A patient known as Cali discovered her dentist's office committed insurance fraud after emergency dental work. The office initially told Cali the procedure was fully covered, then later claimed her benefits were maxed out and offered to 'help' by billing under a different code. This fraudulent billing included work Cali never received, yet she was still charged $3,000 out of pocket.

When Cali refused to pay for unperformed work, she contacted her insurance provider. Months later, she discovered the office had already submitted a fraudulent claim that was paid by her insurance. The insurance confirmed the dentist's office had made a fraudulent claim by billing for procedures that never occurred. Such health care fraud is surprisingly common and costs billions annually in losses.

The dentist's office is now threatening to send Cali's account to collections for the $3,000, despite her refusal to pay for work she never received. When Cali requested an itemized bill, the office failed to provide one. This case illustrates how health care fraud affects patients directly, potentially leading to collections actions for disputed charges while also contributing to higher insurance premiums and taxes for everyone.