BAD experience today at St Paul Surgeons!!!
Hello everyone :)
I had my very first appt. with my chosen surgeon today (Dr. Rupp at St Paul Surgeons) and I'm sorry to say that it did not go well! First of all my experience through out hasn't been pleasant at all. I had to work with a girl named Nicky who directs me through getting everything done for my insurance company. She has been rude almost every time I have talked to her, VERY RUDE! The dietician there however was very nice and informative!
So finally I got all my T's crossed and I's dotted and got to meet with Dr. Rupp himself today. First I waited 45 minutes passed my appt time for him to arrive. This was ok with me because I figured he must be giving someone his full attention and answering all their questions and I would get the same when he made it to the room. However when he got there, he is very friendly and I can tell knows his stuff, but he rushed me and told me that he has to move on after less than a half hour appt. I didn't get all of my questions answered and I didn't feel any better or more informed than when I got there, infact I felt more confused if anything.
Even after all of this I still wanted to stick with Dr. Rupp. One, because I didn't want to start all over. Two, because I still know that he is a very knowledgable surgeon and I think that in the end I would be in great hands. However when I first got to my appt. I was given paperwork. Among the paperwork was something telling me that I had to pay $600 before I could get my surgery. The $600 is the amount that my insurance won't be covering. I had already planning that I would end up having to pay that. But I didn't think that I would have to pay it in one lump sum before I could get surgery. I wish they would have told me this a LONG time ago. Now I have to switch to Abbot because they don't make you pay everything up front before surgery. I know that $600 doesn't sound like a lot of money, but for someone who has as tight of a budget as I do, it's A LOT and would take me 6 months to save that up. Since I don't want to wait 6 more months to get my surgery I am changing clinics. I'm am not happy about this because I did feel that I picked the best surgeon and plus now I have to go to another seminar and one more dietician appt and then I have to wait to get in to see the surgeon again. This is going to add another month onto my wait :(
I needed to vent! Thank you for listening, as if you had a choice ;)
Lisa
I had my very first appt. with my chosen surgeon today (Dr. Rupp at St Paul Surgeons) and I'm sorry to say that it did not go well! First of all my experience through out hasn't been pleasant at all. I had to work with a girl named Nicky who directs me through getting everything done for my insurance company. She has been rude almost every time I have talked to her, VERY RUDE! The dietician there however was very nice and informative!
So finally I got all my T's crossed and I's dotted and got to meet with Dr. Rupp himself today. First I waited 45 minutes passed my appt time for him to arrive. This was ok with me because I figured he must be giving someone his full attention and answering all their questions and I would get the same when he made it to the room. However when he got there, he is very friendly and I can tell knows his stuff, but he rushed me and told me that he has to move on after less than a half hour appt. I didn't get all of my questions answered and I didn't feel any better or more informed than when I got there, infact I felt more confused if anything.
Even after all of this I still wanted to stick with Dr. Rupp. One, because I didn't want to start all over. Two, because I still know that he is a very knowledgable surgeon and I think that in the end I would be in great hands. However when I first got to my appt. I was given paperwork. Among the paperwork was something telling me that I had to pay $600 before I could get my surgery. The $600 is the amount that my insurance won't be covering. I had already planning that I would end up having to pay that. But I didn't think that I would have to pay it in one lump sum before I could get surgery. I wish they would have told me this a LONG time ago. Now I have to switch to Abbot because they don't make you pay everything up front before surgery. I know that $600 doesn't sound like a lot of money, but for someone who has as tight of a budget as I do, it's A LOT and would take me 6 months to save that up. Since I don't want to wait 6 more months to get my surgery I am changing clinics. I'm am not happy about this because I did feel that I picked the best surgeon and plus now I have to go to another seminar and one more dietician appt and then I have to wait to get in to see the surgeon again. This is going to add another month onto my wait :(
I needed to vent! Thank you for listening, as if you had a choice ;)
Lisa
I think I know what form you are talking about as I was just there a week ago today. Are you sure you have to pay the entire balance? I thought maybe it was 20% and the rest could be paid later. You should really talk to them to see what they can do for you. I was seen last week and already been approved and have a surgery date. I would hate for you to have to start over because of this.
Thanks,
Racine
Thanks,
Racine
I called them today and told them that I would have to make payments. They said that I would have to pay it all off before I could get my surgery. I even told them that I may switch to Abbott since they don't make you pay the money upfront and they still didn't offer to help me. I am very surprised that they would let a customer go over six hundred bucks!!!!! But that is their policy I guess. What insurance do you have? I'm only wondering because of how fast you got your approval back. Congrats!
Lisa Marie 
I am super sorry you are having problems. If you really want too, I would call the office manager (I think her name is Toni) and address your concerns. I have health partners open access and it only took them a few hours to approve me. I had to pay 2500 before they covered a 100% but hit that when I had 2 sleep studies done. I wish you the best, keep us posted!
Check with Abbott before you move, they might have changed their policy in the last few weeks.
I believe that on 8/1/10 (or 7/1?) the State of Minneosta changed a law- previoulsy providers could not bill you for your coinsurance amount until AFTER your insurance company had processed all of your claims. There was a big lobby during the last legislative session and that law was over turned. ALL providers can now bill upfront prior to the services being rendered. This is in part due to the economy, many people can't afford their portion of medical bills and they are taking too long or simply walking away. It is a good chance that you may also have to pay the hospital upfront before you are admitted.
The providers have online access to your benefits so they know what your deductible and out of pocket maximums are. My husband recently had emergency surgery and I had to give the hospital
our $1000.00 deductible when he was admitted. I had to put it on my Visa card, I didn't have a check book with.
I know that there are some financing options for WLS, you might need to explore those. Good luck!
I believe that on 8/1/10 (or 7/1?) the State of Minneosta changed a law- previoulsy providers could not bill you for your coinsurance amount until AFTER your insurance company had processed all of your claims. There was a big lobby during the last legislative session and that law was over turned. ALL providers can now bill upfront prior to the services being rendered. This is in part due to the economy, many people can't afford their portion of medical bills and they are taking too long or simply walking away. It is a good chance that you may also have to pay the hospital upfront before you are admitted.
The providers have online access to your benefits so they know what your deductible and out of pocket maximums are. My husband recently had emergency surgery and I had to give the hospital
our $1000.00 deductible when he was admitted. I had to put it on my Visa card, I didn't have a check book with.
I know that there are some financing options for WLS, you might need to explore those. Good luck!
I did call and talk to Toni. I let her know how I felt and that I wished they had let me know about the money due before surgery right when I started my journey 6 months ago. She told me that she would change that and start letting people know. I also let her know about Nicky and how rude she is. She is going to have a talk with her too. Toni was very nice and seemed to genuinly care!
As far as Abbott goes, they still don't charge you until after surgery. However I am not switching to Abbott because I friend of mine loaned me the money until I could pay him back in a couple months :D I have great friends! Now I get to stick to my same surgeon and schedule my surgery as soon as my insurance approval come back.
Thanks for the warning about possible fees at the hospital. However I won't owe anymore money after this because I will have met my out of pocket maximum after this $600 is paid. I had already stayed in the hopital for a sleep study earlier in the year so I had already paid the other portion of my $1300 out of pocket max. But other people may want to check it out.
Thanks again for the advise of calling Toni, that made things a lot better for me all around!
Lisa
As far as Abbott goes, they still don't charge you until after surgery. However I am not switching to Abbott because I friend of mine loaned me the money until I could pay him back in a couple months :D I have great friends! Now I get to stick to my same surgeon and schedule my surgery as soon as my insurance approval come back.
Thanks for the warning about possible fees at the hospital. However I won't owe anymore money after this because I will have met my out of pocket maximum after this $600 is paid. I had already stayed in the hopital for a sleep study earlier in the year so I had already paid the other portion of my $1300 out of pocket max. But other people may want to check it out.
Thanks again for the advise of calling Toni, that made things a lot better for me all around!
Lisa
Lisa Marie
I am super excited for you! Now lets hope for a fast response with the insurance company. Don't wait for them to contact you. Make sure you call to"check the status". Let them know you mean business and want answers...lol. If you do get approved have them send you an email or a fax so you can get it to the office faster and get your surgery scheduled.
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