I've been in the situation a couple of times at private clinics when the receptionist informs me that the doctor/clinic does not work with my insurance or that my plan does not entitle me to insurance cover for that particular procedure. It is always frustrating but at least I have the choice between paying the full fee or taking my sick bod elsewhere.
What happened today seemed downright sneaky - the receptionist did not tell us we were not covered until after we saw the doctor, and said we had to pay the full amount. She had at least 15 minutes to verify whether we were eligible while we were still in the waiting room before going into the doctor's office.
We muttered the usual protests and paid up, but then thought maybe we shouldn't have.
We went to the PR department and filed a formal complaint, which will no doubt end up gracing the inner depths of their filing system.
I know that this is the DR - as Mr C reminded me - and that there is little chance we will get an apology, let alone our money back. I mainly needed to vent but also to ask whether we could have successfully withheld payment, based on the facts of the case, and whether there is anything further that could be done.
And if anyone is wondering, we didn't ask beforehand whether the doctor took our insurance because this was at a clinic in the capital that we were referred to by the clinic of the same name here on the east coast. I suppose some things - like stuff actually working according to logic - are just too much to ask for. The clinic on the east coast takes our insurance, but we learned today that its sister clinic in the capital only takes the ARS Universal "supreme" plan whereas we only have "optimum".
It reminded me that one of the few things I really miss about the UK is the good old NHS, all warts included.
What happened today seemed downright sneaky - the receptionist did not tell us we were not covered until after we saw the doctor, and said we had to pay the full amount. She had at least 15 minutes to verify whether we were eligible while we were still in the waiting room before going into the doctor's office.
We muttered the usual protests and paid up, but then thought maybe we shouldn't have.
We went to the PR department and filed a formal complaint, which will no doubt end up gracing the inner depths of their filing system.
I know that this is the DR - as Mr C reminded me - and that there is little chance we will get an apology, let alone our money back. I mainly needed to vent but also to ask whether we could have successfully withheld payment, based on the facts of the case, and whether there is anything further that could be done.
And if anyone is wondering, we didn't ask beforehand whether the doctor took our insurance because this was at a clinic in the capital that we were referred to by the clinic of the same name here on the east coast. I suppose some things - like stuff actually working according to logic - are just too much to ask for. The clinic on the east coast takes our insurance, but we learned today that its sister clinic in the capital only takes the ARS Universal "supreme" plan whereas we only have "optimum".
It reminded me that one of the few things I really miss about the UK is the good old NHS, all warts included.