Nutritionist

[samantha614 12]

Does insurance usually cover the nutritionist visit? I called a local nutritionist today who informed me

That insurance isn't accepted for

The first visit and is $200 out of pocket. She's crazy right? If I go to the surgeon's nutritionist, it will be covered, no? My surgeon didn't mention anything about a fee to see his nutritionist. I was only calling this one because she's much closer than the one at my surgeon's office.

[BLERDgirl 6,417]

My nutrition class wasn't covered. I paid out of pocket $200 for that. However when I have my follow-ups and meet with the nutritionist it is covered in the bariatric billing. I still had my $45 office visit copay. I did not have a program fee. I had 3 appointments with the bariatric team pre-op and a 2 - 3 hour mandatory nutritionist class.

[Elode 8,093]

@@samantha614 I had to pay a 50 co-pay for each NUT visit. She ended up costing me more than my actually surgeon. My whole entire process from start to finish was $350. She was 150 of it. Still nothing compared to what some people have to pay.

[WLSResources/ClothingExch 3,444]

@@samantha614 -- The RD's services at my bariatric practice are billed separately and, under normal (whatever that may be) circumstances, I'd have a co-pay. For some reason at which I can only guess, but will keep to myself lest I inadvertently open a can of worms, she's never put through billing for me. I think my co-pay would be $40 per appt. The RD is covered as a necessary part of treatment.

If the nutritionist (is she really a nutritionist and not an RD? Is the person at the bariatric office really a nutritionist and not an RD?) you called first is an independent practitioner, I doubt that she's "crazy." Why not set a fee structure which the market will bear? Her fee may not be so different from the in-house fee for self-paying patients.

[ladee2279 29]

I paid $200 out of pocket for the Nutritionist as well.

[glitterpockets 85]

I paid $20 per visit to my NUT

[Inner Surfer Girl 12,015]

My nutritionist was in-house and covered by my program fee. That fee wasn't covered by insurance but is required and covers all NUT visits, education classes, materials, etc. for life.

[DaisyAmy 561]

Mine was similar to Inner Surfer Girl. I had a $190 fee that covered the whole deal, except for $20 copays for each medical provider visit. Although I've been getting some of that sent back to me ::shrugs:: The surgery will not cost me a penny.

[tmcx28 297]

My nutrition visits were covered in full with no copay. It all depends on your insurance and whether the nutritionist you're seeing takes insurance or not. I did have to pay a good chunk of change for the psych visit because my surgeon sends everyone to the same psych who didn't take my insurance.

[samantha614 12]

Lol I say she's crazy because the very first time I spoke to her, she told me that insurance covers the visit, but not the body composition test. So when I called back and made the appt, I said, "okay so the visit will be covered, and I just have to pay for the body composition part if I want it, right?" And she said, "no, the visit is $200 and that includes the body composition." I don't want the body composition, and isn't that different than what she initially told

Me??

[2goldengirl 2,076]

Why do you need the body composition test?

[samantha614 12]

Exactly! I don't need to, and she apparently doesn't have a different price if you don't want this done. It just seems a little fishy to me. I'm calling my insurance today to see if the visit is covered.