USC question

Hi! Me again, lol!!  Since that Cherise gal still hasn't called me back from USC, does anyone know what the upfront costs are, that I will have to pay? I think my friend said the hospital fee was something like $1,400 or so....  Any advice appreciated, I just want to be sure I have the fundage etc. Thank you!!!

How about you just be a pain in her butt and call her back till you get the answer you want!  If not, I am willing to bet she has a supervisor that you can talk to that might be a little more co operative.  I didn't go to USC for any cost, and I know that my doctor charged my insurance company somewhere around $30,000, that was including the hospital, so get whatever you are told in writing now and find out, don't wait till the last minute. Good Luck

LOL!!  Thanks Diane,  I will try tomorrow.  I don't have the energy to get into it today, lol  And I'll have my little list of questions with me when I do, hee hee!!!

Hi Crysti, I had Dr Katkhouda also....I was one of his earliest patients back in 2003.  He is excellent....if  a bit narcissistic :)....I had no problems at all and was up and about in just a few days. You cannot even see the little tiny scars any more at all....the plastic surgion had to search for them on my stomach. I didn't have to pay anything up front either....now it was 5 years ago, but with the insurance, everything was bllled.....and I don't think I had to pay much at all even after it ws al l settled....the remaining costs to me were only in the hundreds....and that all came a month or two after the surgery. I had a very positive experience in the hospital and with Dr. Katkhouda and the Doctors who wer his fellows.  I agree with the earlier poster....ask to speak to someone else...and get it in writing.  Best of luck to you....it is an amazing journey you are about to embark on. Maureen

Hi Ariel, I will try again tomorrow.  My friend had her surgery with him about a year ago and she said you had to pay the "hospital fee" up front, But maybe it was her insurance too, not sure :) I should have been more agressive when calling there, but it went to her voicemail and I just didn't think of hitting "0", lol DUH! I'm on phones at work all day so the last thing I want to do is pick it up and call someone, lol  Ah well, I'll get her eventually and I will get all that in writing (thanks for the tip!)

 Depends on your insurance my total out of pocket was 250.00. I had to pay that before they would operate. They called a few days before to take payment over the phone OR you can pay at your PACE pre-op appointment as well. Thats usually a few days before surgery.

Ok, not to sound like a complete idiot, but what is PACE?? 

Pre-op Assessment and Center for Education (PACE) had to go get the card to tell you.  It where you go for you nututional consult and all your pre-op tesing a  few days before surgery.

Oh thank you!  I know I'll learn all this lingo eventually, lol!!

I didn't have WLS there I had major eye surgery at USC and they made me pay 500.00 up front before they would do the surgery. It does have to do with you insurance company and all your copays, deductibles,etc. You need to bug the person who is handling your insurance At USC so you can have an amount before your WLS.