$600 Program Fee? Ouch!

[ElfiePoo 109]

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.

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[TinaM 0]

a program fee? really? separate from any deductibles?

My first thought is what is their primary goal - geting you helathy or making money off of you.

As oithers have siad your life is worth more than $600 but I don't think you should have to pay more than what your insurance requires. If I had been told I needed to pay this type of fee, I would have have found a different surgeon and medical team where my life and well being trumped their profit.

[BigMomma 0]

@ Tina

I debated the program fee. To me it was worth it. It included my nut classes, my surgeon appointments, 3 fills, 6 month gym membership and 5 personal training sessions. I would have paid more out of pocket for all of this because the center is out of network.