Pre-payment - is this normal?

[p0p_s_icle 0]

I was very excited when I got home at lunch and found a packet of information from my doctor. As if I nothing else to worrry about, I read thru his paperwork and found out that he charges for a program fee upfront before he'll even fill out any paperwork/insurance forms.. Not only that, he has a NP that assists him in his surgeries and I was advised that insurance may not pay for her assistance. I was so excited, my seminar is tomorrow and now I don't know if I even want to go. BLAH! Is this normal!? Why did I think it would be easy? I wonder how many other hidden costs will be involved!

[luvmyiggy 0]

I was talking to one of the ladies at my surgeon's office about all of this one day. I had noticed that one of my payments was less that one of the other ladies I had seen in the waiting room. What my Dr.'s assistant said was that because I was a self pay patient (my ins. would not cover it) the office staff has a lot less work to do in dealing with me. She said the insurance applications, approvals, and follow up paperwork takes a lot more time than we all realize. More time means more money and they have to defer that cost to the paitient. I figure your doctor may be charging a flat fee up front because they may put all of this time and effort into things for 3 or 6 months and the someone gets rejected, the office has spent a lot of time dealing with the insurance company and they won't get reimbursed for that. It sounds cold, but when she told me they have 2 people devoted to insurance company work it really put it in prespective.

Does that make any sense?

Please pardon my spelling I am typing on the fly.

[p0p_s_icle 0]

Thank you for the reply, I do understand. Just wasn't something I was expecting. Thanks.

[faithmd 14]

Ask at the seminar what other fees are involved. I have a BIG problem with paying a "program fee." If I have insurance and that insurance is paying for fills, etc. I'm not paying for ANYTHING more. I chose not to use a couple of docs in my area because of their "program fee" or their "mandatory support group" fee.

I paid 15 dollars for insurance paperwork and work papers to be filled out, and that was fine, but in a way that irritated me, too. I understand the one point of view that says there are two people working fulltime doing paperwork, but as a surgeon, and as one who takes insurance, that's LIFE. That's the way you run a business.

[faithmd 14]

I wanted to add one more thing, make SURE to ask them if you have to do a pre-op diet and how much that will cost you if you have to order something they require. I didn't know that was a requirement for my doc, they NEVER mentioned it in my seminar, and I took some GREAT questions with me. That wasn't one of them I paid $249 for my four week food kit.

You'll find a list of fantastic questions as well as things to do and buy before surgery in the FAQ and References forum here.

[bandedwoman 0]

I was very excited when I got home at lunch and found a packet of information from my doctor. As if I nothing else to worrry about, I read thru his paperwork and found out that he charges for a program fee upfront before he'll even fill out any paperwork/insurance forms.. Not only that, he has a NP that assists him in his surgeries and I was advised that insurance may not pay for her assistance. I was so excited, my seminar is tomorrow and now I don't know if I even want to go. BLAH! Is this normal!? Why did I think it would be easy? I wonder how many other hidden costs will be involved!

Yeah been there done that. I went as a self pay because of the run around from Kaiser Ppermanente.

I am so glsd I moved on. I know its alot of money but it less than a used car.!! God I can't believe I am down almost fifty pounds!!

Thank you dr. Mascareno FACS and his team...

[bandedwoman 0]

I got home at lunch and found a packet of information from my doctor.I was very excited when As if I nothing else to worrry about, I read thru his paperwork and found out that he charges for a program fee upfront before he'll even fill out any paperwork/insurance forms.. Not only that, he has a NP that assists him in his surgeries and I was advised that insurance may not pay for her assistance. I was so excited, my seminar is tomorrow and now I don't know if I even want to go. BLAH! Is this normal!? Why did I think it would be easy? I wonder how many other hidden costs will be involved!

By the way my fee was 8000.00 complete! no hidden charges or fees. I have been talking with the dr. now maybe five times since banding and this lastv weekend the nutritionalist came to my home to visit and check on me! Can you believe that?