I went to Dr. Siegel for toenail fungus on one of my toenails. It wasn't a bad case at all, really just an aesthetic problem but I still wanted to have a doctor look at it. My experience there was wonderful; Dr. Siegel was very attentive and thorough. She even shaved down some calluses on my feet. I thought, wow, she is great! I was wondering, however, why I had x-rays done, which had nothing to do with nail fungus, however I didn't ask at the time. (Which I should have.) Even though my case was very slight, she recommended laser treatment for it, if the topical treatment didn't work. Laser treatment would cost me, I believe $500-600. At the time, I didn't know my case was hardly anything; I only found that out when I got a second opinion from another podiatrist. So, I contemplated getting it done. Well, all of that came to a halt when I received my bill! She charged my insurance company over $800, which left me a bill of $114!!!! JUST FOR LOOKING AT TOENAIL FUNGUS!!!! It turns out that she charged $200 for the new patient consultation, about $150 each for 2 x-rays of my foot and 2 x-rays of my ankle. (Again, NOT NECESSARY AT ALL!) Then $55 for nail debridement, (Removal of unwanted tissue around the toenail.) $88 for the calluses, and then a whopping $170 to biopsy the nail with the fungus! (Again, not nescessary.) She did not mention once through all of this "special treatment" that she would be charging me for it. She did say that she was going to biopsy the nail but I had no idea it would be so costly, and again, at the time, I did not know that my case was nothing major. I was appalled when I got the bill. How dare she? I called to complain and the receptionist there said they would deduct the money I owed for the x-rays, proving that the doctor knew it was ridiculous. But why should she care? She already received the bulk of the money from my insurance company. When I went to get a second opinion at the other podiatrist, (who was wonderful, by the way) all I had to pay was a $15 copay. When I told her about my experience with Dr. Siegel, she told me she had other patients that came from her with similar complaints. BEWARE! If you do not have the extra money to spend, DO NOT go to Dr. Siegel! She is a swindler
by Lauren J.
xxx.xxx.173.83
April 09, 2016