Quote:
Originally Posted by iGottaBme
More providers, doctors, dentists, etc. are asking for a credit card up front and will charge it in the event that you fail to show.
It is difficult to find a psychiatrist who is accepting new patients. The exorbinant fee may be charged because the doctor has a waiting list and he could have accomodated someone else if he had known that you would be late or fail to show. The Pdoc can charge whatever he wants since no shows are not covered by insurance. The contract with your insurance company does not come in to play so he does not have to consider the contracted price.
I think that it is reasonable for your Pdoc to ask for a note from the doctor stating that you were there with your boyfriend. There is no reason not to get it if you are already there.
I have been in this spot and called immediately to say what happened and let them know that I was going to be a few minutes late and could they still accomodate me without an extra charge. I haven't been denied yet.
It is a business and they have to have a policy in place because there are people who take advantage. Even though that isn't the situation with you, your Pdoc has to have a formal policy in place.
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First off, where I live there is a ridiculously large number of pdocs (even those who take my insurance) and no waiting lists...perhaps because there are tons of colleges and universities here. So your generalization is inaccurate, and it kind of made me laugh. We need LESS here, seriously.
As for his "exorbitant fee" he charges for no shows, it's ridiculous because it's DOUBLE what he charges in the first place. So I think the person/people taking advantage of a "no-show" situation is him and his office, not the person not showing up.
And I never once said my boyfriend and I went to the doctor...he was laid off and has no insurance. I was late because he was in so much pain (and he couldn't get up right away), and he was trying to figure out if he needed to be taken to the ER regardless of no insurance, a nightmare in itself.
I also did call and say I was going to be a few minutes late, but if the appt is only 20 minutes, you can only be so many minutes late before the "late fee" kicks in.
And the more I think about it, the more I agree with others...no dr is going to have my CC# on file, that is what a bill is for. I can go elsewhere if they refuse to give me an appt w/out it.