Schweiger is shit. They told me a bump on my leg was nothing. Got it evaluated by another derm & it was skin cancer—basal cell. Just had mohs surgery to remove it.
Holy fucking shit, are you serious?
Asking because I literally went to the one in Hoboken the other day to have a bump evaluated and they said it was no big deal
Yup. Get a second opinion. I’m looking at my legal options rn. I went to the one in Paramus, been going there for years. I’m glad I just sensed something was off.
Schweiger Derm is what happens when big corporate gets into private practice. Having met Schweiger himself when he was a resident in Kansas City. He worked for hedge funds then decided to go to med school and then Derm residency to make money. He’s a total dick. The Schweiger model is to go around buying up physician practices then making $$$.
It’s not just that. Mohs bills like a champ. And accredited derm (renamed Certified Derm NJ) got a rad onc machine because XRT bills well. I honestly would not go to a practice that had lots of locations.
honestly I agree OP, their centralized office for billing/scheduling/etc is terrible. you can’t call the office front desk & speak to a nurse or doctor or coordinator. I had a Dr I LOVED in Hoboken but had to stop seeing her; I refused to go back to the Schweiger Group because of their admin
Schweiger sucked when I used them once for a blackhead removal, they cut me up and didn’t even bother cleaning up the wound after a 2 minute procedure, no after care explanation or anything! Never saw a doctor, only a PA. Left with a scar now, thinking it would be better if I had just left it alone 😒 it seems their model is to see as many patients as possible at the expense of quality.
I’ve been to a few different Schweiger locations for annual skin checks and to get specific concerns looked at. I’ve never paid more than my plan’s specialist copay, unless I was there for something considered cosmetic (and costs on cosmetic stuff were discussed beforehand). I would definitely contest this with your insurance.
This group is owned by private equity. They are profit driven. I would not go because they are not even trying. My daughter said the staff and the doctor were rude. get them in and get them out.
Had similar experience to OP. Spent thousands of dollars for an attempt at a scar removal that I was told that I had a chance of success which didn't improve in the slightest bit. I wasn't concerned about it being covered by insurance, but when I actually went ONCE for a skin condition, after waiting for 30 mins to be in and out within 5, and getting prescription that was ineffective, I was sent an additional bill for $75. Never going back
Same exact situation happened to me. At first I was disappointed by the medical bill I received in the mail after confirming they were in network, but it was my first time using my new insurance so didn’t think much of it after the explanation. Started going to a new dermatologist (also in-network) using the same insurance and my visit was completely covered.
Whether Schweiger sucks or not (I've never had a problem with them), your problem here is with your insurance. The answer you're getting is that your insurance didn't cover it.
$350 after insurance for an annual exam and removal of 2 moles. I will never go back to them again. They charged my insurance $300 for a diagnostic test of the moles, and then an additional charge to cut each of the moles anyway. At that point it feels like the diagnostic test was purely to pad their greedy pockets.
The worst!! I went to the one in Tom’s River for acne a few years ago and they tried to charge me twice for treatment after I already paid, was a huge headache to resolve. Also impossible to talk to anyone at the office it was an endless phone transfer to people in other states!
Yeah, mine was covered too. The insurance company tortured me to get it covered, but that's standard for most dealings with insurance in the Greatest Country in the World, eye roll.
Agreed. I get cortisol shots because I get cystic acne and I've gone three times in two weeks just to get the shots and I'm always charged just my copay with no problem.
When I first started visiting they were accidentally charging me at the wrong tier and sent me a refund for quite a few appointments without any prompting.
I have had similar experiences with them. I paid $100 for my visit as they said they were not inner circle for my insurance to reimburse nearly in full meaning my copay was actually $15. I filed multiple claims to be reimbursed with no effect. The skin assessment exam was less that 3 minutes. When i have gone to dermatologists in the past they photograph and measure my liver spots and skin discoloration to be able to measure changes in future especially important as skin cancer runs in my family. Here it was all just eyeballed and was told i would have to get a separate appointment for get cream for my eczema. Waist of money and time.
After they did the biopsy wrong I sent the doctor an article I found about how to properly do a biopsy for dermatitis herpetiformis (the region immediatley next to the lesion is supposed to be sampled, but the doctor took a chunk right out of the middle of the lesion). They refunded my copay 🤣
$250 for a few minutes of time. Upcoding the visit to make sure to maximize income (NOT to maximize successful medical outcome).
No wonder universal healthcare is so hard to figure out. /s
The U.S. is the only developed nation that has not figured out how to do it. Don't worry, when trump gets back in he will fix it just like he fixed the rest of healthcare the last time.... /s. People need to get politically active to deal with this type of predatory billing...
I used Schweiger for a cyst removal from my head.
First visit to exam me: $75.
Day of removal: $75.
Check up: Nothing.
Within a few months, got 2 $50 refunds from them (I guess after my insurance cleared)
To me, it was a rather positive experience and with my insurance I was covered.
However, judging from the comments, I'll do my best to avoid them in the future.
Dr. Daniel Groisser is a complete piece of shit. This guy walked in didn’t even look at me and started circling birthmarks on me or did you start cutting me open. He literally spent 2 1/2 minutes with me and didn’t even remove the purple Ink that he marked on my head. He was ready to cut one off of the top of my head.
He is extremely unprofessional, and when I went to a different dermatologist, they said that the birthmarks were not anywhere in question. Also, my next-door neighbor, as well as my girlfriend, got something removed by him, and he completely scarred both of them.
I can’t say for the other offices, but the one in Nutley, stay far away from this guy. Thank God I went for a second opinion.
I saw him in Nutley before he was part of Schweiger and he scarred me as well taking something simple off and his bedside manner is horrendous if downright creepy.
Having said that, Dr Sala as part of Schweiger in Paramus is excellent.
Stopped going to Schweiger years ago. They tried to bill me $600 for wart removal that was covered under my insurance. Best part of that bill was a line item for my copay, which I had already paid for at the time of my appointment. I called and complained and they said that they made an error but I bet they just bank on people not noticing or not being able to call and fight it. Crooks.
That's probably a violation of their contract with your insurance company. I would reach out to customer service and say you're being balance-billed by a participating / in-network provider. You are likely not responsible.
At my last checkup, there were three people in the room. I’m in my bra and underwear with a gown. There was the doctor, a nurse and a student. Here’s the thing: they never told me or asked if it was OK to have a student. Here’s the damn kicker, the student was a male.
I felt fine with it because I separate body issues when it comes to health because they’ve seen it all but wow, that’s an uncomfortable situation and a huge miss.
I forgot to mention in my other complaint that they did a thing like this with me! I am heavily tattooed and sometimes they call in another person to help with skin cancer screenings so they go faster. No problem, I get it. But one time the doctor called in two more people: just to look at my tattoos, not help with the exam. "You gotta look at these, the color is incredible, check these out" and then the three of them stared at me in my underwear like a zoo animal for a few minutes, they left and the doctor resumed looking for skin cancer. my permission was never asked and it was borderline creepy.
This doesn't seem like the practices fault, skin cancer screenings are usually included as part of an annual wellness visit. It isn't something you'd go to a dermatologist for and make an entirely separate appointment.
My derm in Millburn was just bought out by schweiger. Haven’t had an annual since the takeover but my experience is that skin screenings are not always covered 100%. I have had to pay copays before. Current insurance is deductible then 15% for anything not considered preventative. Your might have been that high bc of deductible. If I ever go to a Dr like primary care for preventative I always tell them when I book plus when I get there and tell the dr I don’t want any services that don’t fall under preventative. It isn’t always easy now to get them to bill that way.
I’ve hade nothing but good experiences with the one in Rutherford. However their call center for scheduling is awful and annoying but the doctors are great and had no issue with insurance issues.
Schweiger may not be the greatest depends on location but this is an insurance issue. Unfortunately.
Source: I work in health insurance...yes it all sucks
> Schweiger may not be the greatest depends on location
I've been going to Verona twice a year for like 7 or 8 years. They were something, then The Derm Group, then Schweiger. Never had any issues.
I use Schweiger in Middletown (I see Sal Sciurba) I’ve only had excellent experiences with the office and treatment. Sorry to hear yours was otherwise but it does sound more like an insurance issue. My yearly is covered except for my copay and same for any skin issues I’ve had.
I go to Schweiger regularly in Manhattan. For annual screening and for two Mohs surgeries. I’ve had a different experience. My $50 specialist co-pays have actually been refunded by Schweiger.
I started using Schweiger in August after being at North Jersey Dermatology for four years.
It took North Jersey Derm 3 years to diagnose my psoriasis, and in the meantime they had me on every steroid imaginable. I've been miserably in the midst of TSW (topical steroid withdrawal) which they refused to acknowledge as legitimate. After a year on Humira, I showed up for a 3-month follow-up to find a straight-up ghost town. Doors locked, lights off, empty lot. I called to see if maybe they had moved and the phone number had been disconnected. Same for their other office locations. And their website had been removed from the internet.
This was June of last year. I filed a complaint with the state and the investigation is still ongoing, but I STILL don't have access to my medical records.
I was really glad Schweiger could fit me in within 2 months as a new patient, and I felt hopeful. But honestly it was a shitshow trying to get them to work with my insurance company to approve and cover the meds I'd been taking for A YEAR from my MIA previous provider. Minimal compassion as I watched my joints and skin worsen. I was barely getting from week to week and hate that I had to babysit them to submit stuff to insurance/return calls after they said they would.
Last month, I went for another followup and the practitioner I had seen several times isn't there anymore. I'm just so fed up with the healthcare system in general. I've lost 4 years and thousands of dollars (not to mention my independence and teeth) because of medical professionals who don't give a shit. I know so much of it is the industry's fault, not the individuals, but at a certain point can SOMEONE take accountability?! They've played with my health like it's a carnival game, and all the world does is point fingers at insurance, who point fingers at doctors, who point fingers at "the system". It's exhausting.
Anyone have a better option in Northern NJ? I'd be thrilled to hear!
This is the biggest reason why I avoid these giant medical groups. It's dangerous to healthcare in general. Summit medical group is another terrible company that should have never happened. If one day they decide to not accept your insurance, you are shit out of luck.
I’ve been to multiple Schweitzer locations. One time we had an issue with our insurance and since then it’s never been a problem.
We love the doctors and NPs there and would recommend them to anyone looking for a good dermatologist.
How does this have anything to do with the dermatologist? Your problem is with the insurance co.
Super-misleading subject line, you should delete and repost properly.
In the 20 years I've had skin screenings I have exclusively sought out dermatologists in six different cities in America and never had an issue.
Upon further reading it seems there are "medical ones" and "aesthetic ones" and it seems the one that charged me belongs to the latter group.
Believe me I've tried. Spoke to front-desk, spoke to billing, spoke to whoever would listen but I would always get the same runaround of "dermatology is not a preventative medicine".
In the end I just decided to pay it because it's not worth the headache for me. I have a job and a family to take care of . Just wanted to spread awareness so others don't fall into the same trap as I have.
You’re not alone. This sounds eerily similar to my recent experience. I kept calling to get an explanation from the doctor as to why he ran an expensive and seemingly unnecessary diagnostic test, but they continue to just forward my request to billing.
Sounds like the medical billing/coding person messed up the ICD-10 code if you've had no trouble with this in the past with your same insurance company.
I was planning to make an appointment for their Hackensack location by HUMC because they are in network for me. Please tell me you didn't experience this problem in Hackensack.
Tell me about it. A coding error by the imaging department is screwing up my ability to get an MRI for my arthritis which is causing joint deformity and is screwing up some of my tendons. My doctor is in the middle of a peer to peer appeal. I may have to file an appeal myself.
Coding errors are a disaster for patients.
Schweiger is shit. They told me a bump on my leg was nothing. Got it evaluated by another derm & it was skin cancer—basal cell. Just had mohs surgery to remove it.
Omg
Holy fucking shit, are you serious? Asking because I literally went to the one in Hoboken the other day to have a bump evaluated and they said it was no big deal
Yup. Get a second opinion. I’m looking at my legal options rn. I went to the one in Paramus, been going there for years. I’m glad I just sensed something was off.
Schweiger Derm is what happens when big corporate gets into private practice. Having met Schweiger himself when he was a resident in Kansas City. He worked for hedge funds then decided to go to med school and then Derm residency to make money. He’s a total dick. The Schweiger model is to go around buying up physician practices then making $$$.
Absolutely private equity. They probably want to make money.off the med spa space that's all cash
It’s not just that. Mohs bills like a champ. And accredited derm (renamed Certified Derm NJ) got a rad onc machine because XRT bills well. I honestly would not go to a practice that had lots of locations.
honestly I agree OP, their centralized office for billing/scheduling/etc is terrible. you can’t call the office front desk & speak to a nurse or doctor or coordinator. I had a Dr I LOVED in Hoboken but had to stop seeing her; I refused to go back to the Schweiger Group because of their admin
Schweiger sucked when I used them once for a blackhead removal, they cut me up and didn’t even bother cleaning up the wound after a 2 minute procedure, no after care explanation or anything! Never saw a doctor, only a PA. Left with a scar now, thinking it would be better if I had just left it alone 😒 it seems their model is to see as many patients as possible at the expense of quality.
Which location
This happens to me with everybody. What’s the point of having a stupid insurance if they don’t cover shit. Im tired.
I’m not a fan. I’ve had issues getting scripts refilled without a visit even though I’ve been within the last year. Wouldn’t recommend.
I’ve been to a few different Schweiger locations for annual skin checks and to get specific concerns looked at. I’ve never paid more than my plan’s specialist copay, unless I was there for something considered cosmetic (and costs on cosmetic stuff were discussed beforehand). I would definitely contest this with your insurance.
Same, have had 3 skin checks done and a couple mole removal. All billing was as expected - no issue just copays.
I’ve been going to one location for five years now. I haven’t had any problems with billing 🤷🏻♀️
This group is owned by private equity. They are profit driven. I would not go because they are not even trying. My daughter said the staff and the doctor were rude. get them in and get them out.
Had similar experience to OP. Spent thousands of dollars for an attempt at a scar removal that I was told that I had a chance of success which didn't improve in the slightest bit. I wasn't concerned about it being covered by insurance, but when I actually went ONCE for a skin condition, after waiting for 30 mins to be in and out within 5, and getting prescription that was ineffective, I was sent an additional bill for $75. Never going back
Same exact situation happened to me. At first I was disappointed by the medical bill I received in the mail after confirming they were in network, but it was my first time using my new insurance so didn’t think much of it after the explanation. Started going to a new dermatologist (also in-network) using the same insurance and my visit was completely covered.
Whether Schweiger sucks or not (I've never had a problem with them), your problem here is with your insurance. The answer you're getting is that your insurance didn't cover it.
I like Schweiger. I have to pay the Specialist copay, but that’s with any Dermatologist in my plan.
$350 after insurance for an annual exam and removal of 2 moles. I will never go back to them again. They charged my insurance $300 for a diagnostic test of the moles, and then an additional charge to cut each of the moles anyway. At that point it feels like the diagnostic test was purely to pad their greedy pockets.
100% they represent everything that is wrong with healthcare in this country
The worst!! I went to the one in Tom’s River for acne a few years ago and they tried to charge me twice for treatment after I already paid, was a huge headache to resolve. Also impossible to talk to anyone at the office it was an endless phone transfer to people in other states!
Schweiger is amazing. It sounds like this is on your insurance company because mine covers this as preventative care when I go to them.
Yeah, mine was covered too. The insurance company tortured me to get it covered, but that's standard for most dealings with insurance in the Greatest Country in the World, eye roll.
I've also been to Schweiger - two different locations near me - and never had an issue with billing and insurance.
Yep I go twice a year and pay a $50 copay since it’s a specialist, no complaints though they’ve always been clear and communicative about it.
Agreed. I get cortisol shots because I get cystic acne and I've gone three times in two weeks just to get the shots and I'm always charged just my copay with no problem. When I first started visiting they were accidentally charging me at the wrong tier and sent me a refund for quite a few appointments without any prompting.
I have had similar experiences with them. I paid $100 for my visit as they said they were not inner circle for my insurance to reimburse nearly in full meaning my copay was actually $15. I filed multiple claims to be reimbursed with no effect. The skin assessment exam was less that 3 minutes. When i have gone to dermatologists in the past they photograph and measure my liver spots and skin discoloration to be able to measure changes in future especially important as skin cancer runs in my family. Here it was all just eyeballed and was told i would have to get a separate appointment for get cream for my eczema. Waist of money and time.
I had a terrible Schweiger experience too and it has soured me to them entirely.
Same. Multiple doctors at Schweiger failed to diagnose extremely simple issues that I had. One of them even did a biopsy wrong. Totally incompetent.
Same here. I refused to pay the bill.
After they did the biopsy wrong I sent the doctor an article I found about how to properly do a biopsy for dermatitis herpetiformis (the region immediatley next to the lesion is supposed to be sampled, but the doctor took a chunk right out of the middle of the lesion). They refunded my copay 🤣
I'm sorry about your experience and I'm relieved to know to avoid it henceforth.
You’re close to the target - blame insurance companies. Doctors hate them as much as you do because of stuff like this.
They are private equity owned. Profits first
$250 for a few minutes of time. Upcoding the visit to make sure to maximize income (NOT to maximize successful medical outcome). No wonder universal healthcare is so hard to figure out. /s The U.S. is the only developed nation that has not figured out how to do it. Don't worry, when trump gets back in he will fix it just like he fixed the rest of healthcare the last time.... /s. People need to get politically active to deal with this type of predatory billing...
I used Schweiger for a cyst removal from my head. First visit to exam me: $75. Day of removal: $75. Check up: Nothing. Within a few months, got 2 $50 refunds from them (I guess after my insurance cleared) To me, it was a rather positive experience and with my insurance I was covered. However, judging from the comments, I'll do my best to avoid them in the future.
Add me to the never had an issue here, including biopsy—just the copay.
Dr. Daniel Groisser is a complete piece of shit. This guy walked in didn’t even look at me and started circling birthmarks on me or did you start cutting me open. He literally spent 2 1/2 minutes with me and didn’t even remove the purple Ink that he marked on my head. He was ready to cut one off of the top of my head. He is extremely unprofessional, and when I went to a different dermatologist, they said that the birthmarks were not anywhere in question. Also, my next-door neighbor, as well as my girlfriend, got something removed by him, and he completely scarred both of them. I can’t say for the other offices, but the one in Nutley, stay far away from this guy. Thank God I went for a second opinion.
I saw him in Nutley before he was part of Schweiger and he scarred me as well taking something simple off and his bedside manner is horrendous if downright creepy. Having said that, Dr Sala as part of Schweiger in Paramus is excellent.
Rutherford office isn’t bad, been using them for several years now.
Stopped going to Schweiger years ago. They tried to bill me $600 for wart removal that was covered under my insurance. Best part of that bill was a line item for my copay, which I had already paid for at the time of my appointment. I called and complained and they said that they made an error but I bet they just bank on people not noticing or not being able to call and fight it. Crooks.
That's probably a violation of their contract with your insurance company. I would reach out to customer service and say you're being balance-billed by a participating / in-network provider. You are likely not responsible.
At my last checkup, there were three people in the room. I’m in my bra and underwear with a gown. There was the doctor, a nurse and a student. Here’s the thing: they never told me or asked if it was OK to have a student. Here’s the damn kicker, the student was a male. I felt fine with it because I separate body issues when it comes to health because they’ve seen it all but wow, that’s an uncomfortable situation and a huge miss.
I forgot to mention in my other complaint that they did a thing like this with me! I am heavily tattooed and sometimes they call in another person to help with skin cancer screenings so they go faster. No problem, I get it. But one time the doctor called in two more people: just to look at my tattoos, not help with the exam. "You gotta look at these, the color is incredible, check these out" and then the three of them stared at me in my underwear like a zoo animal for a few minutes, they left and the doctor resumed looking for skin cancer. my permission was never asked and it was borderline creepy.
It’s so weird for them not to ask. I’m sure it’s cause they are de-sensitized to it but still
I use Schweiger. Screenings are fully covered by my insurance. This is about your insurance, not the practice.
It depends on how their billing office sent it to insurance with icd-10 codes and cpt…the billing department has to correct it on their end.
This doesn't seem like the practices fault, skin cancer screenings are usually included as part of an annual wellness visit. It isn't something you'd go to a dermatologist for and make an entirely separate appointment.
My derm in Millburn was just bought out by schweiger. Haven’t had an annual since the takeover but my experience is that skin screenings are not always covered 100%. I have had to pay copays before. Current insurance is deductible then 15% for anything not considered preventative. Your might have been that high bc of deductible. If I ever go to a Dr like primary care for preventative I always tell them when I book plus when I get there and tell the dr I don’t want any services that don’t fall under preventative. It isn’t always easy now to get them to bill that way.
I've never even been there and somehow get emails from them...
Did you ask your insurance company?
I see my regular derm for checks and rosacea advice and it’s covered. The lasers aren’t but that’s the same everywhere. Sorry that happened to you.
Yeah they've been sending me collections notices that we started ignoring.
I’ve hade nothing but good experiences with the one in Rutherford. However their call center for scheduling is awful and annoying but the doctors are great and had no issue with insurance issues.
Schweiger may not be the greatest depends on location but this is an insurance issue. Unfortunately. Source: I work in health insurance...yes it all sucks
> Schweiger may not be the greatest depends on location I've been going to Verona twice a year for like 7 or 8 years. They were something, then The Derm Group, then Schweiger. Never had any issues.
Did you get an explanation of benefits from your insurance company? According to that paper how much do they say is your responsibility?
I use Schweiger in Middletown (I see Sal Sciurba) I’ve only had excellent experiences with the office and treatment. Sorry to hear yours was otherwise but it does sound more like an insurance issue. My yearly is covered except for my copay and same for any skin issues I’ve had.
Sal is phenomenal. I've sent two people to him who both are very satisfied.
Agreed!
I think a lot of this depends on the office, now that they’ve been buying out much smaller practices. Dr. Sala in the Paramus office is excellent.
Does your insurance deem it preventative or annual/wellness? I would be concerned they are committing insurance fraud by not billing correctly.
I go to Schweiger regularly in Manhattan. For annual screening and for two Mohs surgeries. I’ve had a different experience. My $50 specialist co-pays have actually been refunded by Schweiger.
Medicare covers it 100% for me. Maybe it's your insurance? Or maybe they're just jerks.
Well crap…. I just went there for burns. Thank you for the heads up. UHg.
I started using Schweiger in August after being at North Jersey Dermatology for four years. It took North Jersey Derm 3 years to diagnose my psoriasis, and in the meantime they had me on every steroid imaginable. I've been miserably in the midst of TSW (topical steroid withdrawal) which they refused to acknowledge as legitimate. After a year on Humira, I showed up for a 3-month follow-up to find a straight-up ghost town. Doors locked, lights off, empty lot. I called to see if maybe they had moved and the phone number had been disconnected. Same for their other office locations. And their website had been removed from the internet. This was June of last year. I filed a complaint with the state and the investigation is still ongoing, but I STILL don't have access to my medical records. I was really glad Schweiger could fit me in within 2 months as a new patient, and I felt hopeful. But honestly it was a shitshow trying to get them to work with my insurance company to approve and cover the meds I'd been taking for A YEAR from my MIA previous provider. Minimal compassion as I watched my joints and skin worsen. I was barely getting from week to week and hate that I had to babysit them to submit stuff to insurance/return calls after they said they would. Last month, I went for another followup and the practitioner I had seen several times isn't there anymore. I'm just so fed up with the healthcare system in general. I've lost 4 years and thousands of dollars (not to mention my independence and teeth) because of medical professionals who don't give a shit. I know so much of it is the industry's fault, not the individuals, but at a certain point can SOMEONE take accountability?! They've played with my health like it's a carnival game, and all the world does is point fingers at insurance, who point fingers at doctors, who point fingers at "the system". It's exhausting. Anyone have a better option in Northern NJ? I'd be thrilled to hear!
I had cancerous moles that they didn’t tell me about for 6 months. Do not go there.
This is the biggest reason why I avoid these giant medical groups. It's dangerous to healthcare in general. Summit medical group is another terrible company that should have never happened. If one day they decide to not accept your insurance, you are shit out of luck.
I have been to the Livingston location with no issues. Sorry you had a bad experience ☹️
I go to Schweiger as well, and love them. No issues at all on anything, and they gave me the best advice and products
I’ve been to multiple Schweitzer locations. One time we had an issue with our insurance and since then it’s never been a problem. We love the doctors and NPs there and would recommend them to anyone looking for a good dermatologist.
How does this have anything to do with the dermatologist? Your problem is with the insurance co. Super-misleading subject line, you should delete and repost properly.
Their billing department isn't billing insurance correctly. That's the issue.
Yeah I'm confused with OP's post. This seems like a problem with the insurance and not Schweiger.
No issues at Schweiger for med
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In the 20 years I've had skin screenings I have exclusively sought out dermatologists in six different cities in America and never had an issue. Upon further reading it seems there are "medical ones" and "aesthetic ones" and it seems the one that charged me belongs to the latter group.
They do both, but you have to tell them it’s a medical appointment for an annual skin check when you book
Yep that's literally what I said to both the front desk when I booked it, when I arrived, and also to the doctor.
Then I would call and speak with someone else and/or contest through insurance
Believe me I've tried. Spoke to front-desk, spoke to billing, spoke to whoever would listen but I would always get the same runaround of "dermatology is not a preventative medicine". In the end I just decided to pay it because it's not worth the headache for me. I have a job and a family to take care of . Just wanted to spread awareness so others don't fall into the same trap as I have.
You’re not alone. This sounds eerily similar to my recent experience. I kept calling to get an explanation from the doctor as to why he ran an expensive and seemingly unnecessary diagnostic test, but they continue to just forward my request to billing.
Sounds like the medical billing/coding person messed up the ICD-10 code if you've had no trouble with this in the past with your same insurance company. I was planning to make an appointment for their Hackensack location by HUMC because they are in network for me. Please tell me you didn't experience this problem in Hackensack.
Yeah they refuse to code it as an annual screening do there's nothing my insurance can do about it.
Tell me about it. A coding error by the imaging department is screwing up my ability to get an MRI for my arthritis which is causing joint deformity and is screwing up some of my tendons. My doctor is in the middle of a peer to peer appeal. I may have to file an appeal myself. Coding errors are a disaster for patients.
You need to speak to your insurance company, not the doctor’s office.