Insurance/Out of pocket expense questions

At the oreintation meeting, you get a breakdown of charges that insurance does not cover.  Most insurance does not cover your appointments with the nutritionalist or the exercise physiologist.  The fee covers about 1 year's worth of theappointments and the food you need to eat 2 weeks prior and 2 weeks after. 

The food is important.  It is nutritionally balanced and packed with protein.  It is designed to make you lose weight a great deal of weight the 2 weeks prior to your surgery and then give you the nutritional needs for the first two weeks after your surgery. 

They do keep track of your account, and if you don't use all your "funds" in your account, they do send you a refund - I believe after your 12 month appointment. 

This is how Grand Health Partners work.  They have a program that they have in place and if you choose thier program, you choose thier cost options.  While I was extremely happy with both MMPC and the new GHP, and really would not recommend going else where, you may want to try some of the other doctors out there that do not require the pre/post op care/follow up that Grand Health Partners require.
 

The entire thing with me is the UPFRONT fees...coming up with $1000 is a *tad* difficult right now.  Deductables, etc...those are easier since most health-care facilities do allow you to make payments.  I read that with the Grand Health, one of your payments is $750!!!!  That is a PAYMENT, not a TOTAL.  

I am having a difficult time getting various centers/programs to tell me the actual COST of out-of-pocket fees (their program fees..not insurance related)...they want me to go waste 2 hours of my time because "that is where fees will be gone over".  Nooo..you tell me UP FRONT what KIND of fees we are looking at before I start your program.  

So far, U of  M is looking to me to be the best....and let's be honest.....can you really be at a better place than that hospital?? They are AMAZING down there.

I had my RNY done at U of M 3 years ago.  I have BCBS of MI PPO.  I had a $50 hospital co-pay and that has been it.  All of my follow up visits are covered. 

They did require me to have a sleep study, a psych eval, and then 6 weeks of counciling before surgery.  My insurance covered most of that.  It did only cover 45% of the visits to the therapist.