ok, so I went to my appt today and they said I need to pay a $600 program fee, that's not covered by my health insurance....has anyone else had this surprise? I know of another doctor who charges a facility fee too....what's going on????

My doc use to charge a $200 fee. When the got the Center of Excellence they dropped it. I am so excited because I dont have extra money. I think $600 is waaaay tooo much. Id look around to a different doc. Hope things work out.

I've never heard of any fee's the surgery alone cost 18k there better not be any extra fees.

I actually called two other surgeons and the charge more than the $600. So, you might want to ask if they have any out of pocket charges before you make your appointment....

Yeah it happened to me too! I had to pay $300! Not as bad as $600 but just think what you will be getting in the long run!

My Dr. didn't have any type of program fees. I just had to pay my co-pay for my visits and then my insurance paid 90% of what I needed to pay after my deductible was met.

The first seminar I went to they had a $400 fee not covered by insurance. Luckly living the greater Boston, MA area I do not want for choices of medical providers. I went to a better known hospital and doctor (another 10 min drive) and did not pay any fee. There have been people on this board whose doctor charges a fee but that includes paying for fills. Personally I would look for a new doctor is you have a choise.

Does that fee cover anything? I had to pay around $500 through my surgeon's office but it covered my 6 months of nutrition classes (required by my insurance) and my pre-op one-on-one with the nutritionist. Other than that I haven't had any "program" fees...that I know of.

Yep paid 500.00 this is a common practice among bariatric surgeons to keep their support groups going I say its keeping their pockets going because I paid the 500 moved away and havent wen to one support meeting and when they did have them they were not convenient times for me because I worked 7 to 7 and he had the band ones at 5.

I had to pay $500 to cover dietician, nurse visit, psych eval but was told if I went through with surgery it was taken off my 16 k price... Just has surgery last week and haven't gotten the bill yet so not sure if it actually came off the cost yet

I paid a 300.00 or so program fee (I think thats what it was). Seems pretty standard. Although, Im still not entirely sure what I got for it (not that I regret it, I love my surgeon and his office, but I had to pay for all of the copays for my preop tests and some of the tests weren't covered by my insurance).

I had a $100.00 program fee that had to be paid to the nutritionist but that was it.

My surgeon's office said it was to help fund their program... what that exactly means, I have no idea. My first impression was that it's to help support the Dr's wallet. But, like I said before, I called 3 other surgeons and they all charge a fee as well. So, to me, $600 is not bad for the price of getting thin and healthy for my family.

My surgeon's office said it was to help fund their program... what that exactly means, I have no idea. My first impression was that it's to help support the Dr's wallet. But, like I said before, I called 3 other surgeons and they all charge a fee as well. So, to me, $600 is not bad for the price of getting thin and healthy for my family.

I live in L.A., CA and I have BCBS. I did not pay a dime pre or post AND I don't even pay a co-pay when I get fills. I think you are right about funding the docs wallet. I also think you are right about "the price of getting thin and healthy for my family." Good luck to you!

~Fran

lots of these programs have fees because many people went into consultations (which can be lengthy) and never continued, or some made appts, and never showed up. also doctors began setting up programs which includes a lot of education (especially these mandatory seminars in which they pay for ), it sometimes include nutritional consultation, exercise regiments and all the documentation they give you.

my doctor told me this is why she charges $500 because if people started all this and she guided them and they quit half way in, her time is just wasted. so they have to make up the costs somewhere. these are elective surgeries, so i'm just thankful my insurance covers the procedure. there are programs that require no fees, but the patient has to do almost all the appt set ups and guidance on their own with little to no help from the surgeon

I called a doctor that I wanted to see and he charges $2500.00 for program fees. I also have BCBS and they cover everything 100% EXCEPT for this "fee". I also live in socal if you know of a good doctor that doesn't charge this "fee" please give me their name. TIA!