bobbiezhere 0 Posted November 16, 2008 Well, I went to a symposium today to find out about the lap band procedure (tho i really didnt learn anything new as i had investigated it already). What i WAS surprised by was the program fee they charged...apparently from reading some of the posts here, this is a normal process? This group charges $1250. To be honest, i was dismayed at this - im struggling financially as it is - to take on another bill is too much..yet...i want this procedure so much that somehow i do have to come up with the money. They did have Care credit brochures, so maybe thats an answer. So...am i to believe then - that this is pretty normal - this charge - for follow up care and such? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
amonroy 0 Posted November 16, 2008 I'm sure the fees vary but that sounds kinda high, my program fee was $750 but since I could not use the milk based Protein Shakes that were part of the pre-op diet I only ended up having to pay $500. Make sure you know exactly what is included in your program fee so you dont have unexpected out of pocket on top of that. It might seem like a big chunk of money up front, but it is worth it. Good Luck. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MacMadame 81 Posted November 16, 2008 Program fees range from $250 to $7500 to $0. Some of the stuff that is typically included is the sort of thing that a lot of insurances won't pay for, particularly aftercare. A good program will have a LOT Of aftercare including message boards, newsletters, support groups and access to nutritionists and counselors. That stuff cost money and someone has to pay for it. I would shop around. If you can't find a group you like as well as the one you have now that doesn't have a fee, then consider it money well spent to get a good outcome. But don't assume that you have to pay a fee to get a good program. It really varies. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bobbiezhere 0 Posted November 16, 2008 Yeah, i started thinking about what they mentioned..after care, support group, newsletters, etc..and for a "lifetime"...so ultimately i guess it makes sense....i just hadnt had a clue about this fee...thank you for the response.. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
YngGram 73 Posted November 16, 2008 Shop around that seems really high. I think the Realize Band has a support forum that you get access to after the surgery. And of course there are places like this. I have been to 3 seminars met with 1 doc, have an appointment on Mon. with the group I think I will use. The first two tried to push a 6 month structed weight program at me for about $400 telling me my insurance required it. NOT!!! It took a lot of emails and phone calls but I finally found out from TriCare that it was not a requirement from them. These two groups had program fees at $400 & $450. Nutrion eval at about $80, nutrion classes $200 for first and another $100 for the second. One even required you do Optifast for 2 weeks to the tune of $300. Neither of these surgical groups talked much about post care. Fills and any visits would be billed. So really shop around. Someone here told me about the guy I will see on Mon. they have no program fees and listed the insurance requirements for several companies in the packet they handed out at the seminar.:thumbup: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
*slim* 2 Posted November 16, 2008 The program fee for the group that I used was $1250. I didn't do enough homework on finding the groups offered through my insurance company so I was stuck. I had already paid the non-refundable fee when I realized that there was one more clinic I could have gone through. Don't get me wrong, I don't regret going through the doctor that I did, but it would have been nice not to pay that fee. My fee includes the support groups, free visits (not fills though) during a specified time, and costs of them being a bariatric group of distinction. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites