Pearl Alden J MD

What is the point of making an appointment if it is never honored. First time I came here I had a 1:30 appointment and wasn’t seen until almost 3pm. Today, appointment at 11 AM. I kindly asked the «reception» area how long the wait was she said «I don’t know but I’ll find out». Now here I am 40 minutes later, she still hasn’t told me how long the wait is nor have I been called. I purposely asked for the wait time cause I am feeding a meter, so now I most likely got a ticket. I had no issue with the doctor but the experience with the doctor does NOT make up for the rude receptionist or the lack of attentiveness to their patients. Safe to say I will be looking for a new doctor after this.

Something fishy about this office’s policies. They told me I needed to bring 200 $ cold cash to my first consultation appointment «because you haven’t met your insurance plan’s deductible and so this will cover your visit cost». Wrong. Dr. Pear’s office is supposed to submit a claim to my insurance and then let my insurance determine what I owe/​send me the bill. THIS IS WHY I HAVE INSURANCE. So I called my insurance to confirm all this and they straight up told me «do not pay Dr. Pearls office until we have seen their claim, otherwise we can’t put your cost towards your plan’s deductible, we need you to pay through our system». Makes perfect sense, except to Pearl’s receptionist who kept insisting I needed to bring cash and pay them up front, no ifs ands or buts (and 200 $ is a LOT of cash, this was no 20 $ co-​pay to get through the door). I persisted in denying their policy was right and she finally agreed to call my insurance and hear them out, but «wouldn’t get around to it for a few days». Never heard back. Ok, enough already. Goodbye.
I made plans to see another ENT and the new doctor’s office process was incredibly smooth, with no hassle about insurance related policies — «we’ll submit a claim and you’ll be billed accordingly at a later date». Right on.

Never even got to see the doctor. Referred by my PCP, I called right when they opened (at 11am). The incredibly rude receptionist took my insurance information and said they would be able to get me in later today (since I already missed 3 days of work for being sick). She told me she would confirm my insurance info, then call me this afternoon. When I hadn’t heard back by 3:30, I called again. She told me she was very busy and that she was eating her lunch but that she would call me back within the hour. I expressed concern about being seen today and she said it was fine, that the office is open until 7. After another 2 hours passed, I called again. I was told that, if I could get there within 30 minutes, the doctor would see me; if not, tough luck. Oh, and «make sure to bring cash because we don’t take cards.»
I can’t imagine how busy they can possibly be with such a rude, inept front office.