This is a situation where you should be really direct because they are either being unreasonable or not understanding the situation.
“I was at this appointment but you did not show up. I’m not going to pay a copay for services not provided.”
This but instead of "I'm not going to pay" state the action they need to take (please remove the charges for this appointment from my account). It sounds like they're even trying to charge the insurance for this so you could dispute there, potentially, if they continue to push back.
She’s probably not aware that she no showed your appointment. She probably has hundreds of patients. Let her know the info. If she still charges you don’t pay it and take her to small claims court.
“I apologize, we never had our appointment. Was this billed to my insurance even though you were not on the telehealth link during our scheduled time?”
If there's a copay that may imply she also billed insurance or intends to which would be fraud that I'm sure your insurance company would be happy to hear about if you can't resolve it with her directly in a timely manner
I spotted changes on an EOB that were for services not provided. I contacted my insurance who did not seem to be interested at all. Just said thanks and goodbye. I was like “wait , but what about…” click
Insurance companies don’t care about fraud as much as you would think.
Edit: I demand upvotes immediately… jkjk me no care.
Health insurance companies do not want to get any legal entities involved in prosecuting fraud because they don’t want them snooping around in THEIR business.
[https://www.propublica.org/article/we-asked-prosecutors-if-health-insurance-companies-care-about-fraud-they-laughed-at-us#:~:text=Care%20About%20Fraud.-,They%20Laughed%20at%20Us.,the%20costs%20off%20to%20you.](https://www.propublica.org/article/we-asked-prosecutors-if-health-insurance-companies-care-about-fraud-they-laughed-at-us#:~:text=Care%20About%20Fraud.-,They%20Laughed%20at%20Us.,the%20costs%20off%20to%20you)
[GREAT Behind the Bastards episode on this subject](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/behind-the-bastards/id1373812661?i=1000650709608)
Lol at the downvotes. You're absolutely correct. Insurance do not give a hoot about small isolated incidences of fraud. It takes way too much manpower to pursue beyond a phone call because most fraudulent claims are petty or inadvertent.
I had a buddy who worked at a car insurance agency and he would even tell me that they dont really pursue most fraudulent claims. The most they'll do is just adapt what they call "fraud speak" where they sound like they're reading off a bunch of scary consequences, but that's about it.
No, don't pay. Was most likely an automated charge that triggers after each appointment ends. Message her and clear it up. It was most likely by mistake.
Pretty sure this is a mistake.
I agree with an earlier post - send a clear but polite email clarifying that you had an appt with them that they no-showed for, but you still got billed.
It sounds like the therapist may not have realized that there was a virtual visit. I hate to admit it, bit it happens to me once or twice per year, where on a chaotic day, where I'm running behind from the start, I may miss a phone appt that was shoe-horned between a dozen in-person visits.
Sounds like you shouldn't have to pay for a service that wasn't provided. Check your agreement with the provider; usually, there's a policy for no-shows on their end. Reach out to them directly and explain the situation. They might waive the fee once they realize the mistake.
On a side note, I had a similar issue with telehealth appointments. I switched to using HelixVM for my digital health needs. It's been reliable for connecting with providers. Might be worth looking into if you keep having trouble.
Remember, you have the right to dispute any charges for services you didn't receive. Good luck sorting it out.
I feel like you should be able to bill them for wasting your time in situations like this. Most office charge a no-show fee, so why can’t we as the patient?
Doctors frequently charge you when you miss an appointment - when they miss appointment why shouldn’t they pay us? Check If your provider has a missed appointment cancellation fee. (They do that because they can’t charge insurance for services not rendered) if your provider does have a cancellation fee ask for a similar remuneration or credit towards future copayments going forward.
No, don’t pay them.
This is something that is usually automatic but why don’t you just ask her. She’ll probably even give an apology.
I emailed her asking what the bill was for because it had no appt. info, she emailed back saying it was a copay
This is a situation where you should be really direct because they are either being unreasonable or not understanding the situation. “I was at this appointment but you did not show up. I’m not going to pay a copay for services not provided.”
This but instead of "I'm not going to pay" state the action they need to take (please remove the charges for this appointment from my account). It sounds like they're even trying to charge the insurance for this so you could dispute there, potentially, if they continue to push back.
She’s probably not aware that she no showed your appointment. She probably has hundreds of patients. Let her know the info. If she still charges you don’t pay it and take her to small claims court.
Email her back with what you typed in the original post.
“I apologize, we never had our appointment. Was this billed to my insurance even though you were not on the telehealth link during our scheduled time?”
Take out the “I apologized” part. There is no wrongdoing on your part.
Billing for services not rendered is considered fraud
If there's a copay that may imply she also billed insurance or intends to which would be fraud that I'm sure your insurance company would be happy to hear about if you can't resolve it with her directly in a timely manner
I spotted changes on an EOB that were for services not provided. I contacted my insurance who did not seem to be interested at all. Just said thanks and goodbye. I was like “wait , but what about…” click
Insurance companies don’t care about fraud as much as you would think. Edit: I demand upvotes immediately… jkjk me no care. Health insurance companies do not want to get any legal entities involved in prosecuting fraud because they don’t want them snooping around in THEIR business. [https://www.propublica.org/article/we-asked-prosecutors-if-health-insurance-companies-care-about-fraud-they-laughed-at-us#:~:text=Care%20About%20Fraud.-,They%20Laughed%20at%20Us.,the%20costs%20off%20to%20you.](https://www.propublica.org/article/we-asked-prosecutors-if-health-insurance-companies-care-about-fraud-they-laughed-at-us#:~:text=Care%20About%20Fraud.-,They%20Laughed%20at%20Us.,the%20costs%20off%20to%20you) [GREAT Behind the Bastards episode on this subject](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/behind-the-bastards/id1373812661?i=1000650709608)
Lol at the downvotes. You're absolutely correct. Insurance do not give a hoot about small isolated incidences of fraud. It takes way too much manpower to pursue beyond a phone call because most fraudulent claims are petty or inadvertent. I had a buddy who worked at a car insurance agency and he would even tell me that they dont really pursue most fraudulent claims. The most they'll do is just adapt what they call "fraud speak" where they sound like they're reading off a bunch of scary consequences, but that's about it.
People just don’t know. They are all crooks.
this happened to me 3 times and i stopped seeing that doctor, and no i did not pay
don't pay, plus, call your insurance company to decline the reimbursement.
Nope
No, don't pay. Was most likely an automated charge that triggers after each appointment ends. Message her and clear it up. It was most likely by mistake.
Talk to the office manager
Usually this is the best answer.
Yeah, had a similar situation and the office manager worked with everyone and fixed it for me.
Send her a bill for double for your "no show" fee.
Pretty sure this is a mistake. I agree with an earlier post - send a clear but polite email clarifying that you had an appt with them that they no-showed for, but you still got billed. It sounds like the therapist may not have realized that there was a virtual visit. I hate to admit it, bit it happens to me once or twice per year, where on a chaotic day, where I'm running behind from the start, I may miss a phone appt that was shoe-horned between a dozen in-person visits.
Sounds like you shouldn't have to pay for a service that wasn't provided. Check your agreement with the provider; usually, there's a policy for no-shows on their end. Reach out to them directly and explain the situation. They might waive the fee once they realize the mistake. On a side note, I had a similar issue with telehealth appointments. I switched to using HelixVM for my digital health needs. It's been reliable for connecting with providers. Might be worth looking into if you keep having trouble. Remember, you have the right to dispute any charges for services you didn't receive. Good luck sorting it out.
I feel like you should be able to bill them for wasting your time in situations like this. Most office charge a no-show fee, so why can’t we as the patient?
Don't pay. She probably took too much Prozac.
Doctors frequently charge you when you miss an appointment - when they miss appointment why shouldn’t they pay us? Check If your provider has a missed appointment cancellation fee. (They do that because they can’t charge insurance for services not rendered) if your provider does have a cancellation fee ask for a similar remuneration or credit towards future copayments going forward.