fee at Newton Wellesley

Does anyone have an info about the 550 program fee that Newton Wellesley charges when you go for your initial appointment?? I'm confused. I have to pay this fee and I don't even know if I'll be able to have this surgery... I understand that it helps pay for things like their website and follow up stuff that insurance doesn't pay for but people are telling me all over the place that this is wrong.... HELP!

Hi Jessie - I would definitely get more info about that before paying. I have never heard of the patients being asked to kick in for the website, etc. Maybe you could click onto the hospital reviews, find some people who used Newton Wellesley and ask them what it's all about? Good Luck . Mea

I would ask your insurance company. If you are in an HMO, I don't think they can charge fees outside the contract price. If you have state medicaid of federal medicare, I am pretty sure that is not allowed. There are specific laws in our state to protect the consumer. I would also definitely ask the state attorney general if this is allowed. Remember, just because a hospital does it doesn't make it right. Joe

thanks for the info.... did you do any research on this hospital? Through all the research and people i've talked to, this seems to be the best so far. I am now looking into Brigham and Women's but I really liked Newton Wellesley minus the fee. I do have an HMO and I also have MassHealth as a back up.... I will call the attorney general just to make sure. So many people have been a part of this program and no one seems to have an issue about it. I also emailed the hospital and asked them exactly what the fee was for and why. Thanks for the help and I'll let you know what I find out!

FYI, Jessie - Brigham and Women's has a $500 program fee which is not reimbursable by insurance. This is not a care-related fee and does not fall under the HMO contract. You cannot get a surgery date without paying this fee. The fee is for administration costs related the program including the support group. This is the trend. I have read of people having to pay as much as a $2,500 fee at some hospitals nationwide. By comparison, $500 is a bargain. Hope that helps. - Sharon

Hi Jessie, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center also charges a $500 dollar out-of-pocket 'Adminstration Fee'. Since it not a care-related fee it is not covered by insurance. Good luck in your journey! Muka.

Brigham and Women's will take installments, with the full fee paid in full by your surgery. If you pay, then get rejected by insurance, they will refund your money. But not if you chicken out. New England Medical Center wants the fee up front ($400 per their written literature) and payable at the time of your first visit. Sounds like B & W has the most flexibility for the program fee. Joan F

The $400 fee at NEMC is for the Activity for Life Lecture Series. This is a lecture series given by the exercise physiologist. It is an educational lecture series and not covered by insurance. The reasoning behind this series is to educate people having the surgery about the importance of exercise in the weight loss journey. Various aspects of exercise is covered. I believe they are making attendance at these lectures a mandatory part of the program at NEMC. Sue

I went thru Newton/Wellesley to have my surgery and paid the initial fee, i'm not even sure exactly what it was for LOL but for me, the number of commerical diets i had been on, (LA weight loss, jenny craig ect ect) the fee was small compared to what i had been spending on them. I know that you can pay in installments or with credit card.. and i believe that for them to accept you as a patient, they have to already have your insurance information and past medical history, i would be VERY surprised if you werent able to have surgery. I think NW likes to get the ball rolling quick, and i had my surgery about 4 months after my initial appointment. They are a very organized very smooth running office... You will see the psychiatrist, nutritionist and surgeon with your first appointment. you don't need to make seperate appointments for each like ALOT of the other surgeons do. I'd do it all over, at the same place in a heartbeat.. please dont hesitate if you have any questions.. lots of luck! ~Kim

Another reason for this type of fee is to make sure people are making a committment to the surgery process. It is very time consuming for the staff to process all that needs to be done for the insurance approval and if people go ahead with the process and then back out, then the hospital may get nothing! Not that it isn't your choice to back out if you really don't think it is the right decision, but I think this fee would keep people from initiating the process who are not really serious about the surgery. Luann