Can we legally be turned away.?

Question

We found a peditrician that we really love and we were told that they don't accept our insurance and don't accept cash payments from anyone who has our insurance. Then we said we canceled it and payed anyway because we really love that Dr. and my Fiance mentioned something about us having that insurance and the people at the desk flipped saying they would be fined and we couldn't come back until we had different insurance. However we called the insurance company about this and they said the Drs. office was full of it and we had the right to pay for any Dr. we wanted.

My question is, can the Drs. Office turn us away even though we are willingly to pay?!

Yes we lied to them but they lied to us as well, where they could have instead easily explained to us there real reasons for not accepting us.

Answer 1

technically, a dr. can always say they aren't accepting new patients. Also, there may be some issues that the Dr. has with that particular insurance company, maybe even a legal settlement... who knows?

However, all that being said, due to the Civil Rights Act, and subsequent revisions, no business or service provider can discriminate on the basis of race, gender, age, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, or handicap. If you feel that you have been turned away due to discrimination on any of these bases, you can seek legal redress in a court of law.

Finally, as others have already pointed out, a medical professional cannot refuse care in an emergency situation.

Answer 2

A physician can deny you as a patient for any reason he or she chooses as long as it is not emergent care. If they already accepted you as a patient then they must give you ample notice in writing (usually 30 days) to find a new doctor.

If a physician is not contracted with an insurance that insurance will not cover any care delivered by that physician - while you may be willing to pay for your office visits in cash, if you were to have an emergency (heaven forbid) or your child required extensive treatment then the prices would go up substantially and the likelihood is the physician would not get paid for his services, or get paid in a very small amount (after having to seek a judgment against you) as to make it a burden on him/ her.

A physicians practice is a business, and they are not under obligation to accomodate you as a patient, and mind you - you lied to them. Giving them more than reasonable grounds to terminate your children as patients - again with due notice.

Why is it everyone assumes every doctor has to see them just because they say so -- that's not the law. EMTALA laws guarentee you a right to be see in an emergency or active labor and means you cannot be transferred out of a facility solely based on ability to pay. That has nothing to do with your physicians office (unless you wander in there in imminent danger of dying - then they owe due diligence to contact emergency help!)

Answer 3

Whata crappy doctor!

The law may depend on what state you're in. In theory, before they start their careers, doctors take the hippocratic oath which compels them not turn anyone away for any reason.

Your doctor sounds like a scumbag. I would suggest finding a new one and letting everyone you know about your experience. Perhaps even your local news channel.

Answer 4

you have a major lawsuit and leverage against this doctor

check out the state board of medicine on the internet for the state you are in,

report the doctor for refusing to treat, and refusal to accept your insurance even if on the plan,

by federal law the doctor has to accept insurance if it is medicare or medicaid and at least file it for you

if you have private insurance he does not have to accept it but he may have to file it, depends upon what state you

when you said the doctor would not accept XCASH THAT MEANS HE IS IN TROUBLE WITH THAT INSURANCE COMPANY AND IS NOT ALLOWED TO EVEN TAKE THOSE PATIENTS

I WOULD FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE STATE MEDICAL BOARD AND WITH THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE IN YOUR STATE

I WOULD ALSO FILE A COMPLAINT AGAINST THIS DOCTOR FOR SOME TYPE OF DISCRIMINATION, DO NOT KNOW YOUR RACE, RELIGION, BACKGROUND BUT IF NOT WHITE ANGLO SAXTON PROTESTANT, MAYBE DOCTOR IS A PERSON WHO IS PREJUDICED.

I WOULD FOLLOW UP, POSSIBLY WIN A TON OF MONEY, REFUSAL TO TREAT, ON GRONDS OF YOUR RACIAL OR ETHNIC BACKGROUND IS FEDEAL OFFIENSE

Answer 5

I always thought they cannot turn you away only if it's an emergency. If it's a routine check-up, I think they can turn anybody away. Perhaps I'm wrong...

Answer 6

Their unwillingness to work with you seems to say something about how they value you and your family. I would find a different pediatrician.

Answer 7

THATS BAD, I THOUGHT THE ONLY APPLIES TO BARS AND RESTAURTS.