I chose Dr. Starr after researching providers who accepted my insurance and scheduled an appointment to have a small eyelid lesion evaluated. Before my visit, I provided my insurance information and was told to bring $180–$425 in cash or check, despite having a $50 specialist copay. I was also informed of a mandatory refraction fee. This immediately struck me as unusual, but I proceeded with the appointment. During the visit, I underwent several vision tests. Ultimately, Dr. Starr was unable to determine what the lesion was and referred me to another specialist. The most concerning part of my experience was the billing. At checkout, I was charged $215 before the office had billed my insurance and I was not given or offered a receipt. After reviewing my Explanation of Benefits (EOB), I discovered that my insurance showed a patient responsibility that did not match what I had already paid. I had to make multiple calls to both the office and my insurance company to understand the discrepancy. To the office's credit, I did receive a partial refund. However, the process was confusing, time-consuming, and never fully explained to my satisfaction. I was later informed by my insurance company that multiple claims had been submitted and resubmitted for the same date of service, which only added to my concerns. My advice to prospective patients is simple: carefully review your EOBs, keep copies of your receipts, and ask detailed questions about any upfront charges before paying. What should have been a routine office visit turned into weeks of follow-up regarding billing. ***UPDATE!!*** After my review was posted, Dr. Starr personally reached out and left a voicemail offering to refund all of the money I paid for my visit. I appreciate the gesture and his willingness to address my concerns. That said, my goal was never to obtain a refund. My concern has always been the billing process and the discrepancy between what I paid upfront and what was later reflected through my insurance. I am sharing my experience so that other patients know to carefully review their EOBs and billing statements and make sure they understand any charges collected before insurance is processed.
