Why is it that we put up with people constantly trying to screw us out of money?
Went to the eye doctor today. I've been paying vision insurance for a year now, and figured I'd get my damn money's worth. The co-pay for the eye exam is $10 and the co-pay for glasses is $25. I brought in an old pair of frames, and when I made my appointment, I told them that I just wanted some new lenses. Total cost should be $35. I had the appointment with him and he looked at my eyes and determined my prescription. We talked a little bit, he asked me if I normally wore glasses, and I told him I just wear them for watching TV or reading at night after I take my contacts out. He asked me some questions about what kind of contacts I wear, and he mentioned that I might want to get some that were more gas permeable. He mentioned that there were some new brands out that had a higher content of water.
Then I went and talked with the Optometrist. My insurance covers getting new frames, but I only went in to get new lenses for a pair of frames I already had. I have 2 pairs of frames, and one is very old and the lenses hardly help at all, the other is newer and is the one I wear at night. I just didn't see the sense in getting another pair of frames when I liked the ones I had just fine. I could tell that she wanted me to get another pair. She tried every angle she could. My insurance covers up to $120 in frames, and if I didn't pick out a pair, then the office just misses out on that money. I didn't really want another pair though. That would mean I'd have 3 pairs of glasses. 2 seems like plenty. She tried to explain that it was a better deal for me if I got a new pair of frames. I didn't buy that either though. Either way it's a $25 co-pay, and the gay looking frames they had there probably wouldn't fit my oversized head. I didn't feel like going through the humiliation of trying on pair after pair only to find out that each pair was too small. Finally she relented. But as she was filling out the form, she kept trying to sell me anti-reflective coatings and scratch resistent lenses, and ultrathin materials for the lenses. Each thing was extra and not covered by my insurance. Jeez, it gets so damned old. I felt like a cheap ass, but really I've paid my insurance for a year, and just want to pay my $35 in co-pay and get out.
Finally she just put me down for a pair of glasses. I went to pay, and with the $10 eye exam co-pay and the $25 glasses co-pay I should have a $35 bill right? Nope, it's $47.50. So where'd this $12.50 come from? I almost blow it off. $12.50 isn't a hell of a lot of money, but goddamn, why am I getting charged extra. As the cashier reaches for my card, I pull it back and ask what the deal is. Remember when the eye doctor mentioned that I might want to get gas permeable contacts? Well, I guess his idle chatter turned out to be a "contact lenses consultation". What I thought was a conversation about contact lenses was a freaking consultation. The cashier again reaches for my card, but I pull it away again.
"Let me talk to the Doctor" I tell her.
Out he comes, and in an overly audible voice goes on and on about how our discussion was a consultation and it was necessary because when I order contact lenses from them, it'll be important information for them to know about. I shake my head and remind him that I'm just here for glasses. That's all. I brought in my frames, and I want new lenses. Why is that so hard?
Eventually he tells me that they'll not charge me for the consultation until I order contacts from them. I think we both knew that I would not be ordering them from him.
It was only $12.50, but I am just so sick of people tacking on charges everywhere I go...
Shawn