Family Practice & Internal Medicine of New Haven County

Review: On 8/5/2013, I scheduled an annual preventative care appointment at my PCP's office. I have not been seen in 8 years, there or anywhere else. After my visit, I received a bill for $141.56. Under my insureance, [redacted], my annual PCP appointment is of no cost to me, no co-pay or any bill. I had called prior to make sure the office and physican I was seeing was covered and in-network, and they were. Upon calling the office and my insurance company after receiving the bill, I was informed that the office does an ECG on patients as routine in their office for patients not seen in a certain amount of time on their annual visit, as well as a spirometer test and a peak hand held flow meter. I was never told prior that my insurance would not cover these tests, nor was I aware that I should question what my physican about each part of my annual visit, if it was in accordance to my insurance coverage. An annual preventative care visit should be just that. I am not a clinician and do not know what is or is not standard. I cannot be the first patient of theirs to have [redacted], I should have been given notice if I was going to receive a bill. I was also charged a $35.00 co-pay for an office visit which I did not know was allowed. When asking their billing department about that specific charge, I was told that because I talked to the doctor about a specific medical issue I was having, that I had extended the annual visit into an office visit. What is the purpose of my annual if not to discuss my current medical status with my doctor? I have gotten no help from either my insurance company or the office's staff.Desired Settlement: I would like my bill to be cleared. I do not wish this to go to collections and harm my credit.