BCBS FEPBlue (standard plan) & plan allowance

I have BCBS for federal employees, standard option, and from their website it appears that they will cover WLS at 90%. For anyone else with this insurance, does this mean that we have to pay 10% of all the charges combined? Or are some of the things still covered in full, such as the pre-surgery consults? This is where I was looking: http://www.fepblue.org/benefits/benefits07/benftsbpbsection5 b-07.html

Hi Shell. I will be using BCBS FED (*standard) also, my DH insurance. I also have BCBS HMO Blue thru my employer (does not cover any type WLS).  Well my DH co-worker used the BCBS FED Standard palnn and she told me she was out of pocket less than $400 bucks.  She had RNY surgery and did not get a bill until several weeks after the surgery.  Hope this helps, as I have not had my surgery yet. 

Hi Shell, it's 10% of the plan allowance.  My experience with BCBS Fed is that the doctor bills for more than the plan allows, the cost is reduced to the plan allowance and you pay the difference.  For example, if the cost is $10,000 and you use a PPO with a plan allowance of $8,000, you pay only 10% of $8,000.  You can look back on one of your explanation of benefits to see this.

I'm working with my surgeon's office right now and BCBS Fed regarding comorbidities.  I've asked BCBS Fed to provide me  with a list of accepted comorbidities.  Do you have any experience with that?

~Janey

Hi Janey, thanks for the response. I don't have any experience with their comorbidities - unfortunately, I qualify without any since my BMI is about 42.  I could speculate that it would include sleep apnea, high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes but I'm not positive. The good news is that at the seminar I went to last weekend the surgeon listed BCBS Federal as one of the best insurance companies for weight loss surgery coverage. So I hope you're able to get approved without too much fuss.