier has not completed making its payments.  When the complainant's treatment was completed, there was still an insurance balance due.  Also, after treatment was completed, the patient changed insurance carriers.  The new carrier did not provide coverage for her treatment.  Our contract specifically provides as follows:  IF YOU PLAN TO PAY FOR PART OR ALL OF ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT THROUGH DENTAL INSURANCE AND YOUR INSURANCE CARRIER SHOULD DEFAULT IN ANY WAY, OR YOU NO LONGER HAVE COVERAGE FOR SUCH TREATMENT, YOU WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE AMOUNT DUE.  Since the new carrier did not pay for the remaining balance due, the patient is responsible for this amount.  Our office has no duty to advise patients regarding which, if any, dental insurance coverage they should maintain.

  Please contact me if you have any further questions.

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