Is this how your psych evaluation worked?

I am so pleased with how friendly and prompt the receptionist has been at the psych's office that I have chosen to go with.  (Dr. Carr - Asheville)  I do have a few questions for you all though regarding your experiences...

I am supposed to go in for one day only and spend 3.5 hours, which is absolutely no problem.  :)  They say I will spend one hour speaking with the psychologist and 2.5 hours testing.  Afterwards, it will take approximately 2 weeks for them to score the testing and then they will send that to the clinic.  They also said I am to have the $704 to pay in full that day, then they will send me a receipt 2 weeks later for me to turn into my insurance to go toward my deductible. 

My question is, how does this compare with your personal experience?

Also, we are going to have to save like gangbusters for the $3900 for surgery ($2500 deductible + 20%), so the $704 that I'll take out to pay for the psych, I will need it OFF of my deductible before I go in for surgery.  Does anyone know about how long it normally takes an insurance company to do this?  I don't want to be $700 shy. 

(Isn't the total due the day of *surgery*?  Please correct me if I'm wrong!) 

Shauna
My psych. eval took a total of 60 min.---30 min. to talk with him and 30 to do a 165 question test.

I had to pay $30...they then billed my insurance company and my insurance paid everything.  All of that will come out of my deductible of $1000.  I believe even the surgeon's consultation fee of $255 will come off my $1000.

I thought my balance was due before the surgery.  I guess every surgeon is different, but that's what mine says.

Wish I could be more of help!!!

Mine was almost an hour and she just asked alot of ?s and she said she couldnt wait for me to have mine... i had to pay $50

Holy cow, ladies.  I need to do some checking around.  Thanks so much.  :)  How long did it take you to get the go-ahead from the psych...did you know before you left his/her office? 

I got cleared the next day... if thats what ur asking

It took about a week for him to get his evaluation to my surgeon.

I have two forms of insurance so I didnt have to pay anything.  Now for the actual surgery I have an out of pocket amount of 1,500.  I paid 255 for my first visit and that was deducted out of the 1500 and the rest has to be paid a week before my surgery on the 7th of August.
As far as the time it took for my psych eval, it was more like the other ladies.  I had around 30 minutes with the psych doc and another thirty to answer one hundred and some questions on a computer.  It was like two weeks before I heard back from the office saying everything went fine.

The lady that did my psych eval was crazier than I was.  She was demeaning, rude, and hostile.  She scared me into thinking that she was the key to my approval and that if she told them I wasn't a good candidate that I would be denied.  In truth she's just one piece of the puzzle.  She required a follow up visit where I was to have lost 15 pounds.  I was scared to death.  When I came back the next month, she didn't even weigh me.  It was like she was a different person, in fact she probably should be checked out for MPD. 

In any event, I was approved and it's all water under the bridge now.  It sounds like you're set to have a much better experience than I did.  This woman is apparently unique and I have encouraged eveyrone that I have encountered who dealt with her and was traumatized to complain to their surgeon about her.  If enough of us complain, maybe they'll feel compelled to find another psychologist.

I don't want this to intimidate you, you will most likely have a much more positive experience than I did.  I haven't heard horror stories about anyone other than the one I'm referring to. 

Take care and good luck
Ellen

I saw a psychologist who charged $200 or $250 of which i paid like $40 or $50 bucks.   I had to get their early for paperwork which ended up being a huge questionaire and then we just sat and talked for an hour.  She asked when i eat and i explained when i am happy, sad, bored and even when i am hungry.  She got a chuckle out of that one and said at least i know why and that is half the battle.   She told me she would have the report to the doc within 7 days and wished me good luck with my surgery so she obviously thought i was a candidate.  That doc seems very high for one hour of his time and to review and write a report.  I agree you should ck around.   Did your surgeon's office give you a list of some you could use?

Take care and good luck, Pam

My psych eval was a piece of cake.  I went to a Dr in Raleigh, right off of I-40 ( I hit there on my way to my education seminar at Frye).  It took all of about 15 minutes and only cost me my $25 co-pay.  The best part is is that when I was walking out of the seminar, Jock told me the psyc eval was coming over the fax already!!  I would check around more if I were you and ask what their procedure is.  Everyone is different.
Andrea