Initial Meeting With Surgeon- His Therapist NOT in Network

[Kathy Pitcher 102]

I just found out that my surgeon's Clinical Therapist is out of network, and I have to meet my 1K deductible. !!! Ahhh!! I hope to hope hope he'll let me see an in network therapist? I don't want to fork out another grand on top of the other OOP costs I'll incur.. I may have to change surgeons to one with an in network therapist...I really had my heart set on Dr. Mitchell... any suggestions?

[Maddysgram 6,159]

The therapist at my surgeons office was not in my network either and I just picked one that was and they still worked with my surgeon and got me approved.

Good Luck!

[Kathy Pitcher 102]

I called and she said they would refer me to someone in my network! Whew!

[honk 780]

I would make sure the therapist specializes in eating disorders.

[misspaula 0]

What questions do they ask you in order to get the lap band?

[Maddysgram 6,159]

What questions do they ask you in order to get the lap band?

I kid you not, I had to answer 100's of questions, but not all therapist do that.

Mainly they make sure you know what you're getting yourself into with the LB and to make sure you have no problems that will work against the band working.

They asked things like "do you drink alcohol or drugs to face the day", things like that.

[NJMommy2Four 16]

Most therapist are not innetwork with any insurance companies. The insurance companies don't like paying for any mental health, yet require a mental exam for surgery. I had to shop around and found someone willing to do it for cheap. Also, my BF and I were going through it together with different insurances, the psych evaluation he got and I got were completely different. He had to fill out a psych eval which had nothing to do with Weight Loss Surgery, my therapist asked me a ton of question about how I felt about the procedure and what I expected. Both of us got our insurance approvals!!

Another note: what they make you pay for is the paperwork not even the exam!!! So SHOP around, I paid $130 my BF was quoted $450 big difference to me!

GOOD LUCK

[Maddysgram 6,159]

All insurances are different. I have Aetna and they are more than happy to pay for mental health issues.

Even before I thought about LBS, Aetna was sending notices couple times a year, that if you had any problems at all they will find you someone.

My husband does work for a Fortune 500 Company and maybe that makes the difference.

[NJMommy2Four 16]

My BF has AETNA too and it was the therapist that I called for him (which did not take my insurance, I am covered by the state ***) and she explained all this BS to me. She explained that the fee they charge is basically the fee for filling out the documentation needed for the surgeon. His insurance paid for part of the exam but not the other. She decided when I said I'd find someone else that she would take what the insurance did pay so he would still go to her. But this is also the exam that only offered a 400 questionnaire that had nothing to do with weight loss, it was just to see if you were mental or sane.

For myself I called my *** and asked for a list of therapist in my area, out of a list of ten doctors NONE of them performed this service, fortunately one of them gave me the name of a friend colleague of hers that did offer the service. She was not in network but offered to do the exam for just over $100. She also did the exam that actually revolved around weight loss and my feelings and understanding of what I knew and expected and how I'd gotten to the point of needing surgery. It was far better then the service my BF got.