Dr Levy Optometry

Review: LHello,I called your customer service dept today and they asked me to relate the following experience I had with one of your providers:I confirmed that they accepted our insurance before the meeting. At the appointment the check in woman mentioned an additional charge for the contact lens fitting/prescription and said that it depends on my insurance and can vary.I asked the doctor Levy when he arrived at the consult room. He said that he didn't have time to go into the financial aspect of the service but not to worry that my insurance was good, he sees patients all the time under my program, and that his prices are competitive. He said it as if the question bothered him and came of a bit aggressive.When I went to pay my bill I was told that it would be $270 and that took into account the $115 for the lenses and a $50 discount for the service (so the bill would have been $435 w/o insurance! I use standard contacts that run $25 a box!). I told them that I didn't come prepared to spend that much and that I would prefer to pay for the eye exam only. She said that wasn't an option and that I'd be getting a better deal with this package. I let her know that I normally have to budget for expenses that high and that I'd need to wait for my next pay check to buy the lenses. She said that she didn't know what the price was and that she'd ask the doctor.The doctor came out of the consultation room and told me that I needed to buy the whole package and that if I didn't I could find another doctor. I told him that I didn't come prepared to spend that much and that I just wanted to pay for the exam. He told me to I need to leave at least 50% of the total paid or I would need to take out the lenses (trial) immediately and get out of his office/store.I feel that he was basically trying to scam me and in order to do so he had his secretary stonewall me when asking for a pricing breakdowns and ultimately tried to scare me into paying 50% by threatening to kick me out. I decided to give him back his lenses instead of paying his high prices because no provider can obligate a patient to buy his product.I have never filled a complaint in my life. So, I do not make a habit out of this kind of a thing. But this situation warrants your attention.Desired Settlement: I would like him to be notified that he that intimidation and public humiliation is an unexceptionable business practice in California.

Business

Response:

Dear

In response to your request, our office is responding directly to you and please forward a copy to the consumer. I am sorry for any misunderstanding on patient Anthony Valenta. As a practicing Optometrist for over 30 years, we have always tried to give the best eyecare to our patients. After spending over an hour and a half of professional services and refitting the patient with more comfortable contacts with clearer vision, I still felt that he was not happy with his out of pocket expenses and that it was in both our best interest not to proceed. He was Not Charged Any Fees or any out of pocket costs and we reinstated his insurance coverage with full benefits.

I am sorry we could not satisfy this patient's cost expectations, however I went beyond the call as a well-trained Optometrist; conducting a comprehensive exam and proper fit of his eyes, with a healthier contact lens fit and improved vision at a very fair price.

Sincerely,

Howard Levy O.D.