Orthodontic treatment

I took my son for orthodontic treatment to Dr. Thomas Hall, 1919 North

Loop, Houston TX, 2 years ago (8/18/ 2007) and paid $3,698 cash to begin

his treatment. My dental insurance (CIGNA) was to pay $1,000 and I

received a discount of $1,831 because I had dental insurance. I work at

Prairie view A&M University and last September (2006) the university

changed dental carriers to Delta Dental.

I received a letter from the dental office dated June 13, 2007,

informing me that Cigna had been discontinued and that they received

$808 from the insurance, but were still owed $192; and because we had

terminated coverage, the original contact was voided and the discount

had now been rolled back into my account and we were now liable for

$2,032.

I contacted them and was told in the fine print that if my dental plan

terminated for any reason, my discount would be cancelled and a new

contract would have to be made.

I feel that I had no control over a business decision by my university

and I cannot understand how I went from owing $192 to $2,032 if I had no

break in coverage; the university merely transferred the coverage to

another carrier. But, the business manager was adamant about the charge

and threatened that late charges would accrue if I did not make

arrangements for payment.

Since my child is still in braces, I have a dilemma - I don't feel that

what is happening is just, but my son needs his treatment and I do not

want credit problems. Does this sound right to you? I have a copy of

the letter and the original contract if you'd like to see them...

We have called the dentist, but he has refused to return our calls and

the business manager is becoming more disrespectful in her tone when my

wife or I call.

I can't help but wonder if one of the other patients were to lose his

job, how this dentist could live with himself knowing that the last

thing that person needs is to have another $1,800 added to their growing

list of debts, especially if the person was current on their payments,

or had paid cash up front...