How much $$$ did you all have to pay upfront?

Hi Everyone, How much did it cost for the upfront $$$ for all the testing?  I got some paperwork from Wash. U. today and they want $550.00 upfront with an addition $200.00 for their liquid 2-week diet products.  I'm really disappointed as we live paycheck to paycheck with 7 people here.  SIGH - there is NO way we could come up with $100.00 much less $750.00.  What does DePaul charge? Thanks! Lori

Does your insurance cover any of that?  I didn't have to pay anything to my surgeon, and just co-pays for testing (and 20% of costs up to my deductible - so all in all it was about $1500 for everything) Are their other surgical programs in the area you could look in to?

I belong to an HMO, and they require bariatric patients to attend a series of classes for several weeks before surgery is scheduled.  The copay for the classes was $175.  I had a small copay for my PEEC consult and my mental health consult (I think it was either $10 or $25 for each of those two visits). I had to lose 10% of my weight before surgery was scheduled, so the bariatric doctor put me on a modified Optifast plan, but the HMO paid for the Optifast because it was deemed "medically necessary" to prepare me for surgery. My hospital copay was $350.  So, all in all, it came to roughly $600. out of pocket. If you aren't satisfied with what the program is charging you for ($550 for what?) and $200 for their mandated diet, I'd look for another program.  I have heard of some programs charging all sorts of ridiculous fees for stuff patients may not even need. Isn't there a program at Barnes or Jewish  that might be more user-friendly in terms of cost? Kix

The 1st WLS clinic I went to sucked $500 up front out of me. I never saw it again. The 2nd WLS clinic I went to ( and ended up having surgery at) asked for $250 up front and after surgery I received it back. I have to say with the 1st clinic not only did I have to pay that but it basically only covered a worthless tote bag and a water mug. I still had EVERYTHING else they did to me billed to my insurance. There wasn't even a discount on the crappy shakes they wanted you to drink. So what was the $500 for? I have NO CLUE!

Good luck to you!
*huggles*
Felicia =0)

Lori, I had to pay $500 for the program fee and $675 for my portion of the hospital charges upfront.  I would have had to pay $1000, but, I had already used $325 towards my deductible. Lori in Utah

Nothing upfront for my surgeon, but at my pre-op appointment I paid 660.00 for surgeons and 1200.00 to hospital for my portion...

Hi Ladies, Thanks so much for the information.  I guess I just didn't realize that when my insurance BC/BS Federal said they would cover it, that the doctors and hospitals wouldn't bill them directly for all of it.  I am responsible for 10% of it, but I didn't know you had to pay upfront.  I just thought the bill would come afterwards and we usually pay a certain amount every month.  Live and Learn! Lori

$1500-$500 deductible and $1000 in coinsurance. I had my surgery in January so I had just finish all of my deductibles in December with all the pre-op stuff and then it  started all over in January. The only reason it happened like that was because I had to have 2 iron infusions before they would give me a date.