warning to new bariatric patients - this has taken the joy out of this whole process for me

HI all! cecilia here. My posting is out of desperation. A warning to new bariatric patients. Frustration for me. Dr. Peters performed my lap band on 2/5/07. I was told on 1/26/07, my procedure was a plan exception although I have medical coverage. I had to pay for my banding myself. I have recently discovered that Christiana Medical Center TOOK my $16100 for the procedure saying it was a "package cosmetic procedure". The gastric banding was not for costmetic reasons!!!! Christiana Medical Center Billing must have made up the previous statement since this is NOT what I was told on 1/30/07 when I paid the money. I have gotten a separate bill from ANESTHESIA SERVICES, PA. I understand now they are a consultant for anesthesia services performed at Christiana Medical Center. I had no previous knowledge of this TOTALLY separate charge. I had a procedure November 2006 at Christiana Medical Center. I was under anesthesia longer yet the charges were LESS than what the gastric lap band charged. Difference was the insurance was "directly" billed for November 2006 vs out of my own pocket directly on 2/5/07. My recovery in November 2006 at Christiana Medical Center had a longer recovery yet the charges were LESS than the given 90 - 120 minute recovery of the gastric lap band. Difference was the insurance was "directly" billed for November 2006 vs out of my own pocket directly on 2/5/07. I am now faced with a separate bill of $1840 on top of the KNOWN $6000 for Dr. Peters AND the Christiana Medical Center's $16100. I will be applying for "Financial Hardship" with Anesthesia Services, PA. I am trying to cope with the billing stunt that Christiana Medical Center has pulled. I only have disability as an income and NEEDED this surgery! The surgery was not for cosmetic reasons! Please let all NEW patients know of the black holes of insurance plan exceptions and EXTRA bills that Christiana Medical Center will be sending their way AFTER their not so cosmetic procedure. Thank you for reading and understanding.

Sorry that you're going through such a rough time. Now, when you write "Christiana Medical Center," do you mean CHRIAS, as in the surgical practice that most of us have used for weight loss surgery? Maybe a letter to the company would help. Billing mistakes occur sometimes. I know about the differences in billing after having to pay for a dental procedure out of pocket when I went over my yearly limit. Totally unfair. You'd think it would be CHEAPER for private pays. Good luck, if you choose to fight this.

...or do you mean Christiana Hospital???

Cecilia, Don't give up yet. Keep fighting. It just may be a coding error. I had the same thing happen after my plastic surgery. Blue Cross refused to pay after approval because the bill was coded incorrectly. They finally paid last week and my surgery was December 2005.