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« on: June 20, 2019, 05:30:55 PM » |
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I think I just need to vent...
As some of you know, I've been planning a trip to Philadelphia since about February. The trip is less than a month away, and as I am Canadian and need to pay up front for dialysis, I've been trying to get a per treatment price.
First, a bit of backstory. Two years ago, I went to Atlanta. I used DaVita for the first time, and had a wonderful experience. Because of that, when it came time to plan this trip, I didn't even research other companies, I went straight to DaVita. I got an email back in February with the unit I'd be going to, and the list of things that was needed. That wasn't a big deal. I forwarded that email to the head nurse at my unit, and she's been taking care of it. About two weeks ago, I started trying to find out what the price of dialysis would be. Two years ago, when planning my trip to Atlanta, the placement officer was so helpful with everything, I figured I'd just shoot an email to this new guy, and he'd help me out. I got nothing back from him, so finally I called him. He barely let me get my questions out before he said "in the initial email that I sent in February, at the bottom it says 'if you have any other questions please contact ******* dialysis center," and promptly ended the call.
While I was thinking, "what a jerk" in my head, I emailed the unit with the 2 contact emails that I'd been given and asked them my questions. I again got nothing. On Monday, this week, I called. The poor woman who answered the phone was run off her feet, and she put me on hold for about 5 minutes before she was actually able to talk to me (thank God for my $30 a year Skype account). When she was able to talk, she told me that she had my email, but she wasn't authorized to give me a price for dialysis, but the one who was would be in the next day. I asked for her to email me the next day, and the lady on the phone said it would be done. I got no rssponse Tuesday or Wednesday. When I got nothing today, I emailed again. I got a very prompt response, telling me that my questions has been forwardered to DaVita Guest Services. I felt like smashing my head against a brick wall. Somewhere in the mess of emails and phone calls of the last two weeks, I talked to a very nice lady at DaVita Guest Services, who had told me that it was the unit who set the price. She was able to give me the number to DaVita's Accounts Payable department, who might be able to take my payment via credit card. I just want to know the amount before I call them.
Why not just pay by credit card at the unit, you ask? Simple. Most of the units do not take credit card payments. The one I'm going to in Philadelphia doesn't even have a credit card machine, or so I'm told. Payments are generally made by money order or cashier's check, which is fine. The only problem is, you can't buy a money order with a credit card.
So, I'm only slightly frustrated, and with only 19 days until I leave, I'm really starting to feel the crunch. Lesson learned. I will now stick to private dialysis clinics in the US. They may be more expensive, but there are a lot less hoops to jump through.
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I Hate Dialysis Message Board
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