So, that explains it.  They didn't refuse service but I sure did enjoy the billing person at the surgeons office reaming her out on the phone in front of me.  Just because she was so *****y about it all.  Commission on WLS.......hmmmm.

Jules, no...you were right to ask the question.  Not that I disagree with the other posts here but would like to tell you what happened the day I had my band surgery.

My insurance is a government/military insurance for survivors and they do not advise to pay upfront for anything.  They pay a percentage of "their allowable amount" and I pay the balance, IF they determine, after the fact, that I do owe it.

However, the morning I went for surgery, at check in, the lady there asked how I was going to pay the $2,000.00 that day.  I just about fell out of my chair!  She told me that if I didn't pay then the surgery would be postponed! I reminded her what insurance I had and that I was told do not pay anything upfront.  That's when she got real pissy!  I told her I was not paying a dime that morning and if she was going to postpone my surgery, she needed to call my surgeons office right then. She did and I could hear the billing woman, whom I had met, reaming her out.

Needless to say, I had my surgery.  The fact that I am now scheduled with another surgeon to have the band removed, my point to you is...always ask if you aren't sure!  And this is a great place to ask.