i was just looking into my benefits book for Federal Blue Cross Blue Shield BASIC option. it seems that i will have a $150 per night fee for the hospital (one night) and a $150 per doctor (I think there will be 2 surgeons). just wondering if anyone else has this insurance. thinking about what other costs i will incur for the surgery. i already paid all my co-pays for all the specialists to get approved for the surgery. wondering if there will be an anethesia (spelling) cost or co-pay. just want to prepare my husband before all the bills come rolling in. thank you.

i was just looking into my benefits book for Federal Blue Cross Blue Shield BASIC option. it seems that i will have a $150 per night fee for the hospital (one night) and a $150 per doctor (I think there will be 2 surgeons). just wondering if anyone else has this insurance. thinking about what other costs i will incur for the surgery. i already paid all my co-pays for all the specialists to get approved for the surgery. wondering if there will be an anethesia (spelling) cost or co-pay. just want to prepare my husband before all the bills come rolling in. thank you.

Hi Roseanne,

I have BCBS standard but as a general rule for surgery you should expect a surgeon's bill, an asst surgeon's bill, a hospital bill, anesthesia and possibly pathology, and xray interpretation fees.

That is all I can think of. I do not know the terms of the BASIC but have had several surgeries and these are pretty standard costs.

All the best to you on your journey to good health. I would be interested in how much you pay out of pocket as open season is nigh. Probably will stay with what we have but curious about how Basic members feel about their coverage.

Melinda

I have fed BcBs basic i will review my statements as they are just now rolling in i was banded oct 11th 2011 now im in a different situation i had me the $5000 co pay cap so the surgery was covered 100% what i did is call the 800 on the back of the card and have the customer svc rep verfiy everything with care mgnt....the customer svc reps read a script where care mgnt reps actually deal with the processing of the claims but just from what i know it is if the surgery is preformed out paitent cost are

$150 per surgeon x2 now the band itself is considered durable medical equiment which you have to pay 30% if preformed inpaitent bcbs will cover 100% of the band any medical supplys used including anethesia you have to pay 30% if inpatitent they cover 100%

i was just looking into my benefits book for Federal Blue Cross Blue Shield BASIC option. it seems that i will have a $150 per night fee for the hospital (one night) and a $150 per doctor (I think there will be 2 surgeons). just wondering if anyone else has this insurance. thinking about what other costs i will incur for the surgery. i already paid all my co-pays for all the specialists to get approved for the surgery. wondering if there will be an anethesia (spelling) cost or co-pay. just want to prepare my husband before all the bills come rolling in. thank you.

thank you so much for the information.

_{Ok im in process, so far just waiting for approval with FEPBLUE basic- Icalled today, they settled all the notes as they were all over the place, and told me to call Thurs. . I dont know what state you live in, but i have spoken to different people who have gotten their bills here in Fla. and i have heard from $500 to $1300 out of pocket. Also if you go to the center of excellence,,, more is covered than a non COE hospital. So our ins is great but location and hospt and surgeons have alot to do with it. I do not think My surgeon has a partner. Never heard of one- chatted with one of his nurses on here or OH forum, who alos had it done and never mentioned it,,, so, plan for the worse and what you dont spend go buy new clothes!}

Hi all, I'm in the middle of Open Season. I currently have fed BCBS Standard and looking to change to BASIC for 2012. I just finished my 3rd supervised weightloss appointment and know by the time approval (hopefully) rolls around and surgery scheduled it will be 2012. I'm really trying to figure out which insurance will be the most beneficial with out of pocket costs. I just want to make sure I put enough in my flexible spending plan. All the Dr's are preferred and the hospital is a Blue Distinction Center. I have until the 12th to make my final decision. How much did everyone end up paying pay??

I have basic... my highest pay out is $5k a year right now I've used $1600 in Dr visits etc. so I'd owe the most about $3500. Standard has the $300 you must meet 1st, but when I called the customer serv she told me IF you plan to stay in hospt, which I don't, standard is better for stays. I think the rest is the same but call fepblue they do know those answers. I know if you have the "center of excellence" hospital many things get covered, but the 30% of the band I'd have to look up in thre benefits book. The 2012 looks about the same as 2011, for WLS, so best call them and ask the diff. Good luck!

Just following up..I did change from Standard to Federal BCBS Basic!! I hope it works out ok. Also, I received my approval YAY! I'm scheduled to get my band Jan 17th..What a great way to start the New Year!! and so far I'm required to pay $300 I'm about to call and find out my co-pay for the hospital.

Why so much? Basic is $75.00 at hospt and i was given a discount if i paid at pre-op I said SURE and paid like $56. My surgeon will bill me my $150 and the hospital will then submit to the insurance co and see what they will pay then I can see what I can pay after that. Unless you have a prior wls and other things need to happen. You need to call FEPBLUE, it should be same for all of us. there is no deductible with Basic. being you starting in a new year. I was banded Dec 22, in FL. but fepblue is same for all of us.

Why so much? Basic is $75.00 at hospt and i was given a discount if i paid at pre-op I said SURE and paid like $56. My surgeon will bill me my $150 and the hospital will then submit to the insurance co and see what they will pay then I can see what I can pay after that. Unless you have a prior wls and other things need to happen. You need to call FEPBLUE, it should be same for all of us. there is no deductible with Basic. being you starting in a new year. I was banded Dec 22, in FL. but fepblue is same for all of us.

Fed BCBS-North Carolina (Basic) has a $150 per surgeon co-pay (I'll have a surgeon and assistant surgeon = $300) The hospital hasn't called me but I'm sure the facility is a $75 co-pay. But Hey, I'll pay early if they offer me a discount every little bit helps!!!

Yea it does, good luck!

Yea it does, good luck!

Thanks Grider! Good luck to you too.

I've just gotten all my pre-op/post op appointments set, hospital co-pay fee paid (which was $150) and now all I have left is to wait 18 days and try not to get over anxious.

I'm sure with the lab work, and pre-op visits I'll be hit with a few additional bills. I'll be sure to add them all up and post the total cost so others (like myself) who's researching out of pocket cost with Fed Basic will at least know what I paid.

Are you staying over nite? I did not plan to, but i would NOT wake up, I stayed till morn then tried to go at 9 am- finally released at 12. I do not know if they will charge an additonal day or not as you can stay 23 hours lingering on your OUTpatient. I kept metioning the 23 hr thing and i was too groggy to say much more. So now lest see what the bill, will come to- if too much> PT job here I come. I was not selected for higher positions I had put in for. Maybe I need to apply in DC!

The protein shakes keep you pretty satisfied- when do you start that?

Are you staying over nite? I did not plan to, but i would NOT wake up, I stayed till morn then tried to go at 9 am- finally released at 12. I do not know if they will charge an additonal day or not as you can stay 23 hours lingering on your OUTpatient. I kept metioning the 23 hr thing and i was too groggy to say much more. So now lest see what the bill, will come to- if too much> PT job here I come. I was not selected for higher positions I had put in for. Maybe I need to apply in DC!

The Protein shakes keep you pretty satisfied- when do you start that?

If I have to stay overnight past the 24hour mark..I believe it will be another $150. Sorry to hear about that promotion hopefully something bigger and better is waiting for you down the line.

I haven't started my Protein Shakes, I go to the nutritionist next week to go over the pre-op diet but I have a good idea what it will be..either way it will start on the 3rd.

I have BC/BS Federal plan. I live in Florida. My surgery was Dec 9. Things seem to be going great so far (25 pounds down already!) . The hospital where I had my surgery said it was a $15000 surgery. BC/BS covered 85%, so my out of pocket was $2250. I opted to rest at the hospital for the night, but I left before I got to the 24 hour mark (hospitals consider you "observation" when you are 23-hours and under. I did pay $1000 up front and was told that I would receive a bill for the rest -- I was also told that I could make payment plans on the remainder owed. I've not seen a bill for anything and it has been 3 weeks.

Also, be patient with the insurance. Mine got turned down the first time for more information. I had to get notes from my doctors for the past 2 years demonstrating that I was overweight and had difficulties in my attempts to lose. Once I was able to provide those documents, I was approved. The letter from the insurance company said the approval was good for one year. Naturally, I did not want to wait that long!

Wishing you the best of luck!

I know with Basic you have a $5000 max out of pocket per year, with all of my dr visits endoscopys etc I was up around $1500, so this helps keep the balance due of the difference. The less owed better of course! I am glad you are doing good, congrats! and 25 lbs whooh whoo. I am happy, Im on the way. Have you been filled yet, or soon to be?

Thanks NJ 2NC, I keep trying-- get all the way to the top, and then blam. One door closes and and a window will open some place. I might put in for a job in Miami. Tampabay is a retirement spot and hard to move up as everybody wants to come here. BUT just like getting this band I'll keep trying.