Anyone have Basic BCBS Federal?? if so what did you have to pay for the surgery??

me me. I have to pay $35 for each doc visit, $25 for each dietician PA visit and psych eval. So preop, I've spent $150.

I got my financial responsibility letter from the surgeon, its $150 for the surgery total for him.

Then I think its $150 for the hospital and apparently nothing for the anesthesiologist as long as they are a preferred provider.

http://fepblue.org/benefitplans/2011-sbp/bcbs-2011-RI71-005.pdf

I have it as well and I concur with the previous post.

THANK YOU!!!!! THANK YOU!!!! THANK YOU TO BOTH OF YOU!!!

I've called my insurance, my coordinator and my doctor's office and they can never give me a straight answer! it's so frustrating and i wanted to cry! I just wanted an estimate of what i was gonna pay cuz i need to budget myself and no one would help.

I should have known that y'all would have the answer! thank you!!!

glad we could help. I bet there will be some incidental charges for supplies, meds and stuff that will increase the total bill, but I think those are the big chunks.

I have BC and it does not cover WLS at all. You're so lucky!

Coastal,

I'm sorry your insurance doesn't cover it. are you sure it doesn't?? Does it depend on your job?

Yeah, it depends on plan design and what plan your employer selects. There are a bajillion blue crosses, ok, not that many, but then each of them has lots of different plans that employers can choose for their group benefits. The employers can customize too.

I have BCBS Federal Employee Program. I have the Standard Option (PPO). There is a $350 deductible for the hospital and they cover 85% of the surgeons charges (so I'll pay $1500). BCBS will also require that you go to a Blue Distinction Centers for Bariatric Surgery. You need to ask for a participating anesthesiologist under the Standard program. If you get a non-participating, you pay a lot more!!!!. So far I have paid the following:

Free - Seminar

$30 copay - initial visit

For insurance approval, BSBC Federal requires a 90 day Education/Diet/Exercise Program with Psych Eval and sleep study. 90 days means 90 days. IF YOU MISS ONE APPOINTMENT, YOU WILL HAVE TO START OVER!!!!!

Cost so far...

$180 - nutrionalist visit 1 and exercise consult (I did not use the hospital's program, which is covered by insurance and you pay $25)

$50 - nutrionalist visit 2 (I did not use the hospital's program but its usually $25)

$50 - nutrionalist visit 3 (I did not use the hospital's program but its usually $25)

$30 copay - Psych eval

$30 copay - Sleep study

$30 copay - GMA consult

$30 copay - Cardiac pre-authorization

$20 copay - General PCP pre-authorization

* I didn't use the hostipal program because of timing. The classes were all at night and I have little ones to pick up at daycare.

After approval,

$390 - pre and post surgerical nutrionalist classes

$30 copay - Cardiac pre-surgical approval (EKG)

$ ?? - labs

$ ?? - Chest PA & Lateral / GB Sonogram

$ 350 - hopital deductible

15% of surgeons charges

By the way, insurance is allowed to take up to 30 day for approval but BCBS Federal only took 2 days for me.

THank you, E-girl!!!