Hormone clinic running a scam

[torinsmom]

At least it seems to me.

I saw an ad for bioidentical hormone replacement. I have often wondered if some of my problems(fatigue, headaches) had something to do with hormones. So last week I went in for my "free" consultation. I checked off all the symptoms I have and the counselor said I was a prime candidate and she was sure they could help me. She wanted me to do bloodwork, and I agreed to do that. I was told they don't file insurance, but as the blood work is covered by insurance, I should be reimbursed. She was honest that insurance does not pay for the hormones.

So.....I got the bloodwork and had an appt. scheduled for yesterday to get the results and possibly start the hormones. In the meantime, I called my insurance and discovered they don't reimburse at all. This place is not in-network, so there is a $2000 deductible. They also could not pull up the NPI #, which identifies the provider. Heck, on the receipt, the company actually had the city and then the WRONG STATE!

Since I paid $350 for the bloodwork, I figured I'd go and get the results and just tell them I couldn't do the hormones.

This is where it gets interesting. The lab results show that all my hormones are in normal levels(according to the labs normal levels). The nurse practitioner who went over them with me said that those normal levels are actually wrong and that my levels are not good for testoterone, estrogen and progesterone.

I guess I am out $350, but if I was more gullible, I would have started treatment to the tune of $2300! By the looks of the waiting room, they are doing pretty well at that office too.

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

I wouldn't pay it. If they told you it would be covered, and it wasn't..it's their problem. They knew when you gave them your insurance card that they weren't in the network.

I started going to a chiropractor about 10 years ago for my carpal tunnel syndrome. I gave them my insurance card, and they said they accepted that insurance. I paid my copay for about 10 visits. Then after I stopped seeing him because he did nothing for me that actually worked, I got a bill from them for a large amount from unpaid insurance claims. I sent the bill back with a letter telling them that they said my insurance would be accepted and they will have to write this off. What a bunch of crooks. I never heard from them again.

Can you start over and have your blood work done through your GYN? I was tested and had symptoms, but they said no to any hormones. My symptoms are not too severe, but they did give me a mild antidepressant.

 

[RitaE]

I think the point is

No provider can guarantee that any procedure is going to be reimbursed by your insurance. You need to check with your insurance company for that.

 

[torinsmom]

I already paid for the bloodwork with my flexible benefits card. It is not in writing that they said insurance would reimburse me. On their website, it states that you have to go through your insurance and they may or may not cover things. At least I got a copy of my bloodwork. I think i will take it to a gynecologist and see what she thinks. I have always seen a nurse practitioner at my primary care doctor for my GYN exams, but I think its time to go to someone who knows a little more about the hormones.

 

["Got Disney"]

If your hormone levels are normal, why do they want to treat you with hormones? Are you menopausal?

What were they saying they wanted to give you? I'm confused. The lab says that all your hormone levels are normal however they are not. I am a Labor and Delivery Nurse and that sounds batty,

What the heck good are the results if they are not going to go by them.

Why did you go there instead of your GYN?

 

[torinsmom]

[QUOTE="Got Disney";36194217]If your hormone levels are normal, why do they want to treat you with hormones? Are you menopausal?

What were they saying they wanted to give you? I'm confused. The lab says that all your hormone levels are normal however they are not. I am a Labor and Delivery Nurse and that sounds batty,

What the heck good are the results if they are not going to go by them.

Why did you go there instead of your GYN?[/QUOTE]

It does sound batty. I don't have a GYN, I go to my primary each year and she does my Pap and bloodwork. I went to this clinic because I kept seeing their commerical and I have a lot of the symptoms they describe--fatigue, weight gain, headaches, insomnia, irritability, etc. They use bioidentical hormone which are supposedly safer I guess you could say I feel for their commericals.

They wanted to give me testosterone. My testosterone level was 31.21. Normal according to lab results is 10-70, but the clinic says normal is more like 200-350.

They wanted to give me progesterone. My level was 0.5, normal at that time in my cycle is 0.3-1.2, but they say that is too low(didn't give me a range on that one)

They wanted to give me estradiol. My level was 11.7, normal is 11-69 at that time in my cycle.

They use implants for the estradiol and testosterone and cream for the progesterone.

Oh, I am not menopausal. I am only 39.