Program Fee

Hi, I am new to the forum and I was on the insurance help forum and I saw where some doctors require a Program fee. What is a program fee excatly? does anyone know if Dr. Oldham & Dr. Weiss require that and how much is it? I thought that if your insurance paid for your surgery that was that . But I am finding out differently. I saw where one said that her doctor require $3500 program fee. There is no way that I can afford that. If I have to pay very much than I will have to put it off till I can save up . Sorry about so many questions. Thanks Angie

Don't know about Dr Oldham. Dr. Sonnastine requires a $600 program fee that is not covered by insurance. My insurance is also an 80/20 plan, so if the surgery ended up being say 10k, then my portion is 2k. Hope that helps! Melanie g.

Norton's program requires $100.00. I also ended up getting a bill for $87.00 that my insurance apparently didnt cover. I will have to call about that one cause I have a primary and secondary .

Most centers do require a program fee for services that may not be covered under insurance. For example, dieticians cannot bill insurance companies. If I am not mistaken Gtown does have a program fee but I am thinking it's pretty low actually. Many of their patients and staff read this board, I am sure you will get a response. Brenda

I'll throw in my two cents about program fees... here goes... My hospital is Kings Daughters in Ashland. When I started the program in approx. November 2006, they required a $300 program fee. Allegedly the program fee would cover the meeting with the dietician, psychologist, and the monthly support groups. I learned that as of January 24, 2007, they are no longer charging the program fee. I wrote a letter to the director of the weight loss surgery program, Deana Milum. That letter was written over a month ago. I have not received a response. I think I will follow-up with another letter today. I don't think it's fair that I had to pay the $300 fee, and my friend doesn't have to. We both work at the same place and have similar insurance (which has nothing to do with the program fee), but she started the program in January - after her insurance was put in place. Since my insurance was active in 2006, the weight loss surgery staff suggested I go ahead and start the program. That was fine. Now I do think it's unfair that I had to pay the $300 and my friend didn't, and we're having surgery on the same day (April 5, 2007). Does anyone have any suggestions for me about getting my money back? Let me know if I'm totally off-base here and shouldn't get a refund. Thanks! April

The program fee with Dr. Weiss or Dr. Oldham is $500.00 and insurance does not cover any portion of this fee. To speak with someone in their office about the fee and what all the fee includes please call: 502.867.6744 Thanks! Cathi Roskind, RN Education/Support Coordinator The Bariatric Center at Georgetown

I am using Norton's I had to pay 100.00 for the dietitian I went to see Dr. Allen the about surgery and got a bill for 12.80 insurance cover all of the rest. I only have Medicare because of haveing cancer five years back and now cancer free I cant pick up a extra policy Also were I go the Drs take every kind of insurance that there is. good luck hope all comes out good for you. cynthia

Thanks every one I really appreciate all your help. Thanks again angie

Almost every office I spoke with had some type of fee. St Luke's is 600 and that covers quite a bit. Others charged less but the psyc and nutri sessions were billed to the insurance. These are part of the fee at St Lukes. I did get to deduct it on my taxes so it counted somewhere. LOL