If they say insurance covers the surgery....

Siennah99
on 10/26/09 2:05 am - Pasadena, CA
WHY do I still have to pay $5000??  What's the point of the insurance?  I'm pissed off.  You get excited and hopeful when you get that call saying, "YES!  Your insurance covers the surgery!"  Then, you get there, go through the info seminar, get even more excited about the possibilities only to go into the private consult and get hit with, "Your financial obligation is $5000."

WHAT the hell is that?
Wendy's Dream
Came true

on 10/26/09 4:09 am - Mesa, AZ
VSG on 08/09/22
Try another Surgeon.  It maybe what the surgeon charges.  I had the same problem with the 1st surgeon I went to.  Good Luck
 Wendy  

   1st fill 4cc,  2nd fill 1.5cc  3rd fill 1.5cc 4th fill .5   Total 7.5 cc  in my 11cc Realize Band.
                     
 Reached 1st goal weight 158 on 6/8/10, My Starting weight 235  
                                               Hit final goal of 145  10/25/10 
                                                    
  Current weight 143  
                                If you work the band the band will work for you.
    
              
poet_kelly
on 10/26/09 5:13 am - OH
What is the $5000 for?  Even if your insurance covers the surgery, you may have copays, or with some insurance plans they pay 80% and you have to pay 20%.  Most insurance companies do not cover everything.

Or is it a program fee?  Many surgeons charge a program fee, which covers stuff like the classes you have to go to and the dietician.  Insurance usually doesn't cover those things.  But $5000 is really high for a program fee.  Mine was $150.  Then I had to change surgeons because the doc who did my RNY closed his practice.  The new surgeon has a $200 program fee.  I would not pay a $5000 program fee, if that's what it is.  I would find a new surgeon.

Kelly
Siennah99
on 10/26/09 10:28 am - Pasadena, CA
When they said $5000 I just stopped them.  This is the first surgeon I've talked to.  I'm in California and we get bombarded with the 1-800-get-slim billboards EVERYWHERE, so I called them.  I could deal with $200 as a program fee, but $5000 is way out of my financial means right now.... student, part time work, etc.  I'm not prepared to finance $5000 right now.

Anyway, back to the drawing board I guess.
poet_kelly
on 10/27/09 6:37 am - OH
Call a different surgeon.  Ask about any program fees.  But look at your insurance policy, too.  Chances are you will have to pay copays or a percentage of the cost.  I mean, it normally costs you something when you go to the doctor, right?  Or if you go to the ER, or whatever?

Kelly
Siennah99
on 10/27/09 7:38 am - Pasadena, CA
Ya I get all the co-pay stuff.  What I'm saying is that they call you and say that you're insurance covers, etc., and then lay that $5000 on you.

This health care system in this country is the physical ****s.

Anyway, I will be checking out other doctors.  Anyone have any good suggestions in the Pasadena area?
ValMartin
on 11/2/09 7:00 am - Houston, TX
Dont forget the annual deductible....my ins. pays 90% after my 1500 deductible.  So my responsibilty is 10 percent plus 1500.  Im looking at about 3500 dollars out of pocket,
Frances S.
on 11/16/09 3:13 am - Crystal Falls, MI
You should also check into if you have an out-of-pocket maximum.  My insurance pays 90%, but my out-of-pocket max is only $1000, so AFTER my $250 deductable, I still will only have to pay another $750.
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