Global Coverage

The first PRP session occurred on 2 November, 2009. I paid out of pocket for what was termed by Koch Eye Associates and their affiliate St. James Medical center as "global coverage" for ninety days. Aspects of that tern proved deceptive, if not outright lies.
"Global coverage" simply meant that they would shoot the laser into the eye an "unlimited number of times in that 90-day period.
Doctor Michael O’Brien performed the laser procedures and the exams in between procedures. The cataract surgery was performed by a different doctor with Koch but also at St. James. Understandably, thr cataract was not part of the "global coverage" and I did not expect it to be.
The exams given by Doctor O’Brien in his Koch Eye office were also not included in the "global coverage." Ultrasounds of the eye billed separate charges. Photography of the eye also raised the bill. Doctor O’Brien also set the dates for exams and PRP procedures alike. I was blind, physically and emotionally crippled. I went along with doctor’s orders like a good little patient.
Two lasers in two weeks, then an exam more than a week later. Laser Thanksgiving week, an exam the following week, more laser the week after that, bringing us to 7 December. 2009 rounded out with an exam on the 18^th and laser on the 21^st. By the doctor’s scheduling, the following exam delayed until the 4^th of January. At that time, the Koch offices scheduled the cataract procedure for 24 January and the next laser for 2 February.
After the cataract procedure and exams, the Koch offices called. They had just wanted to give me a friendly reminder that since the scheduled appointment for the next PRP was outside the 90-day "global coverage" that payment for the next 90-day period would be due before the procedure. In their kindness, they would only charge me half.
2 February is more than 90 days past 2 November as both January and December have 31 days.
I pointed out that the doctor did all the scheduling, that I had another procedure done by them and that three major holidays that are two-day events for most people and two legal holidays had fallen in between the dates separated by 92 days.
They got back to me later that afternoon, claiming to have spoken with Doctor Koch himself. In the ultimate kindness they would include the 2 February procedure but that any extension of the global coverage would have to be at full price.
That Monday, when I sat down at "the rack" in front of Doctor O’Brien, I told him to make sure he got everything, because I could not afford any extension.
Neither at that time nor in that final subsequent exam did he indicate more was necessary.
Nor dud he offer any explanation as to why the flashers that had begun after the third session had never abated, or confirm my suspicion that the edges of my vision were darkening.