I went to my Lapband Seminar last night. I am really psyched about getting the Band. I want to go with this Particular Center, too. I have checked out all their Surgeons License, no complaints filed against them, no malpractice suits. They work out of a Top Hospital in the nation.

The only thing holding me back is the $600.00 program fee that has to be paid before the first Nutrition Class. I can meet with the Surgeon before that, and get approved for the Surgery but before they will proceed I have to pay the Program Fee.

I have already looked into the Centers in the Area, they either didn't take my insurance or the Surgeons that did had Malpractice Suits against them.

So what do you think Banders? Is $600 too high for a Program Fee? :thumbup:

So what do you think Banders? Is $600 too high for a Program Fee? :thumbup:

Absolutely not. My life is worth exponentially more.

Okay, over all, you're health is worth more than $600 but darn that sees steep....it wouldn't have stopped me, but I'd have had to whine about it a bunch anyway.

The program that I am looking into has a $500 program fee, $400 psychological eval, and $1,000 3-year program fee (for nutrition and exercise counseling). None of that is covered by insurance. I think it's worth it though. I looked at some other programs that do not have the 3-years of post surgery help. Cheaper, yes but I think the extra help is key for me. That being said I haven't decided for certain yet it's a lot of money on top of what I have to pay after insurance it's over $8K.

We must have been at the same seminar. I was all psyched, but now it looks as if my insurance will not cover. I did think that $600.00 was a bit steep, but I was planning to cover it with my health savings card. It's still out of pocket, but less painful.

Good luck to you.

I ended up fighting Blue Cross for 2 1/2 years for the surgery...lost and self paid for the surgery. 15K is well worth my life! You can always submit you claim afterwards and they can reconsider reimbursing you...they have reimbursed me on some of my labs so far and are considering some of the others I have submitted so far!! You never know! My surgeon told me that one client got all of his bills reimbursed except the surgeons..so as the others have said..our lives are worth it!!

Actually, that program fee seems about right. I checked out 3 surgeons in my area. One had a $500 program fee that basically didn't really buy me anything. :thumbup: Another didn't have a program fee but said that usually the psych consult and nutritionist appointments were covered by insurance and that would probably run me about $500. :w00t: The surgeon I'm going with (hopefully w/insurance approval) has a $1000 program fee :woot: but it includes the psych consult, nutritionist, first 3 months of fills (not sure if insurance covers those yet) and lifelong dietician help and support groups. I feel it's worth every penny if I can get this weight off. Hope this helps.

Hey, it could be worse. You could live in Canada where there is zero chance of you getting covered for lap band and you have to pay the full $18K yourself.

Thanks, Everyone for your Replies! You have good points. My life is definetly worth more than 600 dollars for one thing. It's just going to slow my process down. I will get it, if I have to pay it $50.00 a month until its paid up.

I'm a little depressed over the fact that this is going to slow me down and I can't get started like I wanted to. I'm still trying to get a Consult appointment so I can process my approval though. No reason not to get the ball moving, Hey I might Win the Lottery in the process! ( I might want to start playing though!:w00t:)

Just don't eat at any fast food joints and put the money aside that you would have spent there.

It will add up fast if you are anything like me.

I went to my LAP-BAND® Seminar last night. I am really psyched about getting the Band. I want to go with this Particular Center, too. I have checked out all their Surgeons License, no complaints filed against them, no malpractice suits. They work out of a Top Hospital in the nation.

The only thing holding me back is the $600.00 program fee that has to be paid before the first Nutrition Class. I can meet with the Surgeon before that, and get approved for the Surgery but before they will proceed I have to pay the Program Fee.

I have already looked into the Centers in the Area, they either didn't take my insurance or the Surgeons that did had Malpractice Suits against them.

So what do you think Banders? Is $600 too high for a Program Fee?

I live in Chico, California and the only doctor's here that do the surgery charge a 3500.00 maintenance fee.(not covered by insurance):w00t: I don't know what all that includes but I will know more on the 3rd of Feb at my first appointment. I just keep telling myself no pain no gain even if it is the pocket book in the beginning.

I went to my LAP-BAND® Seminar last night. I am really psyched about getting the Band. I want to go with this Particular Center, too. I have checked out all their Surgeons License, no complaints filed against them, no malpractice suits. They work out of a Top Hospital in the nation.

The only thing holding me back is the $600.00 program fee that has to be paid before the first Nutrition Class. I can meet with the Surgeon before that, and get approved for the Surgery but before they will proceed I have to pay the Program Fee.

I have already looked into the Centers in the Area, they either didn't take my insurance or the Surgeons that did had Malpractice Suits against them.

So what do you think Banders? Is $600 too high for a Program Fee? :w00t:

My program fee was $1000. I was able to file it on my insurance and the payment went towards my coinsurance. I will be reimbursed a small portion of the fee.

- Val

I interviewed about 7 different doctors/clinics and 4 of them had 'program' fees and lots of pre and post-surgery requirements not required by my insurance which means my insurance would also not have paid for these tests.

The clinic I finally chose has no program fee and only requires special tests based on the health of each individual, which means they can back it up to the insurance company and it will be covered. I do have to drive an hour one way to the clinic but since I only have to do it every couple weeks for a fill...and then maybe not for months...it's worth it.

Personally, I'd keep looking around because there are good bariatric clinics and doctors who do not require a fee.

Well, my program fee was $1400, which covered the psych eval, 5 nutrition classes, one pre-op class, one pre-op weight-loss nutrition class, monthy appointments with the bariatric nurse, and unlimited support-group meetings before and after surgery. This fulfilled all of the insurance requirements for pre-approval. The way I look at it is, the more educated I am and the more support I have, the more sucessful I will be.

I too paid a $600 fee. Even though insurance paid for my surgery, it gave me a little feeling of "ownership".. not sure if that makes any sense or not (i'm still on pain meds!)

Well, my program fee was $1400, which covered the psych eval, 5 nutrition classes, one pre-op class, one pre-op weight-loss nutrition class, monthy appointments with the bariatric nurse, and unlimited support-group meetings before and after surgery. This fulfilled all of the insurance requirements for pre-approval. The way I look at it is, the more educated I am and the more support I have, the more sucessful I will be.

If your insurance didn't pay for this, then I can understand paying for it out of pocket. I was fortunate. My insurance paid for the psych eval, the preop nutrition class, and all of my fill appointments. Support group meetings are no charge and I was thrilled at not having to waste my time in endless nutrition classes when they can't teach me anything I don't already know.

When I started at the diabetic clinic years ago, their requirement was that I have 6 hours (or something like that) of nutrition classes. We compromised. I told them I'd go to one and if it was apparent they had nothing to teach me, they'd consider the other 5 hours as not needed. I didn't have to do the rest of the hours.

If you needed this knowledge, then I can see how you would find it worth spending money on since this is knowledge you will need to choose your foods wisely.

.