Fee for Surgery? - ThinnerTimes

Kevin · 11-10-2005, 04:38 AM

I went to an Introduction session last night and they said there is a $500 fee because insurance wont cover Support Group Meetings, Materials, Validation of Hospital Parking, etc. I was kind of suprised. Anyone else have to do this? It would be well worth it but I was shocked when it was mentioned.

Bypassingme619 · 11-10-2005, 05:41 AM

Kevin I have heard of a co-pay having to be paid but I have never heard of $500.00 fee for Support Groups Meetings, materials and validation. I can see a fee but no $500 for some copied material and free parking. Kevin be sure to call and get more information about this $500.00 fee. That seems kind of strange. Thoes kind of things are usually a packaged deal.

Alleusion · 11-10-2005, 06:15 AM

I went through the navy and didn't have to pay anything. Well, I will have a bill for my meals, but that's it.

justawoman · 11-10-2005, 06:21 AM

I had to pay $50 for a consultation visit to the Barix clinic and that included material and such. After that and I decided to go ahead with the surgery they billed my insurance and at my preop appt after I was approved they told me my insurance wouldn't cover about $1000 of the surgery but I would be billed later and could make small payments on it. If they had told me I had to pay $500 there would have been no way I could of done it. I would check into that!

Dave · 11-10-2005, 06:24 AM

The doctor I'm going with has a $250 "program fee". It covers paper work, dietician, shakes and suppliments for the first few weeks, and misc. that insurance won't cover. I looked into another doctor and his program fee was $1,000! He said most of that was extra for a better pshyc. evaluation but still a lot of money on top of you deductible.

Bypassingme619 · 11-10-2005, 06:29 AM

Dave may I ask what state are you in?

Kevin · 11-10-2005, 06:48 AM

Jenny, I'm going through Tricare Prime via the Air Force. I normally dont have to pay a penny for anything. This is why I was shocked that I was referred to a place that has a $500 program fee. I was reading the brochure and it can be made in payments up until the Surgery, but you have to have it paid off before it's done.

Hope everyones having a good day!

RuthB · 11-10-2005, 06:50 AM

Having a PPO, I had a $1500 program fee for aftercare and such, but that's because a lot of PPOs try to pull fast ones on the doctors, and cover only "Reasonable and Prudent Hospital Care". A lot of Docs have dropped PPOs altogether, and the first one I talked to about WLS wanted a $5000 fee

Alleusion · 11-10-2005, 06:50 AM

Tricare Prime did mine as well. But I wonder if it's because it was through a teaching hospital that there was no fee. I wasn't referred any place but Navy Medical Center San Diego. They have a Bariatric clinic in their General Surgery clinic. I guess they have to teach the doctors something.

Dave · 11-10-2005, 07:08 AM

Denise, I'm in Madrid, Iowa. About 25 miles North of Des Moines.