Cancelation Fees
By Amber
@AmbiePam (124090)
United States
August 4, 2026 8:14am CST
I would say cancellations aren’t always fair, but then I’d hear my dad say to a ten year old me “Well, life isn’t always fair.” I ask because I was thinking about the cancellation fees my doctors have. My primary care charges $25 if you don’t call to cancel or cancel more than one time in a row without 24 hours notice. Okay, that’s pretty fair, especially if you don’t call.
My dentist, however, charges me $50 if I don’t come, whether I call or not. Why go to that one? She likes my family so she gives us a discount. Far more than a regular dentist would. But she really will charge you the $50 as she has charged me. My dad and stepmom have never canceled on her, but she’d probably charge them too.
What do you think of cancellation fees?
7 people like this
7 responses
@DaddyEvil (176555)
• United States
6h
I don't think I get charged if I forget my doctor appointment. If I do, insurance must pay it because they've neer said anything to me when I forget my appointment. I know I've put the time I'm supposed to be at my appointment into my phone as the time to get ready to go. Pretty was so upset with me whan that happened.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (211547)
• United States
6h
I think they have to be reasonable. I think they are mainly there to discourage people who make a routine of cancelling. My former roomie was like that. He must have been one frustrating guy for them to deal with.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (88175)
• United States
3h
It depends. I think no doctor, dentist, or anyone else should cancel for a legitimate reason. I also think they should have a one-time “grace” exemption. (I get phone calls and e-mails about upcoming appointments, so it’s hard to say “I forgot.”) Now, I wonder if they waive that if you reschedule when you call to cancel (i.e., “my car won’t start, can I reschedule the appointment for next week?”) as opposed to outright canceling it.
If the office tells you that you can’t come in with covid-like symptoms, and you wake up this morning and test positive for covid, what do you do with that 3 PM appointment? You call them. They’d better NOT charge you a cancellation fee, because you did what they said to do!
I wonder how’d they feel if you charged them if THEY called and canceled the appointment on you! 
@Marilynda1225 (91810)
• United States
5h
I'm pretty sure my doctor has a cancellation fee if you don't cancel within a certain amount of time.
My kids grew up with the same "life isn't always fair" too.
