Paid in Full

The insurance statement of benefits from my "$85" doctor's appointment I walked out without paying for arrived (see the blog titled, "Security!" if you're confused). I owe the clinic $11.15 and will be putting a check in the mail tomorrow.

I did call the accounts & billing manager upon receiving my insurance statement to make sure my file was corrected in case I do need to take my children to the clinic again. A note stating the appropriate way to handle billing through my insurance has replaced the erroneous notes that the receptionist put in my file that day. The accounts/billing manager went to great efforts to repair the situation as best it could be repaired and apologized for the incident. I had lots of questions about the crazy figures the receptionist kept suggesting I pay, but I decided I didn't want to go there and didn't ask.

This was a tough situation. Nobody should be act like or be treated like a door mat, but there is a fine line between being assertive but kind and losing composure and saying and doing things one doesn't mean. I was on the assertive but kind side until I invited them to call the police to come and get me. It was all downhill from there!

I apologized to the head of accounts billing over the phone, and explained I was stubborn said some things I shouldn't have. Imagine that. Me being stubborn! I also put in a good word for the equally-stubborn receptionist :) I had the run-in with and assured her that she was doing her job at trying to make sure the clinic got their money!

I've replayed the scenario over and over in my head, wondering what I could have done in the seemingly impossible situation. I came up with a game plan in case I am put in the situation again. If I am ever in a public situation where I am tempted to say crazy or not nice things I will walk out the door instead of inviting the police into the situation. I will leave it in their court and let THEM decide if they need to call the cops on me after I am gone!