Notifications
Clear all
Topic starter
We are back in Kentucky after a two week visit to STX. Rather than try to write a "long" report about what we experienced, I thought it might be better to just coment on some topics of recent interest on this forum. One of those is our visit to Dr. Prasad's office while on island.
We stayed at the Buccaneer. When we arrived, our son was fighting a sinus problem, but we thought he was getting better. He wasn't. Christmas weekend he was really bad, so on Monday after Christmas we took a taxi from the Buccaneer to Dr. Prasad's office. No appointment, we were a walk-in. We arrived about 10am, and the place was packed, very very busy. However, we were courteously treated by the receptionist, and took a seat. The wait turned out to be about two hours, but under the circumstances, not unreasonable.
Once called back to be seen, all of the personnel involved, from the doctor (not Dr. Prasad but another one) to the office staff, were very polite, courteous and professional. Our son was diagnosed with a sinus infection, prescribed an anitbiotic (which we had filled next door at the pharmacy) and charged $85 (a reasonable amount in lieu of insurance).
The antibiotics worked, and within 48 hours our son was much better, and able to finally enjoy his vacation.
We found Dr. Prasad's office to be new, clean and very modern. The staff was courteous, and the medical care was excellent, certainly equal to what we would expect from a primary care facility here in Kentucky. In addition, during our wait, we had an opportunity to visit with other people waiting, from all walks of life. Maybe it was because of the Christmas season, but everyone was very pleasant to talk to.
We were pleased with our visit, and because of the recent discussion concerning Dr. Prasad, wanted to share our very positive experience. We would not hesitate to go back if the need arose.
Steve
Posted : January 8, 2011 2:17 pm
Our son was diagnosed with a sinus infection, prescribed an anitbiotic (which we had filled next door at the pharmacy) and charged $85 (a reasonable amount in lieu of insurance).
Dang, I was charged $135 for a similar scenario at the same office one week before you. I waited 3 hours to see Dr. Cintron (the other doctor) about a sinus infection. The big difference seems to be that I have insurance with a high deductible, so I paid out of pocket. What's that about? They gouged me for having insurance, even though the cost was too low to file a claim?
Posted : January 8, 2011 3:02 pm
STXBob,
Bingo! Sucks, doesn't it? A few years ago we went round and round with the hospital on STT. We too had a high deductible, and when hubby went into the emergency room we told them we were NOT going to use our insurance. They asked for our card "anyway". THEN insisted on charging us the higher (insured) rate. I asked how much it would be if we did not have insurance. They told me, and that's how much I wrote the check for. They were not going to accept the check. I told them that amazingly enough that was exactly all I had in my checking account!
They billed us for years, and my husband talked to a couple of people who said they would see about adjusting it and considering it paid, but that never happened. I finally paid it (very begrudgingly) because it kept showing up on my husband's credit report.
So, the moral of the story is just say you aren't insured.
Posted : January 8, 2011 3:22 pm
Juanita, thanks for the advice. Last year, I visited Dr. Jett, and the staff asked me if I had insurance, and if I was going to file a claim. I said Yes to insurance and No to filing a claim, and I think they charged me less, because later I asked them to send info to my insurance company just for their records, not for a claim, and the staff said, "But we charged you the non-insurance rate."
Posted : January 8, 2011 4:43 pm
When I was in Australia two years ago, I saw an M.D. on a national holiday within five minutes and had a script filled at a next-door pharmacy immediately. The total cost to me was $90 Australian which, at that time, with the exchange rate, was like sixty bucks. And they couldn't stop apologizing for the "high" cost, explaining that because I was an uninsured foreigner and it was a national holiday, they had to charge the "higher" rate.
Just sayin'. When people tell me national health care sucks, I tell them this story.
Glad you had a positive experience with Prasad. He generally has a good rep here, but his walk-in wait times are legendary.
ETA: @STXBob: "Cash pay rates" with health care professionals are quite common. I've been self-employed and uninsured for years and almost always pay less than someone who is filing an insurance claim.
IT
Posted : January 8, 2011 4:43 pm
Do I ever miss Dr. Braslow!
Posted : January 8, 2011 6:16 pm
me too beachy
Posted : January 9, 2011 12:21 pm
