Question:
Are we required to pay our deductible before surgery? Mine is with Dr. Tanaka

   — Lisa W. (posted on June 24, 2002)

June 24, 2002
MOST In-Network PPO providers do not make you pay your deductible up front. They may call to verify your deductible amount and see if you've met it. I have seen instances where Out of Network providers charge the deductible up front, such as the hospital I stayed at. Since they were an Out of Network PPO provider, they wanted me to pay my deductible up front. I ended up not paying it because of a clause in my insurance policy that provided for my claims to be processed at a higher level! Are you on a PPO Plan is Dr. Tanaka part of the PPO Network?
   — Rosario T.

June 24, 2002
Mine said that I would be billed later, it has been six weeks I haven't heard anything yet.
   — Linda A.

July 1, 2002
I had to pay mine up front to my doctor, but was re-imbursed fully after surgery. My hospital tried to get me to pay it also, but when I informed them I had pre-paid the dr. then they didn't pursue it further. The lady at the billing desk said that with some insurers you have to pre-pay the dr. and the hospital. However, I was lucky that I only had to pre-pay the dr. Let me re-state I was re-imbursed fully after my insurance paid though.
   — lindajenkins