Update

I attended Dr. A's seminar on Saturday and met a lot of nice people.  Everyone in the office was very knowledgeable and put me at ease.  After Dr. A talked and gave everyone all of his information about surgery and answered all the questions, my husband looks at me and says, " I am going to do this too". What? He never mentioned he was even thinking about it.  So, now we are both going to go through this journey. 

The only thing out of the seminar I was unhappy with is there is a center fee of $1500 per person and an additional $350 fee for the psychologist for my husband.  I previously had my psych eval done.  With sending our first off to college, I am unprepared for that out of pocket expense.


Melissa

Melissa I am glad you had a good experience with Dr Afram. When I met him I looked at Heather and said I wish he was my doc. He was very nice.

That will be great for you and your husband to go throught this together. My husband is not a surgery type guy and said he would do it the old fashion way. That will be a greater bond between you guys. You both will know how to help each other after your surgery's

I did not have a program fee with my Doc but heard alot if not all hospitals are doing this now.

Melissa,

I am so glad that you and your husband went together and he is even considering getting himself healthy too!

If you think that it might be too much for the both of you maybe you can find another doctor that will not charge so much for their fee. 

My doctor chages 500.00 at St. Agnes. there are plenty other dr's out there that are wonderful doctors.  Just something to think about.  Now if you are set in your heart that Dr. A is the one. I am sure you and your hubby will find the way to get the fee money together.

Best of luck in both of your journeys!!

Please keep us posted. 

I am glad you liked the seminar and that your husband has joined you in the WLS lifestyle and journey.  This will much easier for the both of you as a team!  I think that program fee sounds high comopared to other programs.  I was at GBMC before i switched to Johns Hopkins(JHH).
GBMC charges a fee of 500 for 6 months and does not specify and lower charge for 3 mos..  Depending upon what your insurance requires, you may have to do 3, 6 or none at all of the supervised diet and exercise program.  JHH charges for 3 mos 700.  They work out a price for the 6 mo if required.

Melissa,
I'm so glad you enjoyed the seminar at Dr. A's and that you got a good start on things. I totally forgot about the out of pocket expense and yes it threw me at the time too. Talk to Michelle. They worked with me before hand and I was able to do payments, still have my surgery and paid it off right after. Also, keep in mind if your paperwork has already been submitted to the insurance company and you get approved, in order to switch to another doctor you would have to do all the leg work all over again. Not trying to deter you at all....just something I had found out myself when looking for a doctor before going with Dr. A.

That's amazing that your hubby is going to do this too! OMG that is awesome! :-) Even with the upfront expense it doesn't compare to what you both get in the long-run. Looking forward to seeing you both on Thursday, we'll chat more then. :-)

~Heather

Melissa, one of the books that I read that was on DVR's suggested reading list strongly advised that spouses that both want to do this should not do it at the exact same time.  They suggested that one go first and the other follow suit.  They listed several reasons such as being able to be there to support the other through surgery, but they also pointed out that men lose faster than women and it can become frustrating for the woman.  So, if the co-pays all at once are a burden, maybe you can do your sugery and then your husband can do his about three months later.  Just a suggestion.

Pam,

That is how we will do it.  I will have mine first and then Chris will several months later.  I am definitely going to need his help.

Melissa

Melissa

I also am out of Dr A's office but I think one benefit to the OOP expense (or at least I understood it this way) was that after this $1500 you never pay another penny to them. Never another copayment for followup appts or anything. Also in the future if you ever lost ins or changed ins you could continue to have your appts and would not be charged a penny. They are so dedicated to the aftercare of the patients they want to ensure NO MATTER what your cir****tances you WILL follow up and get the aftercare you need.

You may want to double check and maybe I should...lol But that is how "i" understood it!!

Best wishes to you and your husband.