I have been a patient with Dr. Ackerman's office in Manassas for about seven years, had a couple of red flags here and there, toyed with the thought of a new dentist but I guess I was discouraged because of having built a rapport with them. Every bill I have had to argue with them because they have delayed turning into my insurance for months, and then billed me for it when the insurance never paid them because they never got a claim. Then they sent it to the wrong zip code to my insurance company, etc...every time I have been able to resolve it but it was getting a little annoying.\r
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I then had the misfortune and misjudgement to get an appointment there for my husband. As soon as he walked in they told him that he had to get 1745 of work done to his mouth....20% of which my insurance won't pay. They told us we would have to pay 475, which is not 20% of 1745. When I told them that their math was wrong they said that they were charging us for stuff that insurance didn't pay like ""behavior modification - $35.00"", which essentially is teaching a 40 year old man how to brush his teeth. He already knew that and if he didn't they could have at least asked us if he needed to learn that. When I questioned them about the fees they were very rude and condescending, like how dare the patient ask where their money is going. After I was tired of the discussion and agreed to pay the miscalulated fee they wouldn't let me post date it for 2 days later for when we get paid. They were so greedy they couldn't wait for 2 days!!!! The invoice is so flaky and unprofessional (probably on purpose), so they can make excuses and turn the fees into whatever they want it to be. I guess it depends on where they are planning their vacation or buying on their shopping sprees. After all that is all that matters, right? Forget about being a doctor to truly help your patient who is trusting their health and virtually their life with you. \r
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The reason our insurance (which we pay extra for upgrade dental insurance) doesn't pay for their innane activities is because they are doing things that aren't necessary. I suspect that they don't want to bill insurance because insurance will only reimburse them a certain amount, but they can scam more out of a patient's pocket. I also suspect that they prey and thrive off of people who don't have insurance, and who also don't speak English so they can get as much as they can for nothing. People who can't speak english don't usually question what they are paying because either they don't understand or have blind faith in doctors. They charge the patient fees double or triple what insurance will pay them, if someone has insurance they do like I do and argue until they bill the insurance. If someone doesn't have insurance they are stuck paying it. I wonder how they sleep at night and I truly believe that dirty money makes dirty hands and dirty hearts.\r
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All I can do is blame myself for not leaving sooner and hope that this is it. Luckily every time I have gone it has been my 6 month checkup and I haven't had to pay out of pocket for anything. This time it is different and I am holding my breath for the huge bill when they ""forget"" the address of Delta Dental again, and the struggle that will be.\r
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They have rescheduled him for a follow up but once again I suspect that it was meerly to get more money since the follow up isn't paid by my insurance company which is another 63. After reading the other reviews I think that I am right and we will do a follow up all right, at another dentist in six more months!!!\r
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My headline speaks volumes, insurance companies are being ripped off by theses greedy docs who bill for things they don't do or don't need to do, then the insurance companies have to up our premiums.\r
Then our government has to step in and overhaul the greed with the medical system like they did with wall street.
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