$500.00 pre-op class

Found out today that there is a class I have to take before the Dr will perform the surgery. It is "required", and costs $500.00. Is this normal? The lady said insurance will not pay for it. Is that also normal? I wish I had known before spending so much money on Christmas presents. Thank God for credit cards!

Mine is 575.00.. I have had 3 out of pocket expenses; 275.00 for the psych consult, 80.00 for a dietitian (I'm diabetic ) and 575.00 for the pre-op surgeon class.  I was told about all out of pocket expenses during my first consult and that the 575.00 wouldn't be due until my insurance approved the surgery.  

In my Dr's defense, my first appointment was a whirlwind appointment when it came to the bypass consult. The visit was actually scheduled to be a follow up for a procedure he had recently performed on me. It changed to a bypass consult about half way through the appointment. I had already decided I wanted the surgery before going in to the appointment, I just wanted to ask a few additional questions before moving forward. He answered those questions in the first two minutes and the nurse took over the appointment and then got me to the scheduler. She got me my info and started the process. She probably just forgot, or what could also be the case. She told me and I forgot. I usually don't forget when people tell me about money though.

I still wish I had known, so I could budget for it. I just wanted to make sure it wasn't a scam. Is the class worth it? They told me I will receive food and vitamins after the class too. I hope its good food!

I can't really say it is a scam,but it is your surgeons way of getting some of the money insurance has contracted with him not to pay,from his patients.  That is really against their contract with the insurance company but doctors have found way aRound that. 

I have read on the board of surgeons who charge upwards of 2000.00 for their " pre op" classes so I guess it could be worse.

$2000.00??? Yikes!!! I thought it could be a way to weed out people who aren't serious about making this life choice.

yes and I kid you not 

The Weight Center at my hospital (COE) had a $300.00 "program fee" and I had a $600 co-payment for my inpatient services.  I was lucky though - they referred me to the Financial Services Office and after reviewing my financial situation those charges were waived.  I had to go on Social Security Disability a few years ago and it put me in a low-income category - low enough to get those fees waived, but not low enough to qualify for other "benefits" from other agencies.

Yeah, it is normal but prices vary from doctor to doctor. Mine was $300, but that was also 10 years ago so prices have probably risen.

Mine is $450 but includes all the "food" that I should be eating on the pre-op liquid diet which last 4 weeks with my surgeon. I figure it will save me from buying any groceries so while still a lot of money it's close to a wash so-to-speak.

My initial meeting with the surgeon, I paid $100 for an "insurance/paperwork submission fee." Or something like that. The only other expense I had was a $250 deductible for staying overnight at the hospital.