Out Of Pocket Expenses

I have just learned that I will have to pay up front for certain things such as the Dietition and the CoOrdinator fees. I know someone who had medicare as I do,and they did not pay any extra .This was a shock to me.Please if any one is from Western Ky or who may have gone thru what I am ,I would appreciate hearing from you.What should I expect? Tracy

tracy i live in london ky and have medicare i went to dr jeff allen in louisville and i had on out of the pocket expences except my gas and food going to see him and back hope this helps

Hi I had to pay 125$ at my first doctors visit and then another 125$ at barriboot camp which is usually just a day or two before surgery. So Yeah I had to do it too. I also had a surprise $300 to pay the day of surgery for the part that medicare didn't pay the surgeon for the surgery. But it was WELL worth it. Smile atleast you don't have to pay for the whole surgery. It really could be worse. Shell

I have a policy that pays what Medicare doesn't pay.Medicare pays 80% and My insurance will pay the rest. The prices I was quoted was $275.00 and $40.00 and $150.00 and do not know what else yet. I live in Paducah Ky. Guess if I have to pay .I will just have to pay if I want the surgery.I haven't had my consult yet so will hold my breath til I do..LOL... maybe they will take pity on me. Tracy

If your surgeon does not take Medicare Assignment, maybe you need to find one that does. A lot of people make the mistake of finding a surgeon that takes medicare but do not ask if they take ASSIGNMENT. This means they cannot do the 80/20 thing but they accept what medicare pays them and cannot charge you for the difference.

The Insurance plan I took out pays the rest,as long as Medicare pays,my insurance will pay the entire rest. I gave it a lot of thought when I was looking at suppliments. I knew I could probably find a doctor locally that would accept assignments,but I was worried about what if I was sent to Nashville or Louisville.I knew that they might not accept assignments. I decided to pay more and get the plan that pays the balance of what medicare doesn't pay,whether it is Assignment or not assignment. It even takes care of deductibles.I was told by the agent that as long as medicare pays,then I should never get a bill.That is the way it has been so far.I pay my premium and that is it.The fees I spoke of would be for Nurse Dietician and follow-up and Bariatric Nurse Coodinator and a Psych Evaluation. Medicare will take care of Diabetic Dietician. I was just confused about the charges. I feel that I am very blessed because I feel that I will get very good care. I haven't even had my consult yet and the answer to my surgery might be no.I know that if the answer is yes ,I know that the Lord will take care of the rest,He always makes a way. I guess I made this too long ,but sometimes putting things down like this reading your own words makes you know how Blessed you really are.In my case any way. Maybe it will help someone . I hope to be on the losing side soon. Thanks

I guess I am lucky that I got in before they started all those fees. I only had to pay the surgeons $225. that my insurance didn't pay. I had UHC and Medicare was my secondary. I didn't have any dietician fees or any kind of boot camp to go to thank God.

I think it is how they are set up. If everything was added to the surgeons charges and and everything sent in as one bill,I believe all would be covered. But if all are seperate,as in my case,then I believe that is why,and medicare would not pay that way.Medicare is my primary.I am thankful even if I have to pay more. God Bless Tracy

Tracy The unfortunate side to this is that each practice can chose to brake down their cost however they chose. Some chose to bundle all expenses into the surgeons fee others break them down and nickle and dime you for all the extras. I'm not sure what coordinator fees could possible be. Dietition, I understand, that cost is usually an out of pocket expense anywhere you go, seems that todays insurance coverages only pay for dietiticians if you have renal failure, or if your diabetic or someother major conditions. Gook luck, but I think I would ask what a "coordinator fee" is and what exactly they do. Sounds a little strange to me. JS

look at it this way...I just took out a TWENTY THOUSAND DOLLAR LOAN to pay for this.....be happy if a few small fees are all you have to pay! Good Luck! mare