Question:
what is the out of pocket expense for the initial consultation at the wish center IL

I'm trying to find out how much the initial consultation at the Wish Center in IL is covered by most insurances. How much of the bill did you have to pay after insurance. I can't get a straight answer from BCBS or from the Wish Center. I have Blue Cross Blue Shield Blue Advantage Entrepreneur PPO, Can anyone tell me of their experience?    — robert W. (posted on January 31, 2003)

January 31, 2003
I can't answer exactly a dollar amount. I have BCBS of Illinois PPO and I was going to go to the wish center in Downers Grove. I called and spoke with someone at the hospital about insurance. I was told that the MD's that do the surgery were out of network. That can result in you paying several thousand dollars out of your own pocket. I would investigate further. Make sure the hospital and physicians are in network for your PPO. GOOD LUCK!!!!!
   — annette G.

January 31, 2003
hi. i had surgery thru the wish center in sept. 2002. i had w insurance companies paying on my surgery and i put a deposit down of 500.00. i just found out that i still owe them (the wish cntr) 2600.00. im not thrilled. wish center is non ppo for every single ppo out there. i do insurance for a living and checked into it. hope this helps.
   — Monica T.

January 31, 2003
oops. meant to type in that i had 2 insurance companies pay on my surgery. mine and hubbys. sorry for the typo
   — Monica T.

February 1, 2003
Hope this helps: For the open procedure, which I had, I had to pay a deposit of $2000.00. Lap is $3000.00 down. I had my surgery in November and I just received a bill for about $2600.00 more. I am trying to get my insurance company to pick up some more, but I am figuring I will have to pay that part. My email is [email protected] if you need to talk further about this. Good Luck, Kimberly Thompson WLS 11/13/02 -51
   — Kimberly T.

February 1, 2003
Hello, I have Aetna POS and my total out of pocket was $4500.00 which I had almost met BEFORE I went to the WISH Center last year. I had open RNY which I had to put a deposit of $2000.00 down then after all the consultations and seeing all the appropriate people I needed to see what was left after insurance was $2248.39. So I think what you need to do is to ask BCBS what your TOTAL out of pocket is and from there you might be able to figure out what you might be spending. The reason the WISH Center can't tell you anything is because sometimes insurances pay MORE and sometimes LESS. If you can't find out through BCBS what your total out of pocket is then you might be able to ask your employer what the total out of pocket expense is. See, after I reached my out of pocket, my insurance covers 100%! So yours might or might not do the same. Best of luck to you! Open RNY 8/20/02 -111 pounds.
   — Carole M.