KayKat

I went to a well known weight loss place for my LAP-BAND®. The self pay price was @ 15-18,000. My insurance co approved the surgury and I didnt think anything about the cost. To my horror this place has billed my insurance almost $100,000!!! and insurance has paid this!!! This exact thing simultaneously happened to my friend who went to the same place and has a different insuance co. They charged her insurance $138,000. This was outpatient surgury!! All the ads on here show cheap prices...what happened?! This eats into my lifetime insurance health cap. The weight loss place said if you prepay/self pay its 18,000 but if they "assume the risk" of going through insurance they charge more. 10 times higher?! Are they loan sharks or doctors? has anyone run into this?

Thank you all sooo very much for your responses!. I feel better just knowing you are out there. I am trying to keep active so as not to think about the chest pain, although I do make weird faces when the 'attack' comes on. I will try an walk tonight and if still nauseous tomorrow I will call dr.

I had the band put in 1/14 and I have been sick everyday..did I make a huge mistake? I want to take it out. Am I a whoose?? I have to go back to work and cant even fathom how I can do it.

Just had surgery. I have been feeling nausea every day- barely sipping food. When I do drink- mayby 1/2 hour later I wretch. I really didnt have gas pain but I do feel a 'restriction" in my chest( between the boobs) if I take a deep breath. I feel so miserable that i want to have the band removed right away. I cant lay down because I get short breath from that 'restriction' so I have been dozing sitting up. Any comments would help.

Hi Wordsmyth..I am also in Los Angeles and was banded 1/14. Still a little bloated. Been drinking diluted "Isopure" protein drink from RiteAid...it helps with the hunger

I am getting banded in Los Angeles 1/14. I am excited and my friend is getting banded on 1/20. I just started liquids today...but I havent been put on a very restrictive diet pre-op. They said just the week prior to do liquids. I also smoke and was going to quit but they told me if I havent quit for 6 months prior, dont quit since there will be too many secretions in my lungs (?!). I aim to quit right after surgery.

I am having surgery 1/14/10 and my friend 1/20/09 in Los Angeles. pretty excited- a little nervous! No strict pre op diet but I am starting on liquids tomorrow.