John Muir Medical Center, Walnut Creek - Outpatient Surgery Center - Walnut Creek, California

Gianna S.

I've had just an awful experience with John Muir.

I underwent a very minor outpatient surgery in February. I was presented with an estimate prior to surgery that quoted about $2,500, including my insurance applied.

After surgery, I received a bill for close to $5,000, twice the estimate. I immediately reached out to John Muir medical's team asking how this could have possibly doubled in price for such a minor surgery. Eight (8) months (!!) later, in October I received a letter back outlining a response - turns out that they did not factor in my insurance correctly. They also attached an itemized receipt for $150,000 to show how much the surgery facility cost for that 20 minute procedure (mind you, not the doctor, who bills separately!)

Not only was that a really frustrating bait and switch on pricing due to their billing error, due to their extreme delay in response made it impossible to work with my insurance, as the 6 month window had closed for any inquiry or dispute.

In that time I was waiting for their response, I received a bill from Bass Medical for a similar amount and paid that, thinking this was resolved. As it turns out, this was from my doctor's office, as opposed to the surgical center (Bass Surgical), beware, they're different and bill separately (I assume intentionally to be confusing).

Beware, what you estimate prior to surgery may differ extremely (double!) from what your post-op bill ends up being, and their process is slow and confusing, sticking you with the result.