Tourkakis, Homer Reviews (%countItem)
Tourkakis, Homer Rating
Address: 3613 Richardson Square Dr Ste 100, Arnold, Missouri, United States, 63010-6027
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+1 (636) 461-0229 |
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In December 2018 needed a root canal. My primary dentist does not do root canals and referred me to a root canal specialist. My co-payment was extremely high so I called around to see if I could find a dentist that charged less for the procedure. I found Dr. Tourkakis at Eminent Dental. The cost was a few hundred dollars cheaper so I decided to go with this dentist. At the time of my visit the receptionist called my dental insurance and verified my visit. I confirmed my co-pay to be $244.50 which I paid at the time of my visit, also signing a form that states "full payment is due at the time of service". May 21, 2019 I received a call from the receptionist at Eminent Dental that my account was past due. She stated that I owed an additional $74.60. I was confused because 1) I was told my balance was paid in full when had the root canal procedure done back in December of 2018 and 2) I have received no invoices since then stating there was a balance. I feel this is unfair and I should not be forced to pay this additional charges that they created. If they would have been honest and upfront on the total cost they charge for the procedure I would have just gone to the root canal specialist rather than seen this "dentist" that put me through excruciating pain.
We do our best to ESTIMATE the insurance coverage based on what the insurance company tells us over the phone regarding benefits. Unfortunately, there is no way to know what processing policies will be applied to each claim. We collected the ESTIMATED copay at time of service. The patient is advised of this. The signed financial policy in the chart advises the patient the estimate process, and that there may be additional amount due. We did not "add" any charges. The insurance company failed to pay what we estimated they would. I am sending the patient the EOB so she can see what her responsibility should be. She should have received and reviewed the EOB from her carrier before she called you. Her beef should be with them.
With regards to the "excruciating" pain, doctor does his best to ensure patient comfort. However, root canals are notorious for a good reason. Adequate anesthesia is not always obtained immediately. Sometimes access to the offending tissue must be achieved in order to complete the numbing. Doctor has done thousands of root canals in his 35 years of practice with few issues. We have had no feedback from this patient regarding this issue until we contacted her regarding her past due balance.
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Complaint: ***
I am rejecting this response because: When I called the dental office once I received a revised invoice with the additional charges I was told that even though I repeatedly asked how much the root canal procedure would be and they claim they called my insurance to verify my benefits I still owe an additional $80. I fail to see how you can have a set amount that you charge patients, verify their benefit coverage, and still have a $400 difference! (The additional amount charged was $400. My co-pay is 20% which would equal the additional $80.) Plus, when I called the dentist office she told me over the phone that an ADDITIONAL amount was charged after my original billing.
In addition, I did call my insurance provider. When I first contacted this dentist office they repeatedly told me the total charge for this visit would be $1275 however they billed my insurance $1782. Also, insurance provider verified that the dentist office DID NOT send in a pre-estimate.
Sincerely
We do not preauthorize root canals as the patient is usually in pain, and the insurance companies take 4-6 weeks to provide that information.
Secondly, the explanation from the insurance company clearly states her balance, and it is much more than she paid. I don't see how she can make these claims and be referring to the same document I am looking at. I will be sending her this document along with a complete explanation. I do not want to adjudicate this financial issue in this public forum.
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Complaint: ***
I am rejecting this response because: Before I even stepped foot in this dentist off I called them and requested how much it would cost for the root canal. I then called my dental insurance company and verified my benefits. When I went to the dentist office to have the procedure done they called my insurance company and verified my coverage. I was told the amount that it would cost, what my insurance covered, and the dollar amount that I was responsible for. I paid my portion in the office before the procedure. FIVE MONTHS LATER I receive an invoice stating I owe an additional $74. After much research I come to find out the discrepancy in the amount I owe stems from the fact that I was told, and my insurance was originally billed, an incorrect amount. Apparently I was told, and my insurance company was billed, only the amount of the cost of the root canal. The dentist office either forgot to, or later decided to, add on charges for an office visit and additional Xrays (that should have been unneeded because my primary dentist just took X-rays when I was at his office and sent them over).
I should not be held responsible for additional costs when I did everything I needed to on my end. I inquired about the cost of the procedure, I verified my dental coverage, I reconfirmed my out of pocket expense at the time of the procedure. And now because the woman working at the dentist office doesn’t know how to do her job I’m being forced to pay an additional $74 out of pocket.
I should not be forced to pay any additional costs and the woman at the dental office should apologize for her inability to do her job and the handling of this situation.
Sincerely