OK, Dis Doctors... what would you do.

[Luv Bunnies]

I wouldn't worry much about negative reviews. Many people only write reviews if they've had a problem. It comes down to what a person was expecting vs. their perception of what they actually received. I chose a new primary care doctor last year who had mixed reviews. Many people said she was abrupt and not friendly. I had the opposite experience with her. She doesn't sit and make small talk. She gets right to the point, but is very thorough. She didn't dismiss any of my questions or concerns as unimportant. She listened to everything I said and ordered tests and/or treatment accordingly. If someone was expecting a warm, fuzzy doctor to hold their hand and give them reassurance, they would probably give her a bad review. If you're someone like me who appreciates a direct, honest, to-the-point conversation, she's a great doctor.

 

[mamamary]

I would stay in network and then get the first available appointment. I go to a dermatologist every 6 months and it can definitely be pricey and mine is in network. Sounds like lots of us get keratosis!

 

[Christine]

Go to your Primary Care doctor. They know what is harmless and what needs further evaluation. If you receive a referral from your primary care doctor, it will go through the system and will be much faster. There is a standard of care in most insurance companies for the timeline that needs to be met in regards to referral appointments with specialists.

If you primary says it's harmless and it's annoying you enough to have it removed, they might be able to do it for you right there. Or, you can self pay at any dermatologist the small fee they charge to remove a nuisance skin growth. My dermatologist charges $80. Insurance won't cover the removal of something harmless anyway, so no need to fret about in network vs not. That falls under "cosmetic."

Actually my insurance (and I've had several insurance companies over the last 3 years) have covered some harmless removals. As I said upthread, I have started getting harmless seborhheic keratois growths. They are mainly on my forehead, sides of my face, some on my neck and then down around the collarbone area. Extremely harmless, look like tan moles (thankfully they aren't dark), but in many locations they itch. I get them frozen off each time I go. They usually do 2-3 at one visit. They submit that charge and it's about $200 (that's on top of the visit). I've never had them denied so I'm not sure how they are coding it but it gets paid.

 

[MartyParty]

I wouldn't worry much about negative reviews. Many people only write reviews if they've had a problem. It comes down to what a person was expecting vs. their perception of what they actually received. I chose a new primary care doctor last year who had mixed reviews. Many people said she was abrupt and not friendly. I had the opposite experience with her. She doesn't sit and make small talk. She gets right to the point, but is very thorough. She didn't dismiss any of my questions or concerns as unimportant. She listened to everything I said and ordered tests and/or treatment accordingly. If someone was expecting a warm, fuzzy doctor to hold their hand and give them reassurance, they would probably give her a bad review. If you're someone like me who appreciates a direct, honest, to-the-point conversation, she's a great doctor.

Get in to the first available.

Then take your time a find a practice that you want to go to on a reoccurring annual basis. We go once a year:

• Live in a sunny southern climate with lots of sun exposure
• Moles
• Father in law had skin cancer
• Had a high school friend die of skin cancer

Skin cancer is slow moving at first and very treatable. It’s when you don’t address it early on that becomes a problem. Make a visit every year.

 

[Disney Ella]

I would go to the first available too, although it's nice you found an out-of-network dermatologist who would see you. When I was at the dermatologist's office recently I heard them talking to someone on the phone. "Yes, I understand that you're willing to pay for the visit yourself, but we can't see you as a cash patient if we know you have insurance but we just don't accept it."

 

[DLgal]

Actually my insurance (and I've had several insurance companies over the last 3 years) have covered some harmless removals. As I said upthread, I have started getting harmless seborhheic keratois growths. They are mainly on my forehead, sides of my face, some on my neck and then down around the collarbone area. Extremely harmless, look like tan moles (thankfully they aren't dark), but in many locations they itch. I get them frozen off each time I go. They usually do 2-3 at one visit. They submit that charge and it's about $200 (that's on top of the visit). I've never had them denied so I'm not sure how they are coding it but it gets paid.

They could be coding them as preventative or "prophylactic" removals.

I had a growth removed from my eyelid and insurance would not have covered. They checked before doing it. I paid the out of pocket because it was annoying me to no end.

 

[DLgal]

I would go to the first available too, although it's nice you found an out-of-network dermatologist who would see you. When I was at the dermatologist's office recently I heard them talking to someone on the phone. "Yes, I understand that you're willing to pay for the visit yourself, but we can't see you as a cash patient if we know you have insurance but we just don't accept it."

That's weird.

 

[notatallmagic]

I had a friend die of melanoma, leaving three pre-school little girls. It progressed SO quickly. I wouldn't take a chance on waiting, so either out of network or whoever can see you quickest.

 

[Disney Ella]

That's weird.

I thought it was too, but I guess there had to be some reason for their policy that I didn't hear them explain.

 

[sam_gordon]

Just to clarify, I haven't called the out of network one, so they may have just as long a wait for new patients.