Is It Appropriate to Charge Patient's Credit Card Before Procedure?
asked 2 years ago by DullSmile in Boston
Latest answer by Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Question viewed 249 times
Tags: financing, plastic surgery
Why did the doctor charge my credit card before I even had my procedure?
4 answers to Is It Appropriate to Charge Patient's Credit Card Before Procedure?
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Pre payment for plastic, cosmetic or aesthetic surgery.
Taking payment in full prior to an elective cosmetic procedure is a usual and customary practice in plastic surgery. Typically, surgeons will even request payment several weeks in advance to determine who is serious about scheduling.
Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon
Chicago Plastic Surgeon
+1
Is it normal to have to pay before my procedure?
Hi there-
It is customary, and absolutely appropriate for your provider to have charged you before the procedure. Unfortunately there have been many problems over the years that people have been seeking cosmetic improvement that necessitated this approach, but I can assure you the same would have been asked of you in my office or that of any other provider.
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Cosmetic surgery practices
It is a common practice for patients to prepay for their cosmetic surgery. If you are using a credit card to pay for your surgery, it is appropriate to prepay before surgery. However, this practice should be made clear as to what you are paying for in terms of procedures, follow-up, touch-ups.etc, and what cancellation or refund policy it includes.
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Cosmetic surgery is fully paid before the surgery
The fees for all cosmetic surgery are customarily paid in full before the surgery is performed. Credit cards, checks etc are all acceptable forms of payment but are in the bank preop. That is to prevent a patient from refusing to pay after, a practice which years ago necessitated this national policy.
