Health Allies Sold By Sam's Club Orthodontists listed on discount plan had never heard of it and/or charged more than out-of-network provider. Glendale California

Health Allies is supposed to organize a network of doctors who agree to charge less to have lots of traffic and no insurance forms to fill out, customers pay cash.

I have contacted Health Allies three times and Sam's Club once about the waste of time using their Health Allies "service" was to find an orthodontist, and they have yet to respond satisfactorily.

I searched for orthodontists within 25 miles of my zip code, 32951. The ones in the city of Sebastian that were listed had no idea what Health Allies was!! Dr. Kopuri in West Melbourne, who also was not sure that he was on the Health Allies network, gave me a quote that was a $1,000 MORE than a non-network provider.

I have told Health Allies the problem is that they do not make the Orthodontists state their "monthly fee". Since "Health Allies" orthodontists do not state their monthly fee, they can tell Health Allies "Oh, sure, we'll be cheaper" and then forget they are even on the network, wait until customers waste time to visit them and then surprise the customers with enormous fees the orthodontist can even pretend are discounted.

(Orthodontists like to charge $150 for that 5 minute peek in your child's mouth monthly and the tightening of a wire.)

Health Allies is NOT doing their job when it comes to orthodontists. They are not making orthodontists compete. Health Allies completely wasted my time! The only reason I went to Dr. Kopuri was that Health Allies recommended him! Nobody else recommended him to me!
And for THAT I pay for my Sam's Club Membership? To be charged $1,000 more than I should instead of a discount?

Sam's Club simply cannot let members be mislead and fleeced like that. Who has time to go to three orthodontists like I did? Who would even go to a non-network provider, because we trust Sam's Club?

Please SAM'S Club, make Health Allies actually do something for the pleasure of recommending so many people to them. I have no power alone to make orthodontists compete.

No listed prices means no competition. Hidden, secret fees are a very bad thing. Sam's Club sure oughta know that.

I look forward to hearing about anyone else's experience with getting quotes from Health Allies network and non-network providers, especially orthodontists. (Quotes for the exact same health problem).

Fuggy
melbourne beach, Florida
U.S.A.