My husband made an appointment at Coast Dental in Venice, Florida
(they are a chain of dental offices) after finding them to be listed a provider on the Humana website.
They listed many offices accross Florida.
When he arrived at the office he told them he was there for his covered benefits which included an exam and x-rays.
After being seated in the chair he was first looked at by a young girl who measured his teeth and did the x-rays.
Followed by a very brief visit from the dentist who looked in his mouth and said everything looks okay.
After the dentist finished the girl that had checked his teeth came back in and said she was sorry to tell them that because he had diabetes his teeth would evenually fall out and that he needed special care to prevent this happening.
(My husband is 63 years old has very boarderline diabetes which is treated and under control. He has very good teeth with only one filling in this mouth.)
After telling him how sorry she was that his teeth would eventually fall out she presented him with a detailed treatment plan that she said would need to be followed to perserve his teeth and asked him to sign it. He resisted because he was in the dental chair and could not properly review the plan.
The girl said this is just a proposal and pointed to the top of the page and said see, it says proposed treatment plan.
So my husband signed the document.
After he was finished he went to check out and was presented with a bill for $136.98 for the services rendered that day. He was shocked and asked why he was being charged this when he came in for covered services. He was then told that the dentist was a professional and as such decided what services needed to be given any patient.
My husband gave in and paid the $136.98 on his credit card. He then was handed proposed treatment plans that totaled $2,076.49 which included multiple cleanings and even 2 sonic toothbrushes (which he already has).
When he returned home he was very upset and told me about his experience. I was also very upset about what he had experienced and called the dental office to complain and ask for a refund.
The girl who answered the telephone said she would have to have the office manager call me back.
I did not get a return call so I called back in a couple of days and was handed over to Greg, the office mananger who told me that my husband had signed a form that authorized them to charge for the services they provided. I asked for a partial refund after going back and for for several minutes and he reluctantly said he would have to send the request to the corporate office for review and would call me back with the results.
I waited for the return call which did not come so I called Greg again.
He informed me that a refund would not be given because my husband had signed the necessary authorization.
I argued to no avail and asked for the telephone number for the corporate office.
Upon calling the corporate office I spoke to Lisa in the customer care department. She was very nice and after telling her the story she said she would have her boss review the issue and call me back. She indicated that would take a couple of weeks. I told her I would call back and gave her a specific date to expect my call.
When that date arrive I called Lisa and was told they would not be giving a refund because my husband has signed an authorization for the treatment.
After complaining about the way they trick patients into signing documents while in the chair she said she would have her boss call me.
In a while I received a call from Missy who said no refund would be given because she had spoken with the dentist at that office and he assured her that my husband knew what was being done to him. I again opjected and gave all the reasons why the way things were dealt with were no fair to my husband or any other patient that would come into the office for plan covered benefits/services. She stated that my husband had signed a consent form to proform the services he received. After once again telling her that he had only signed a proposed treatment plan and did so after objecting and being told it was just a proposal. Missy then told me she would not be able to give him a refund because he signed...
I asked for her to please send me a copy of the signed consent form and she said she would.
I also asked for the name of Missy's superior and she refused to give it to me.
I have been waiting for two weeks for the signed form. It has not arrived. I have called back several times to follow up only to reach voice mail. I have left messages and had no return calls.
After looking up Coast Dental on the internet I found information about the people who run and company. I called the corporate number to the company and left a message for Dr. Cindy Roark who was listed as the manager of the company.
I have had no return call from Dr. Roark.
I have left more messages for Lisa to have Missy call me back because I did not receive the signed consent form they claim my husband signed and have not gotten a call back.
I called my husband's insurance company to file a complaint about Coast Dental and was told they had many complaints about this company.
I am concerned not only for my husband but other elderly people who are taken in by these unfair practices.
I will continue to work to make this company correct this issue but feel other people need to know about how Coast Dental treats people who come in for covered dental services.
I am very upset about the methods used to cheat people who just want services for benefits they pay for through insurance premiums.
This company is a scam and should be stopped!
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