Dr. Hartstein is a good doctor. Last year, I visited him because my eyelids were swollen, and he helped improve my condition. He is very professional.
However, I have consistently had issues with the administration. During a follow-up visit for my eyelid problem, the second appointment two weeks after the first visit, I was told I didn’t have to pay anything. But after I got home, they called me and said they had made a mistake and that I needed to come back and pay. I paid online eventually.
Last month, I received a message from his office inviting me for a 'routine eye appt'. I decided to go, planning to use my annual eye exam benefit through my vision insurance because my experience with Dr. Hartstein is good, and the office has a lot of options for glasses. When I arrived, I told them I wanted an annual eye exam.
After the exam, they charged me $145, even though I had said the annual exam should be covered with my VSP benefit. They didn't budge. I paid, confused, and then asked if I could use my insurance to purchase sunglasses. They refused and said the doctor hadn’t given me a prescription. I became very confused, as this had never happened before.
After I got home, I discussed it with my husband and called them back to ask for the billing code. They told me it was for an 'office visit'. They didn’t use my VSP insurance because they considered a 'routine eye appt' to be a follow-up related to my eyelid issue from last year, not an 'annual eye exam' as a vision exam. But NO ONE told me that both in the waiting room and during the exam. No one told me that I would be charged with other insurance, not VSP, before they started the exam.
So yes, I’ve had two confusing experiences dealing with the administration. I won’t be returning. That said, the doctor himself is good. Just be careful when visiting. Make sure you clearly confirm administrative details and your insurance coverage beforehand.
