Don't let that deter you. I work for 3 urologists. One of the docs we book one patient every fifteen minutes and patients wait sometimes over an hour to see him and then walk out not knowing what the heck he's doing or taking about and another doc, we triple book in a fifteen minute slot and no one is kept waiting, everyone knows what he doing and talking about and he's on NY Dr's top 10 ! So... don't let the time involved get to you. Come with your questions and if he says something you don't understand, ask him right then and there what he means.
As far as the bills go.. they get paid. They would work out something with you. She'll be fine. Your vet should not have said what he said and just dismissed it. I would call him and tell him your fears, he may elaborate a bit of what he's thinking which might put your fears to rest.