Normal for a Dr to charge a big upfront fee?

[SaucyBandster 23]

I am curious if this is the norm and wanted to gauge what others had to pay.

I am meeting with a surgeon and their fees are $1000 plus a $2-300 Optifast diet. Seems steep.

I was thinking of going to another surgeon but he has a nice track record from others I have searched and he is the only surgeon on the West Coast of FL that does only once incicion (in the belly button) so easier healing and less cutting. (Personally after having surgery from an ectopic pregnancy and losing my left ovary, etc and having 4 surgical cuts to heal, this was a PLUS).

Also, his office is close to me so will be easier for follow up care, etc.

So with all of that said, is $1k normal or do most surgeons not charge? TIA

[Rachel412 116]

Have you gotten a breakdown of exactly what that $1000 fee is FOR? And $2-300 for Optifast... I would be ok with that if it was optional, but I wouldn't be to thrilled about being FORCED to go on one specific brand of pre-op diet.

[SaucyBandster 23]

Have you gotten a breakdown of exactly what that $1000 fee is FOR? And $2-300 for Optifast... I would be ok with that if it was optional, but I wouldn't be to thrilled about being FORCED to go on one specific brand of pre-op diet.

This is the email I received:

The program fee is $1,000.00, which is non-refundable and is a mandatory part of our program (this fee is not covered by your insurance plan). On the initial visit with the Dr., $200.00 of this fee will be due. This can be paid with cash or credit card. The remainder of this fee ($800.00) will be due and payable at your pre-operative appointment in the form of a cashier’s check or money order.

Your regular co-pay for a specialist will be due both at your first visit with the doctor, as well as on your pre-operative visit. Post operatively, 90 days after surgery, we will begin billing out your visits to the insurance company, and your specialist co-pay will be due at each of those visits as well.

There will be an additional out –of –pocket expense pre-operatively for the 2 week supply of Optifast Nutritional supplement. This diet is mandatory before surgery, and the cost will be $230.00. We accept cash and credit cards for this. No checks please.

[byrd 28]

IS THE $1,000 YOUR CO-PAY?

[Cindy C 150]

My non refundable program fee was $100 and no diet plan!

[Rachel412 116]

I have heard of doctors charging this, but honestly, I would be wary of it. I'd do a lot of research about the 2 practices available to you. And remember, a lot of times post-op care is MORE important than pre-op so make sure you choose the practice that will truly be there for you in the long run!

[SaucyBandster 23]

IS THE $1,000 YOUR CO-PAY?

No - not my co-pay. It's the standard Dr fee for this particular surgeon. I guess to cover seminars and orientations? I have no idea, that is why I was curious if others had to pay a fee or not.

[THEgeorgiaPEACH 3]

No way! Not normal! My insurance paid for everything, minus the hospital fees (the insurance made me stay over night at the hospital) which were 3k. But I haven't heard of a surgeon charging for the seminar or orientation? Try a few different surgeons. There's an entire thread for that. Check in your area.

[muelle 64]

When I started my six month pre op visits, my surgeon required a $1000 deposit with any amount not covered by insurance being refunded to me. They did away with that policy about a month before I had surgery though. It was just a deposit though, not a fee.

[Dulci 108]

I had no program fee at all. Everything has been covered by my health insurance, except for the nutritionist visit. They charged $325 for the initial nutrition class. If insurance required a supervised diet, the nutritionist would do the monitoring for no additional charge.

[soccermonster31 8]

I am using the best surgeon in STL who also does the one incesion surgery. He required a $200 program fee at our first meeting. I told them I wasn't comfortable paying that until we had decided to go forward with surgery and I needed to know exactly what the $200 was for. They gave me a generic description that they use it for general office overhead, um hello, all dr offices have overhead. But I did agree to pay it once we set up a date for surgery and I knew is office would be working with me. But I was kind of shocked at the $200. No way would I pay $1000. Is your insurance covering you 100%? Some offices will take the program fee out of the final payment that you have to make. I would ask them! Also check around with other good surgeons in your area and use it as leverage if they charge less. These surgeon offices are usually pretty competitive for patients and may work with you. It never hurts to ask!

[Dawn200321 146]

I had to pay the $1,000 fee as well...and mine was worded just about the same way yours was

[bromo 17]

My program fee was $300 and covers all the nutrionists, fitness and mental health professionals. All visits to them are covered for a year. My office was specific that that is what the program fee was for. I have met with the nutrionist 3 times already and have another visit scheduled next month and will see her each month for the year. I can see the fitness or mental health if needed in that time as well.

[SaucyBandster 23]

I had to pay the $1,000 fee as well...and mine was worded just about the same way yours was

Dawn, After reading all of these posts today, and the recommendations of calling around, I ironically called your Dr as well. They stated it was 1k as well.

So I was curious if the $1k is the norm around St. Petersburg because there are a few Dr's charging it???!! Maybe they figure that since one is charging, they can all charge it?

[Dawn200321 146]

Dawn, After reading all of these posts today, and the recommendations of calling around, I ironically called your Dr as well. They stated it was 1k as well.

So I was curious if the $1k is the norm around St. Petersburg because there are a few Dr's charging it???!! Maybe they figure that since one is charging, they can all charge it?

I would almost guess that to be true. I never checked any other doctor. I had heard nothing but great things about mine so I went with her right off the top.

Now my SIL is going to a dr in Riverview (i think) and she said he does not charge that fee.