How much up front?

[Manda87 3]

Did your doctor(s) make you pay a certain amount up front? If so, how much?

My pre-op appointment isn't until March 22. Would it be ok to call them before to ask that question? I hate asking questions. I haven't called the office in a while, plus I feel like I'm bothering them.

[BetsyB 9]

Nothing immediately up front. But before my last preop appointment, I was required to pay a $300 program fee.

[Humming Bird 275]

I take it you have insurance? They should have been very clear about the $$ part with you from the beginning. I would call just to make sure you know.

I was self-pay and paid 100% upfront (financed)

[kagead 0]

My Dr. does not charge a program fee and I am planning on doing this through my insurance co (BCBSIL.)

To date, my out of pocket expenses have been:

$30 Co-pays for visits with my PCP and the NP that runs the program

20% Co-pay for tests and procedures (Upper GI, EKG, ECG)

100% OOP Nutritionist meeting and nutrition classes (my ins. policy does not cover these at all)

50% Co-pay for psych eval

These have been pay as you go- nothing up front. (FWIW, I am self employed with individual coverage, so my costs and percentages are different than those who have employer-based policies. All told about $600 so far spread out over the past 4 months.

Good luck to you!

kagead

[Manda87 3]

I've done all of my pre-ops and paid for all of those. But do they make you pay just before the surgery?

[JeweI 2]

I hade to pay 5500 before my surgery. You really should call and be clear on it. Don't want a huge surprise before your surgery.

[LongTimeComing 0]

Ok i have BCBS of Texas and my plan has a $500 deductable that I had already met like $250 of that, so I had to pay the other $250 plus 20% of the total cost of the Lapband. But yes i had to pay the $250 + 20% before the surgery for a total of about $1900.00. But from everything I've read here it will be worth it.

[nurselroy 0]

I had a $495 program fee that was due at the first office visit (luckily I got a 20% discount for being an employee of the hospital). This fee was mentioned at the initial seminar as well as in the follow-up phone call when setting up the appointment. I would definitely call though so your prepared when you go. And don't hesitate to ask the office questions; thats what they're there for.

[Melinco 1]

I was self pay and paid the surgeon his fee a week before the surgery, since I was at his office and had the money. Then I also paid the anesthesiologist and surgery center about 4 days prior to surgery. The dietician and psych consult I paid at time of service, cash. My surgeon waives his initial $200 consulting fee if you attend his seminar, which is free.

ETA: You might want to ask the question how much will you have to pay for adjustments. I've read on here how much some people have to pay and it's outrageous! Some people can't even afford their fills as their docs charge so damn much. Luckily, the first year of adjustments for me are free, then after that they are $50.

Edited March 7, 2010 by Melinco