Santa Monica Urgent Care

Reviews 9

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Elizabeth Ferenczi

This center is one of the reasons all Americans have out of control insurance premiums. I have excellent insurance, but out of genuine interest enquired about the cost of my care ( for a broken pinkie toe) every step of the way. I was told that it was $150 to see a doctor. OK. Because I have excellent insurance, the upselling started immediately. I was offered a pain shot before I was examined. I was in no pain and the shot I was offered was essentially liquid tylenol. (30 cents worth, but who knows what they bill that at) That doctor recommended an x ray and before I consented, I made sure that I asked how much that would cost too. The doctor said, "I cant know that", so I waited to talk to the billing department and was told a foot x ray was $45. By my calculations, the cost of my care was $195. The doctor also tried to sell me a "boot" to protect my toe and further painkillers from their in house pharmacy. ( Convenient but check your coverage) Imagine my surprise six weeks later, to see that my insurance company was billed $900 for my visit- 5 minutes with a doctor plus a foot x ray. The x ray was billed to insurance at $100. Cigna paid the "negotiated discount rate"of $405.09. That is DOUBLE the retail rate of the services rendered. I spoke to several staff members at SM Urgent Care, and was told that an uninsured patient would have been charged $235 for the visit. This overcharging of insurance companies is beyond unethical, although in my communications with the billing staff, I was assured it was legal. It is why all of American premiums are so ridiculous. It is absolutely disgusting. No wonder we are where we are with national healthcare when a simple foot x ray is billed at $900. If you have good insurance, Santa Monica Urgent Care will try to cash in on you. Please fight back and continue to ask questions and post your experiences. If youd like to learn more, read An American Sickness by Elisabeth Rosenthal. We should all fight back against rip offs like this one. FYI The medical care was adequate.

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Damyan Alexitch

The staff was friendly enough and the Doctor was fine where this place got low marks is there speed. We got here and the place was empty of patients and we were told we were lucky. We filled out the normal questionnaire and was showed to a room immediately and told the doctor would be right in, 45 minutes later I asked how much longer and they told me he now has our questionnaire and will be in in 5 minutes, 20 minutes later he finally came in. The Doctor did the quick checkup we came in for and took us out where the front desk said we had to wait for them to get the chart from the Doctor for some reason and seemed to imply we needed something further. We waited a half hour and I finally got up to ask what were waiting for. She said "let me check on your chart" came back a second later and said "actually youre all taken care of by the insurance and your paperwork has been faxed over to your other doctor" so we were waiting for nothing. We came in being first and no other patients there and 2 and a half hours later we left for literally a check up that took no more then five minutes. So plan for a LOT of wasted time comming here. Everytging else was fine enough.

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Leslie Hope

I had an eye infection. Forget getting an appointment at Jules Stein Santa Monica in under a month. By then I could be blind. I tried UCLA Santa Monica Bay Physicians on Wilshire, but it was closed. Huh? The website said open until 9:30 pm. I then searched to find a place that was open at 6:30 pm where I could be diagnosed and treated and discovered Santa Monica Urgent Care. I had my vitals taken almost immediately by the PA and saw the doctor after a very brief wait. He numbed my eye. I immediately felt better! His examination of my eye was thorough and he explained my issue in detail. The medication he recommended was effective in stopping the itching. He recommended a follow up appointment at Jules Stein, but at least now I wont need to suffer for a month while I wait to see an opthamologist. I wish I could remember the doctors name so I could give him a shout out here. He was great. Ill be back the next time I need urgent care, hopefully not too soon, but you never know....

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Meg H

I took my toddler here for an issue while traveling; in the future, Id make more of an effort to seek out specialized pediatric care for a child under 5 (its not fair to expect a center that is going to focus on adult interactions to know all the "tricks" to interacting with little kids) but the care that was provided was compassionate and complete. I was actually astounded by how friendly everyone here is. All of our interactions with the staff, from the ladies at the front, to the nurse, to the physician, to the medical director were great -- everyone is extremely courteous and looking to help in any way possible which is comforting when your in a situation that requires visiting an urgent care center.

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Joshua Christian

I have rarely received such efficient, professional and personal care from a regular Primary Care Physician, much less at a first-time walk-in appointment at an Urgent Care clinic. I was escorted into a room almost immediately; I never waited longer than a few minutes before a nurse or doctor was speaking with me about my issue; and on top of all that, they were entirely affordable, as well as patient with my odd out-of-state student insurance. I highly recommend SMUC to any local or traveler in need of good health care. The staff exceeded my expectations by gargantuan proportions at every turn.

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Loran Briggs

Best medical care I have ever received. Primary care providers take up to a week to schedule a visit, walk in here and I have never waited more than 30 minutes. Doctors ACTUALLY listen instead of coming up with diagnosis on sight. They do charge as a "specialist" to your insurance which is a few dollars more, but with the wait time and quality of care it is worth it. We have tried many other doctors in the area and had to always go back for a 2nd look, but not these doctors, they alway seem to have a correct diagnosis.

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sommer zebian

BEST PLACE for health care, hands down in LA area. I visited 4 clinics before I found this GEM, and thank goodness I did! The staff are all very sweet, the doctor very very understanding, patient, reliable and able to help you. Its a little bit more expensive than regular clinics, but soooo worth it to be put in the hands of the right people SENSITIVE to youre needs Two visits and 100% all the way <3

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Steve Stovall

I went into urgent care with shortness of breath and leg pain. Not too long after my arrival Dr. Martello diagnosed me with blood clots of the leg and chest .. she called UCLA E/R and prepped them for my arrival and I was hospitalized for 5 days. WITHOUT Dr. Martellos brilliant diagnosis and swift action, I might not be here now .. I swear by Urgent Care

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Judi Welch

Went in sick with the flu last Sunday. Got there at 9 and was seen immediately. Dr. Newman was great ! Very thorough...throat culture, urinalysis, chest x-ray, and exam. Cannot say enough about how caring they all were from the front desk to the nurses . I recommend SM Urgent Care without hesitation !

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