PROGRAM FEE?SURGERY GOT CANCELED?HELP!!!

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Please, on behalf of all potential WLS candidates, do the following:

1.  Call your surgeon's office and NICELY ask for a copy of all your paperwork!  (they HAVE to give it to you, and yes there may be a small fee for this, but it's worth it).

2.  Specifically make sure that you have a copy of the "contract" where you agreed to pay the program fee!

3.  Call your health insurance and ask to speak with an "ombudsperson" and tell them you'd like to file a complaint.

Believe me, they will do a thorough investigation on your behalf!  And don't give up!

Sandie

There done here all the time and anyone who doesn't want to pay the fees can go elsewhere.  Hardly the stuff of investigations.

 What does that fee include for $2900.00, what a rip-off!  My program fee was $300.00 which I was fine with because my surgeon's practice even has its own gym where I work out three times a week where I get a lot of specialized attention.  I think I would look for a new surgeon too, have you inquired if they can allow you to set up a payment plan to pay over time?

Good luck!

Sorry that happened to you.. next time - read the small print... they always use the small print...

My doc had a program fee... but I had psych, nut and meetings for life included in the fee. 
It was  a lot of money - but having a group of docs on call 24/7.. for life... has a huge value for me. 
And the insurance did not pay for that, or the questions, or some of my meds that need to be called in..  but then again, I knew what I was getting myself into... Ad they made sure we knew that unless the program fee is paid in full - the surgery will no happen. 
Good luck finding a new doc.

My program fee will be $150 and they informed us of that fee when we went to the general introduction meeting. I will have to pay it before my pre-op exam which will be 2 weeks before surgery. Have you saved all your paperwork?

I'm sorry that you're going through time.  Didn't anybody ask you about the fee before this?  It boggles   my mind that they would let it get this close to your surgery before they asked about the money.  Mine was $200.00 and includes a fitness center that I can attend 3 times a week..Also, if I'm within my goal 5 years after my surgery, the fee is refunded.

These "fees" are what they have conjured up to compensate for the under-compensation that they negotiated with the insurance companies.  BTW - these are not covered by insurance at all.  You can throw a rock in any direction and hit a RNY surgeon, so you shouldn't have much of a challenge finding one that doesn't have these imaginary charges.

Does a lot of surgeons have program fees?  I just started at Hershey Medical and I don't recall them mentioning this.  Did I miss someting?

It varies. It's a pretty common practice in CA from what I can see. 

And a lot of programs that charge the higher fees do offer services that aren't covered by insurance and also the fee includes follow up for a very long time (2 years or more is pretty standard). So it can be a good deal for some people even if it's not so much for others.

I'll tell you one thing... if I were getting a band, I would want free fills for at least 2 years including in my services even if it meant I had to pay a program fee. I have seen too many bandsters have changes in their insurance after surgery that kept them from getting the fills they needed and you can't work a band efffectively if you aren't getting fills when you need them. Paying up front gives you a certain peace of mind that you will be covered no matter what happens to your insurance situation.