Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!
$99 Yearly Supply Alert! 🌈 "1 per Day!" Bariatric Multivitamins

Doctors in Los Angles area sans Program Fees?

Cali Sal

Recommended Posts

Cali Sal    0

Cali Sal
Posted (edited)

Hi All,

I've looked up a couple of doctors here in the surrounding LA area and found that some have "Program Fees" so I did a little search here in the forums and found that these are basically ways for surgery centers to get more money out of us. I haven't met with any doctors yet however I did reserve a spot in seminars for Dr. Oliak, in Orange County, who I've learn has a $4500 program fee and the other doctor is Dr. Pehrsson, out of Methodist Hospital in Arcadia, but I haven't seen anything about program fees.

My issue with this is that I have a PPO insurance with a high deductible and co-pay max, why should I have to pay additional fees to the doctor that my insurance won't cover? So my question is, can you please recommend a few doctors that you know do not have any programs fees?

If you know the geographic area of so cal, I'll go anywhere from Long Beach to LA, Pasadena and out to Orange County. I live in El Monte which is in the middle of these cities.

Edited by Cali Sal
typo

Share this post

Link to post
Share on other sites

Cali Sal    0

Cali Sal
Posted

Anyone?

I've emailed my insurance rep to let her know that some doctors are trying to charge me on top of what my insurance will cover. I'm hoping she will direct me to a doctor but I'd like some feedback from people that have had the procedure. Thanks in advance.

Share this post

Link to post
Share on other sites

CurvasPeligrosas    0

CurvasPeligrosas
Posted

Hello~

I live in Ventura and the Dr. I first saw here had a $3,900 program fee that I could not afford. So I did some research and found Dr. Feiz in Beverly Hills. I went to him and now am 4 weeks post op. I just had my 1st fill yesyerday done by him. I am very happy that I went to him.

His office # is 310)8955-8058

Let them know that Socorro referred you. :)

Anyone?

I've emailed my insurance rep to let her know that some doctors are trying to charge me on top of what my insurance will cover. I'm hoping she will direct me to a doctor but I'd like some feedback from people that have had the procedure. Thanks in advance.

Share this post

Link to post
Share on other sites

Cali Sal    0

Cali Sal
Posted

Thank you so much for the recommendation, I will def look him up!

Share this post

Link to post
Share on other sites

Cali Sal    0

Cali Sal
Posted

I just looked up Dr. Feiz and signed up for the free-seminar in Long Beach, happy to see there was one so close to my job. So I have 3 seminars set up over the next 2 weeks with recommended doctors, only one I've seen any mention of program fees however other people have said they weren't charged any. I guess I'll find out :)

Share this post

Link to post
Share on other sites

CurvasPeligrosas    0

CurvasPeligrosas
Posted

YAY!!! Good luck with it! I would say call his office and Lupe will be able to check on your insurance and let you know if it will cover all or not. The girls at his offices are very helpful and nice.

Share this post

Link to post
Share on other sites

Cali Sal    0

Cali Sal
Posted

I wanted to update this post just in case there are others like me that refused to pay the "program fee" some doctors try and charge. I attended at seminar with two doctors; Dr. Katkhouda & Dr. Crookes both excellent doctors you can do futher research on them if you'd like. They work for USC University Hospital (NOT LA County, which is also next to USC). There is no Program Fee and they are both highly regarded. I chose Dr. Katkhouda, fyi. They say right up front that there are no additional cost outside of what your insurance pays them. I recommend anyone looking for a good doctor to look up when USC Hospital is putting on another seminar.

Share this post

Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
Go To Topic Listing Weight Loss Surgeons & Hospitals

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • Alisa_S

      Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Alisa_S

      Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • KimBaxleyWilson

      KimBaxleyWilson

      Three months and four days ago... I was in Costa Rica having a life changing surgery! Yesterday we had a followup visit with Dr. Esmeral via video chat and this morning my middle number changed.  I'm down 47lbs and two pants sizes. I can wear a Large tshirt for the first time in like... 14 years! Woot!! Everything is going great. I have zero regrets. I went down to the riverwalk with a friend and walked 2 miles on Monday without even getting fatigued. And no more snoring or chugging pickle juice for crazy leg cramps! I need to go to the gym more... I'm making new shirts next week so that will motivate me. LOL But I'm also just not as TIRED all the time! I have a LONG way to go...but seeing the progress on the scales and in the mirror is a huge motivator!! Thank you all for cheering me on and supporting me!!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • bellaamey

      bellaamey

      https://alluniqueguide.com/java-burn-coffee-reviews/
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.

  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    Bariatric Forums

    For Patients

    Health Professionals

    Search Surgeons

    Bariatric Surgeons: Want to research a weight loss surgery surgeon? Enter their last name below to start!

    ×