Pride Physician Group Pride Pride Dallas Pride Pain management Outrageous Charges When I have to Pay Dallas Texas

Last year after an auto accident, I had to have surgery on my left shoulder.  After it was healed, I went back to my surgeon's office for an evaluation of loss of function in that shoulder, so that I could settle with the insurance company of the person who ran into my auto.  My surgeon's office said that they did not do a FCE (Funtional Capacity Evaluation) and referred me to Pride, a group of doctors in downtown Dallas that specialized in Orthopeadic Consultation.

When I spoke to the new patient scheduler about an appointment she asked me about my insurance.  I told her that I had Medicare and a medicare suppliment.  I told her I also had Travelers Insurance medical payments.  She said she needed to check on my insurance and would call me back.  A little later, she called, and said that Medicare had refused coverage and said to bill GEICO, which is the insurance that covered the driver of the car that hit me.  I explained that GEICO had told me that they were not going to pay anything until they did a final settlement with me,  I told her that Travelers would pay under my medical payments.  She said that since Medicare had said GEICO was the primary, she could not bill Travelers.

I did not understand that, then I asked her what the charges would be.  She said $269.00.  I said, no worries, I would just pay out of pocket, and file a claim with Travelers myself.  She put me on hold, then came back on the phone, and told me if I was going to pay, then there would be an extra $400.00 fee for me to consult with one of the doctors before they could evaluate me.  I said, so if I pay, instead of Medicare or one of the insurance companies, you are going to charge me an extra $400?  she said yes.  I said, thats discrimination, that's a rip-off!!  She said thats the policy.  An individual paying, instead of Medicare or an insurance company, has to pay an extra $400.00.  I told her no thanks, Im would find someone else to do the evaluation.