is it typical to be charged a program fee ? dr 1 charges one $400 plus $100 for food. Dr 2 does not charge one.

I've heard of program fees, but a charge for food? I don't see why you'd be charged for food when you're getting a Lap Band.

Program fees are more common when switching surgeons.

I think the food is for baricare shakes

I paid a $350 "program fee". ( I think thats how much it was, been over three years )

My dr charged a program fee too that included 6 months of nutrionist and pyschologist visits plus 3 months of fills. I am not sure what the amount was now. I paid out of pocket for everything.

my program fee includes 1 pre and 1 post op nutrition meeting and 30 dollars per visit afterwards. once a month support group and facebook chat. fills are totally seperate

I wasn't charged for anything. I do have a $12 co-pay for Monthly Dr visits. I didn't know some Dr's were doing this. I am glad mine doesn't, I don't know if I could afford it.

i never heard of this

i have only a 12/dollar co pay each time i go to my lap band dr

I never heard of fees either but MA has wonderful health insurance laws thanks to when Romney was gov. That was the only thing he was good for. Sorry republicans. I pay a co-pay for the doctor and the dietitian is included. My support groups are free from the hospital.

Never heard of a fee either. Is that just a way for docs to milk you for more money?

I had to pay a program fee for all nut. visits, stay well for life classes and such. Insurance doesn't pay for that and I think Drs charge you to make sure you are serious about the program. They don"t want their whole staff working on your case and find out you were just fishing.

I've never heard of it either. I have a $12 co pay for each doctor visit.

I had to pay a program fee for all nut. visits, stay well for life classes and such. Insurance doesn't pay for that and I think Drs charge you to make sure you are serious about the program. They don"t want their whole staff working on your case and find out you were just fishing.

I agree 100%...just imagine how many people start this process and never go through with it.

I just paid a $200 program fee at my surgeon's office. It is a requirement to be paid by the Pre-Op consult. At his office, it covers a lot of the programs that are offered by his practice, such as support groups and game nights. These are things that are important to this practice, but aren't covered by insurance. I had looked into another hospital and they charged $350 program fee and you couldn't even start the journey until you had paid it.

yep my surgeon charged 1,000 for his program fee. But the nutritionist was seperate. It was to keep his monthly meetings going to pay rent for the building ect. But to me a little out of pocket is worth a new life.

My doctor charges out of pocket "program fees" as well. It's about $750 for all of it - and that includes nut consults, psych eval, support groups, and a all day post op class and I think a few other things. I wasn't expecting to have to pay that much out of pocket, but I also wasn't expecting to get so much for it either so I guess it's a fair trade. My doctor seems to really put the emphasis on the follow up and the support groups.