Just got my bill from Dr from when he started doing the fills, 3 months ago. He is charging me $500 to put in the saline without any xray or anything and the Ins is not paying ziltch but they lower it to $111.... so I called FEPBLUE and starting a conversation about whose is responsible for what,,, as I am already trying to get the Hospital to take lower payments, for my $1100 I owed them after the surgery. I am more than dead broke and have cancelled cable etc etc. to pay for this unexpected fees and co- pays. Wondering how your insurance co's are handling this aspect of it. I told her you take my blood and make tests that run $1000 and pay for it but not pay for a shot of saline? makes no sence anyone?

I have not yet had a fill. My first is scheduled next Tuesday. According to my insurance they cover it but I just don't know how much I will be responsible for. Typically my company pays 90%.

This is in the Cigna policy:

CIGNA covers adjustment of a silicone gastric banding as medically necessary to control the rate of weight loss and/or treat symptoms secondary to gastric restriction following a medically necessary adjustable silicone gastric banding procedure.

Makes zero sense they would cover the surgery and not cover routine fills. I would definitely appeal the highest authority if I were you. Ridiculous....

My Dr gave me the first 6 monthes of fills included in my surgery cost. My insurance then paid 80.00 of my 100.00 fill. THe Drs cost sound really high. I only needed a scope once in 3 years and that was fully covered.

Fills are fully covered by the Australian healthcare system!

My insurance covers my fills. I only have to pay my $35 copay. I have had no issues there...sorry you're going through this!!

Any of my FEPBLUE comparts out there?

I thought that you pay your portion of the bill up front. If you do have to it should make you meet your out of pocket expense, right? so I shouldn't have to pay co-pays after that right? not sure that I understand how it works.

my total out of pocket expense right now is $2381.00 but my deductible is $650.00 my plan is a 80/20 plan so do I just have to pay the $650 before surgery and they bill me the rest? I thought I had to pay the 2381.00 when surgery is scheduled.

I have been billed for everything excpet co-pay/ My thing is- that nothing is in writing ahead of time. what I mean is- that you have no idea how much you are expected to pay for what. A freind of mine say her fills are included with surgery- everyone pays different because of different surgeons and hospitals, so you can't really know ahead of time. They do not give you a fee schedule to prepare. Anyhow, calling the ins co back and see what can be done for them to pay some of the fills.

well tha kinda of sicks I was think once I paid the balance to the hospital I would not have anymore out of pocket expenses for the rest of the year. Sorry you are having so much trouble.

Just talked with insurance company- apparently a " FILL" is coded as a surgical procedure, therefor they can bill whatever they fill their time is worth-- (golden saline ?) so my co-pay for any surgery is $150 so $111.00 is my part... I guess I am on my own as I cannot afford $111 a fill- already owing them $300+ for the last 3 fills. until I at least pay what's left of my hospital bill from this surgery. well folks,, this too shall pass....

I'm surprised that people didn't know what the fills would cost. My surgeon told me like at my first consult I'd be paying $100 per fill. Now I didn't realize with the one and only one I've had it was on top of my $50 copay, but whatever.