What can I do about Podiatrist's outrageous charge?

Question

I have rudely learned that health care/insurance is broken in U.S. A podiatrist has charged over $3200 for cutting out warts on my feet, which I could have treated myself with wart remover from Rite Aid or CVS. He has also called his office where he does his visits as "Surgical Center" on my insurance claim resulting in higher facility fee and etc. Also, the name of his "Surgical Center" was counted as "out-of-network" by the insurance, even though the podiatrist himself is in network.

Insurance is trying to give me $1200 as my responsibility

The podiatrist has given me a letter saying that "his SURGICAL CENTER will hold me liable for my co-pay and deductible, and will accept insurance payment as payment in full. I will not be charged for facility fee that insurance doesn't cover". I think that letter should cover me, but I'm concerned about the meaning of facility fee.

If the podiatrist charges me anything resembling $1200, I will have no option but to take it to my State Podiatry Board and/or Consumer Protection. If I'm put in a situation to contest this, how can I do it?

Answer 1

You signed a consent when you submitted your insurance that said that you will pay all fees not covered by insurance -- you are on the hook for it.

Basically this is buyer beware - you should have asked (MOST PEOPLE would have asked) before submitting to ANY surgical procedure.  Why didn't you just treat the warts at home with OTC treatments?  

Re: surgical center - did he cut or magically heal them with his sight?  if so it IS a (minor) surgical center, whether or not you agree with it.  

Answer 2

That does sound rather much to cut some warts out but then again I'm not a surgeon.  Is there a place where you can get some free legal opinion?  The US equivalent of Legal Aid? Have you told the doctor that your insurance will only pay up $1200 and what about taking that as full payment - I assume you don't have the rest of the money or is this more a case of not wanting to pay the rest as you feel it's too much?  Maybe consumer protection is the starting point.  Did the doctor give you some idea of what he'd charge before he started.  If you have to get nasty, tell him here's the $1200 take it or you want your warts back and he can kiss your ***.

Answer 3

report them for unfair bussiss practices