I run a small dental office North of Dallas. Several months ago, a patient walked in with Lincoln financial group dental insurance. We did not have previous dealings with them. We had the insurance verified and provided treatment.
We accepted their fee schedule which was low to start with but we were a start-up company and the patient was nice so I was okay with it. We treated the patient to routine procedures then billed the insurance. The insurance initially paid like they were suppose to. Then a few months later, they wanted their money back citing that the patient did not have insurance at the time of treatment and that THEY did not know this at the time of treatment because of a 30 day lapse or something. The first request was for $215 which I sent back, then they wanted another $120 otherwise they were going to sic their collection service at me.
I have been in this business a long time and have never encountered anything like this. Its already difficult running a business at their low fee schedule, now they wont even honor that.
We did not provide all the treatment on the first day so why did Lincoln grp not notify us immediately before we wasted half a day providing treatment? We, in turn, were unsuccessful in collecting that money we returned to Lincoln from the patient and had to put her on our collection service.
I dont understand why I am paying for THEIR mistake. If they had simply said that the patient did not have active insurance, then I wouldnt have wasted half a day treating her for money that I cant collect from Lincoln. Its companies like lincoln financial grp that makes it difficult to be honest in this type of business.
If you are a provider, you should not take their insurance. If you are a employer or employee seeking insurance; dont use Lincoln as they are not honest and YOU will be stuck with the bill at the end. I feel that it is my duty to warn as many of my collegues as possible (on the internet and otherwise) of your practices as nobody warned me.
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