Approval but what the....

Hello Everyone,
I made the decision to get WLS... Found a surgeon after meeting a few, jumped through the hoops, saw a shrink, hell I even drunk the chalky stuff!

After all of this my PPO ( Anthem/ BS BC) approved me  !!!

After getting the notification from my doctor"s office I was told that my insurance does not cover a surgical assistant, therefore I need to bring in 1767 in a money order or cashier check to my pre-op appointment!

Is this regular practice? I fell like I was mislead- Please Advise

I don't know much about anthem / BS BC.  When I started the WLS journey I started with 1 surgeon that had an assistant surgeon that was out of network and they want me to pay $5000.00.  I changed surgeons 2 months before I got approved.  The new surgeon didn't us an assistant. My insurance paid for the whole surgery all I had to pay is my $100.00 co pay.  I think there are WLS places that want to make extra money.  Not sure if the one you are using does or not. 
Good Luck

Thank you so much for the information. Strange enough after I told them it would present an ecconomic hardship I was called and told the cost was $1,100.... I did schedule for next year tenative. I was wondering if another surgeon would be an option for me. everyone I know has paid noting other than a standard co-pay.

Thank you for the advise, I am going to exercise that option.

I think some Surgeon try to see what the can get away with and they will settle for less.
I was wondering what was billed to my insurance. So far this is what the insurance has paid.  They paid the Surgeon  $1302.25 he billed them for  $1952.00.  
The Anesthesiologist was paid $1080.00 he bill was for $1840.00.  The hospital has not been paid yet, but billed the insurance  $39,695.00.  We will see how much they get paid.   I decided to go with a not for profit hospital and for what I was told that they only get paid what the insurance agrees to pay.  I did have a co pay for the hospital and that is $100.00 per day.  I was lucky to get to go home the same day.
Good Luck

I would ask them more information.  Who is the assistant, and what professional designation/license does he have?

In my case the surgeon uses a CRFA as the assistant and my policy doesn't cover that type of provider. 

I had to pay for an assistant and have no regrets. I was told up front and thats how it was no exceptions. Mine was 500 plus a 35 copay. I live in Ohio too so its most likley way cheeper here.
I paid extra for a program and the assistant which was also not negotible. I must say its been good though. My wife went through a surgery years ago and had none of the support.  Ihad to pay at my pre-op too.