Rob, I can understand your frustration. However, there are a few issues here that weren't addressed to begin with.
First, whenever you are presented with a treatment plan, always get a copy which will include the codes and fees. Second, you have the contract with insurance company, not the doctor. The doctor agrees to see X number of patients at a significantly reduced fee because otherwise these patients will go somewhere else. So what does he have to do? He has to see many more patients than he ideally would like to because instead of making, for example, $1.00 per patient he's only making $0.45 per patient. So where does the difference come from, fee for service patients. The problem is, since the practice is geared towards treating patients for a lower fee, the customer service usually sucks.
Now, lets look at overhead he may have. Student loans, staff salaries, payroll taxes, unemployement taxes, malpractice insurance, workers comp insurance, property liability insurance, various supplies such as the allergy kit you paid for, electricity, water, equipment loans, sterilization services (we all like to go into a clean treatment room), rent or mortgage, property taxes, state and local license fees. I can go on for three more pages of overhead costs. I know you understand what I'm getting at.
Next, when a person decides not to pay for services rendered, that is like shoplifting. You pay for the groceries in your shopping cart, right? You pay for the meal you ate at a restaurant, right? So why would you not pay the doctor? Next time you go out to eat, ask to speak to the manager and tell him that you could have made the same meal for less and only want to pay for the actual cost of the food.
So herein lies the value of my contribution. Yes, healthcare is expensive, I struggle with it everyday. I never perform a procedure without informing my patients how much it will cost and how much the crappy insurance will pay. My job is easy: I diagnose, recommend treatment, and discuss all risks and benefits. The patient has the hard job. They have to weigh the risks and benefits and decide if they want to do the treatment. After doing this for 20 years, I don't let my feelings get hurt by someone not wanting to pay. The front door is not far and I know what the end result will be.
This is not a direct post towards anyone in particular. It shows just a little bit of what goes on inside a private doctors office. Oh, don't pay for a procedure with a credit card or check and then decide to stop payment in Florida. It's a 3rd degree felony and I report it to the police. Yes, I have done that for as little as $30 and a bench warrant is issued.