Find out what your insurance pays the surgeon. If it is $1000, you will have a program fee to help cover costs. If your insurance pays a lot more, you will likely not be charged a program fee. In California, many plans under the large carriers pay $1000.
You tend to get what you pay for, and in medicine it is no different. Unless you are lucky and have a really good insurance plan. Do research on your surgeon and their practice. Reputation and feedback from post op patients are the most important points to focus on. Sounds like some of the complainers on this thread did not do their research.
