BC/BS plus Program Fee?

I was told by my surgeons office that I'm responsible for a "program fee" due up front to the Surgeon.  This is cause BC/BS pays the Dr barely enough for the malpractice.  But the insurance pays 100% other than the program fee of $3,500. Has anyone with BC/BS had to pay this? I feel like I'm being taken.  I know in the long run it's worth it.......... Do I need to find a new DR.?????? Thanks, Janet

Hi Janet, I have BC/BS as well.  My Dr. also has a program fee but it's $600.  I was told $300 up front to get started and the other $300 before the surgery.  I know BC/BS will not cover this for me as well and I will have to pay it out of pocket.  I couldn't even imagine coming up with $3,500 just for the program fee.  Seems a little steep to me and I would look around at other Dr.'s.  I'm sure some of the other people here on the board may have better answers for you. Best wishes, Stacey

Hi, I also have BCBS, the first surgeon I considered wanted 2000.00 for  a "program fee" this supposedly covered support groups clothing exchange and excercise and nutrition advice. I thought that was just a way for them to make more money than the insurance allowed so I just went and found another surgeon.  My current surgeon asked for a $300.00 deposit toward my copay and if there is any left over it will be refunded.  It's up to you but I certainly don't have a few thousand dollars extra to put in the surgeons pocket. Best wishes and please let us know how you made out. Josie

Hello Janet. I am working with a "Laprascopic Weight Loss Surgery Center" affiliated with my surgeon.  They are charging me $ 1,750 for a program fee (it would be $2,250 if I didn't already have a therapist/psychologist to do the psych eval).  I had to pay $500 upfront and the remaining I had to pay after insurance approval and before I could get a surgery date.  I don't remember the list of things included but I know at a minimum the fee is for the dietician, support website, support groups, clothing exchange, processing insurance, etc.  There was a list but I don't have it with me.   Good luck. Macy

Thanks ya'll........ The program fee if strictly for the surgeon, so says the ins. gal.... Well, according to the ins. co. I don't owe anything, my Dr. is a BSBC provider and my ins. cover 100%, and all charges are to be billed to the ins. co first.  Then the ins. co. will sent me a statement saying what I could owe.  The ins. co. told me that if he didn't like the amount he was getting from the ins. co., then he needs to renegotiate his contract. I sure hope I'm not going to have to find a new Dr., I really like him and feel very comfortable with him. I'll keep ya'll posted. Hugs, Janet

OK.... here is the scoop.    I finally got a call back from the dr.'s ins. gal.  From what I understand from her, billing BC is different then billing BS............ SO........ With billing BS I will not have a "program fee"  to pay.  However, the assist. surgeon at the Surgery Center isn't a BS provider, so I will have to pay him $700. ....... but if I got to the hospital and use one of the assist. surgeon's that are a BS provider, I won't have to pay anything.  So now I'm just waiting to find out which scheduleing is going to work out best for me.  I'm kinda leaning right now towards the Surgery Center cause it is a little closer..... 1 1/2 hours away..... which really is far enough away as it is.  And I already have a date for the 10th of April there. At least I'm feeling a lot better. Thank you alll for your support. Hugs, Janet

I am sorry but I have to ask....does anyone else think it funny that the words "insurance" and "BS" arfe used together? I so hope that this is not an inapporpriate post..sorry if anyone is offended.

LMAO 

Now for my serious reply...I will be praying that evrything works out for you. God bless