pattychat

so, you were not asked to pay up front. My doctor said the 7 day notice was "standard procedure". wasaBubblebutt seemed to think it was fair also.

Roxie, Have you been happy with Dr. Lin? Can you give me directions to his office? I'm wondering if he will take my records for Dr. Mejias. To make matters worse, the OM with Dr. Mejias is giving out personal information about me. A friend of mine called the office(because I was upset) to make sure that Dr. Mejias understood that his office called me and said your payment is due in 7 days.... and the OM gave this person personal information about me. She should NOT have even acknowledge that I was a patient there. I'm waiting to hear from the complaint I filed.

Have you been happy with Dr. Richard? Did you have to pay the part insurance would not pay BEFORE surgery? If so, how much notice did he give?

MysticstarD... it was Dr. Mejias,. Athens, Ga. His office called me 7 days before my surgery date... and said I had to pay the part insurance would not pay or no surgery. I kept my pre-opt follow up and told him that I thought a 7 day notice was not fair, especially since I had been working with him since March. He basically said it was a new policy.. just started a week ago so on Oct. 2nd his office called and said I had to pay the part insurance did not pay before my surgery on Oct. 9th. As badly as I wanted the surgery I had to walk out. I could have come up with the money but it was so wrong to do this that I lost all faith in him. The psychological was done by a psychologist but the real psychological was telling me a week before I had to pay or no surgery. I teach my kids to not let others bully them and this felt like bullying. I walked out. Now, I have to pay 25.oo for my records and will probably be required to start over from the beginning. I won't be able to get this done this year so I'll have to start with my deductable again. I'm not better on the outside but I sure do feel good on the inside. This was just plain wrong.

Has this happened to anyone else. My surgery was all set. Pre-op is tomorrow. Dr. Mejias office called THIS morning... ONE WEEK before surgery and said that my portion (the part insurance won't pay) is due before surgery. I had to cancel and they seemed to care less. Just said "ok". The end... my dreams dashed... Patty update: I went to see Dr. Mejias after my pre-op because the NICE folks at St. Mary's hospital told me do go ahead with pre-op and then talk to Dr. Mejias the next day (keeping my scheduled appointment) I did. Basically, he said they had just started this "new policy" and unfortunatley I had been caught in the middle and that is why I only got a week's notice that the part insurance didn't pay had to be paid ONE WEEK before surgery. He offered no payment plan. I paid off my gall bladder surgery that I had on July 25th. I got the bill from that surgery early August and paid it off on Oct. 4th. A friend of mine (who happens to be an attorney) called the office for me and was told by the office manager that " I did not pay my bills". I walked out.... not because I could not come up with the money but because no one has a right to treat another human being the way I have been treated by Dr. Mejias. I think they call it "God syndrome" when a doctor thinks he can treat people the way Dr. Mejais treated me. He said he would tell patients at the seminar (the one I attended 8 months ago) that they would have to pay the part that insurannce did not pay upfront from now on. Should I attend those seminarts to make sure he does or just hand out flyers before hand. People really need to know that this will happen with them.

I hope and pray your final appointment wasn't like mine. At my final appointment, 6 days before surgery and one day after my pre-opt, I was told I had to pay the part my insurance didn't pay before surgery. I felt that was unfair so I walked out. Tuesday, Oct. 9th would have been my surgery day so you all PLEASE keep me in mind and pray that I'll find the strength from somewhere else to NOT let my weight control my life anymore. Also pray that Dr. Mejias will see that his policy is wrong, that he will tell people upfront they have to pay what insurance does not pay, and not put anyone else through what I went through. I sacrificised my surgery for a cause I felt strongly about and to send a message.... let's just hope someone hears it.

I am in a similar situation. Dr. Mejias, Athens, Ga. allowed me to go through the whole ordeal, psy. nutrition, and the day before my pre-op, his office called and said I would need to pay the whole amount that insurance did not pay. I had JUST paid off my gall bladder surgery that I had 2 months ago with him and then he sprung that one on me. I called the hospital to cancel my pre-op and they suggested I keep the pre-opt appointment so I did. My follow up was with him the next day and basically he said no pay.... no surgery. I walked out feeling VERY bad for myself but hopeful that I sent a statement that his policy was unfair. I understand he has bills to pay and needs his money but my insurance was going to pay great. It was ONLY 600.00 that he needed but the point was not money but the fact that he told me 7 days before my surgery to pay or else. I chose or else..... I'm hoping the good feeling of standing up for my self (AND Others this is happening to) will get me through the tuff times.

Thanks Green. I've cried until there are no more tears but feel good that I stood up to Dr. Mejias. No matter how badly I wanted the band... it wasn't right to tell me a week before. I had made arrangements to be off work... you guys know what kind of mental (and physical) prep goes in to getting ready for surgery and then to have it pulled a week before but maybe it will change the way he does things and he will hopefully he will give others more than a week to come up with the $.

sorry wasa, I'm new to lapband.com and didn't realize I would offend anyone or break any laws. I just saw several places where I thought my comments would fit in and had NO idea that I was "spamming the board". I just thought I'd have a better chance of getting a reply if I posted in several different places. I guess I have a lot to learn about this board, but since I won't be getting the band ... and NO, my friend did NOT tell them she was an attorney. She just called to see why they would wait a week before my surgery to tell me I had to pay the full amount that insurance would not pay. They had NO idea who she was and just offered up information about my credit history.

Has this happened to anyone else. My surgery was all set. Pre-op is tomorrow. Dr. Mejias office called THIS morning... ONE WEEK before surgery and said that my portion (the part insurance won't pay) is due before surgery. I had to cancel and they seemed to care less. Just said "ok". The end... my dreams dashed... Patty update: I went to see Dr. Mejias after my pre-op because the NICE folks at St. Mary's hospital told me do go ahead with pre-op and then talk to Dr. Mejias the next day (keeping my scheduled appointment) I did. Basically, he said they had just started this "new policy" and unfortunatley I had been caught in the middle and that is why I only got a week's notice that the part insurance didn't pay had to be paid ONE WEEK before surgery. He offered no payment plan. I paid off my gall bladder surgery that I had on July 25th. I got the bill from that surgery early August and paid it off on Oct. 4th. A friend of mine (who happens to be an attorney) called the office for me and was told by the office manager that " I did not pay my bills". I walked out.... not because I could not come up with the money but because no one has a right to treat another human being the way I have been treated by Dr. Mejias. I think they call it "God syndrome" when a doctor thinks he can treat people the way Dr. Mejais treated me. He said he would tell patients at the seminar (the one I attended 8 months ago) that they would have to pay the part that insurannce did not pay upfront from now on. Should I attend those seminarts to make sure he does or just hand out flyers before hand. People really need to know that this will happen with them.

Has this happened to anyone else.?My surgery was all set. Pre-op is tomorrow. Dr. Mejias office called THIS morning... ONE WEEK before surgery and said that my portion (the part insurance won't pay) is due before surgery. I had to cancel and they seemed to care less. Just said "ok". The end... my dreams dashed... Patty update: I went to see Dr. Mejias after my pre-op because the NICE folks at St. Mary's hospital told me do go ahead with pre-op and then talk to Dr. Mejias the next day (keeping my scheduled appointment) I did. Basically, he said they had just started this "new policy" and unfortunatley I had been caught in the middle and that is why I only got a week's notice that the part insurance didn't pay had to be paid ONE WEEK before surgery. He offered no payment plan. I paid off my gall bladder surgery that I had on July 25th. I got the bill from that surgery early August and paid it off on Oct. 4th. A friend of mine (who happens to be an attorney) called the office for me and was told by the office manager that " I did not pay my bills". I walked out.... not because I could not come up with the money but because no one has a right to treat another human being the way I have been treated by Dr. Mejias. I think they call it "God syndrome" when a doctor thinks he can treat people the way Dr. Mejais treated me. He said he would tell patients at the seminar (the one I attended 8 months ago) that they would have to pay the part that insurannce did not pay upfront from now on. Should I attend those seminarts to make sure he does or just hand out flyers before hand. People really need to know that this will happen with them. Should I take it a step further and sue because the office manager is giving out "personal information" about me. My friend is chomping at the bits to do that!

Has this happened to anyone else. My surgery was all set. Pre-op is tomorrow. Dr. Mejias office called THIS morning... ONE WEEK before surgery and said that my portion (the part insurance won't pay) is due before surgery. I had to cancel and they seemed to care less. Just said "ok". The end... my dreams dashed... Patty update: I went to see Dr. Mejias after my pre-op because the NICE folks at St. Mary's hospital told me do go ahead with pre-op and then talk to Dr. Mejias the next day (keeping my scheduled appointment) I did. Basically, he said they had just started this "new policy" and unfortunatley I had been caught in the middle and that is why I only got a week's notice that the part insurance didn't pay had to be paid ONE WEEK before surgery. He offered no payment plan. I paid off my gall bladder surgery that I had on July 25th. I got the bill from that surgery early August and paid it off on Oct. 4th. A friend of mine (who happens to be an attorney) called the office for me and was told by the office manager that " I did not pay my bills". I walked out.... not because I could not come up with the money but because no one has a right to treat another human being the way I have been treated by Dr. Mejias. I think they call it "God syndrome" when a doctor thinks he can treat people the way Dr. Mejais treated me. He said he would tell patients at the seminar (the one I attended 8 months ago) that they would have to pay the part that insurannce did not pay upfront from now on. Should I attend those seminarts to make sure he does or just hand out flyers before hand. People really need to know that this will happen to them.

Has this happened to anyone else. My surgery was all set. Pre-op is tomorrow. Dr. Mejias office called THIS morning... ONE WEEK before surgery and said that my portion (the part insurance won't pay) is due before surgery. I had to cancel and they seemed to care less. Just said "ok". The end... my dreams dashed... Patty update: I went to see Dr. Mejias after my pre-op because the NICE folks at St. Mary's hospital told me do go ahead with pre-op and then talk to Dr. Mejias the next day (keeping my scheduled appointment) I did. Basically, he said they had just started this "new policy" and unfortunatley I had been caught in the middle and that is why I only got a week's notice that the part insurance didn't pay had to be paid ONE WEEK before surgery. He offered no payment plan. I paid off my gall bladder surgery that I had on July 25th. I got the bill from that surgery early August and paid it off on Oct. 4th. A friend of mine (who happens to be an attorney) called the office for me and was told by the office manager that " I did not pay my bills". I walked out.... not because I could not come up with the money but because no one has a right to treat another human being the way I have been treated by Dr. Mejias. I think they call it "God syndrome" when a doctor thinks he can treat people the way Dr. Mejais treated me. He said he would tell patients at the seminar (the one I attended 8 months ago) that they would have to pay the part that insurannce did not pay upfront from now on. Should I attend those seminarts to make sure he does or just hand out flyers before hand. People really need to know that this will happen to them.

That should have read GALL bladder surgery. AND that Dr. Mejias office (the office manager) told my friend that I did "not pay my bills".

I understand having to pay upfront. If he had told me that at the initial meeting... I could have saved. I was told a WEEK before my surgery that I would have to pay the part that insurance did not pay. He (Dr. Mejias) offered NO payment plan. I paid off gall bladder surgery that I had on July 25th by Oct. 4th because they said I would have to before having my lapband. A friend of mine was upset because I was so upset and the office manager at Dr. Mejias office told her that I did not pay my bills. Isn't that slander? I paid off my ball bladder surgery within two months of getting the statement. To that the office manager said, yes, but we had to call her. ONE WEEK before surgery is not enough notice and I felt it was unfair. The only thing I knew to do was walk out. I had even had my preopt done. Dr Mejias (athens, Ga) said he would start telling patients that they had to pay this amount upfront at the initial seminar. I think I'll go to make sure he does... hand out flyers in front of the office.

Has this happened to anyone else. My surgery was all set. Pre-op is tomorrow. Dr. Mejias office called THIS morning... ONE WEEK before surgery and said that my portion (the part insurance won't pay) is due before surgery. I had to cancel and they seemed to care less. Just said "ok". The end... my dreams dashed... Patty

Has this happened to anyone else. My surgery was all set. Pre-op is tomorrow. Dr. Mejias office called THIS morning... ONE WEEK before surgery and said that my portion (the part insurance won't pay) is due before surgery. I had to cancel and they seemed to care less. Just said "ok". The end... my dreams dashed... Patty

Has this happened to anyone else. My surgery was all set. Pre-op is tomorrow. Dr. Mejias office called THIS morning... ONE WEEK before surgery and said that my portion (the part insurance won't pay) is due before surgery. I had to cancel and they seemed to care less. Just said "ok". The end... my dreams dashed... Patty <!-- google_ad_section_end --><!-- / message -->

Has this happened to anyone else. My surgery was all set. Pre-op is tomorrow. Dr. Mejias office called THIS morning... ONE WEEK before surgery and said that my portion (the part insurance won't pay) is due before surgery. I had to cancel and they seemed to care less. Just said "ok". The end... my dreams dashed... Patty :cry