Buyer beware!
The doctors in the office may be perfectly fair practitioners, but they are absolutely vile business people.
They have set forth policies that abuse consumers.
In my case I was having pain in my lower abdomen and my GP referred me to SVEG.
This took place toward the end of the year and so I hastily coordinated my appointment with them since my deductible would be reset in the new year.
Upon arrival they had me fill out some typical forms and one that was not so typical (see attachment).
This form has language that basically puts you, the patient, on the hook for any and all amounts owed to them irrespective if you have insurance or not.
Now technically by the law they must bill your insurance first, but what they bill and what's covered is a complex area of this industry.
They could for example perform treatment on you that your insurance does not cover. In that case you will be stuck with the bill.
My problem with this scenario is that nowhere in the contract SVEG requires you to sign is there language that says they will inform you of treatments that are not covered by your insurance prior to prescribing and/or performing them.
So that's the rub!
Imagine if you took your car in for something that was covered under warranty, and while in the shop they decided to replace something not covered under warranty and then stick you with the bill.
Even in the shady auto mechanic practice they have the decency to call and ask if they can/should perform something on your car before they do.
Doctors rarely do this. They are "white glove" when it comes to the billing part of their business. They just want their money and with SVEG they make you sign a contract under duress of your medical condition to ensure YOU pay them no matter what.
These types of contracts are typically referred to as "contracts of adhesion" or "take-it-or-leave-it contracts"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_form_contract
What's unrcontionable here is that I pay enormous sums to my medical insurance to put my mind at ease when it comes to medical treatment, but these guys found themselves a loophole to force you into signing an agreement that exposes you to additional (and oftentimes unexpected) costs.
Here is the law that states they must charge the insurance company:
https://www.azleg.gov/viewdocument/?docName=https://www.azleg.gov/ars/20/01072.htm
But with the contract (see attachment) that they have you sign, they force you into a liabilities that you might otherwise avoid with other providers.
In my case (as with others I'm sure) they refused to treat me when I refused to sign this contract in its current form. They could have amended it with at the very least language that requires them to inform me and get consent prior to performing service not covered under my insurance -- but they did not do this.
I highly recommend you stay away from these guys if you care at all about treatment costs. You're a consumer. You have options. There are other doctors and facilities that do not use these bully tactics to force you to pay them money you really should not be exposed to paying!
Shame on you SVEG!
PS:
Since I was not treated before my deductible was reset, I am now having to pay additional deductible fees that could have been mitigated had these guys cared one lick about their patients instead of only their pocketbooks!