ARMAC Inc.

I am rejecting this response because:
It is not a matter of my refusing to pay for a knee brace.  One agree to pay and expects fair practice (although honestly I do not remember ever being told I was being sold a brace; we were given it as I said; if I signed, no argument about that but one expects to sign something rational).  We could have been told or we could have been sent to buy one ourselves for less than a tenth of this.  Charging $750 or so for a sleeve to pull over the knee that one could buy for, one would think, $50-$75, is criminally predatory pricing.  This is in no way fair practice.  I am not even sure my insurance company knows they paid about $340 or so for this, but they and I are both being ripped off.  The fact that the company says that they _can_ and _did_ charge this much does not explain it.

Hello,As one of our Representatives tried to explain to Mr. [redacted], when he called into Armac on 4/13/15, per our records, Mr. [redacted] - the parent, did sign our Assignment of Benefits, acknowledging that the patient was getting a brace and that the brace was going to be billed from ARMAC to his...

insurance.  Armac is contracted to bill the insurance at a set fee. It is his insurance policy that dictates if they cover the item fully or if he has a deductible or co-ins to fulfill. By law Armac is legally required to due our due diligence to collect his financial responsibility. We can arrange payment arrangements if that would help. Feel free to contact me if you would like further information or have any questions.  Thank you for your time and help in this matter.

Review: Patient visited [redacted] Orthopedics in Cedar Knolls, NJ for a knee injury. The nurse gave him a knee brace, a cloth and plastic sleeve to pull over his knee, as we were leaving. There was no mention of cost or even of payment. Armac Inc., with which we have never dealt, then sent us a bill for $725.49 for a medical device, of which they say we owe $342.55. This is insane and should be criminal. (i) We were never told by [redacted] Orthopedics the price or even that we'd be charged. They made it seem like a gift, as if it was included in the fee for our visit to the doctor. (ii) We never dealt with Armac. We never made a purchase/ (iii) They call this a medical device and the code they used for our insurance (United Healthcare), and on their bill to us, does not clearly say what this exorbitantly crazy fee is for: a knee sleeve that might cost $50-$75 normally one would think. Their stated code is KO ADJ JNT POS PRE. they ripped off the insurance and us grossly.Desired Settlement: (i) [redacted] Orthopedics should clearly tell patients the cost (the insane cost). (ii) Armac has ripped off UnitedHealthcare for $342.55 for something that might cost say $50 - $75 and I have asked the insurance company to check this. (iii) We should not have to pay any more for this simple piece the doctor's nurse gave us.

Business

Response:

Hello,As one of our Representatives tried to explain to Mr. [redacted], when he called into Armac on 4/13/15, per our records, Mr. [redacted] - the parent, did sign our Assignment of Benefits, acknowledging that the patient was getting a brace and that the brace was going to be billed from ARMAC to his insurance. Armac is contracted to bill the insurance at a set fee. It is his insurance policy that dictates if they cover the item fully or if he has a deductible or co-ins to fulfill. By law Armac is legally required to due our due diligence to collect his financial responsibility. We can arrange payment arrangements if that would help. Feel free to contact me if you would like further information or have any questions. Thank you for your time and help in this matter.

Consumer

Response:

I am rejecting this response because:

It is not a matter of my refusing to pay for a knee brace. One agree to pay and expects fair practice (although honestly I do not remember ever being told I was being sold a brace; we were given it as I said; if I signed, no argument about that but one expects to sign something rational). We could have been told or we could have been sent to buy one ourselves for less than a tenth of this. Charging $750 or so for a sleeve to pull over the knee that one could buy for, one would think, $50-$75, is criminally predatory pricing. This is in no way fair practice. I am not even sure my insurance company knows they paid about $340 or so for this, but they and I are both being ripped off. The fact that the company says that they _can_ and _did_ charge this much does not explain it.