I called Dr. Spivak's office this week and tried to make an appointment for my very 1st fill. I was told that since the insurance covered the surgery they would have to submit a request to UHC would they be willing to pay for my 1st fill. Apparently this is a new policy with UHC, but I don't think this "new policy" makes sense! Why would they approve me for the lap band, but have then I would have to wait 3-4 weeks to hear if they approve paying for the fill (which would be my very 1st might I add). Wouldn't that defeat the purpose of getting the lap band in the 1st place??? This is crazy! I need my 1st fill bad. I have no restriction at all!

Is anyone else having the same problem?

Eclipse

I have UHC and they pay for my fills 80%, just like other medical costs. I might add that my doctor now charges $800 for a fill, whether I do it at his office or at the surgicenter under fluro. That means he gets $80 out of me, settles with the insurance for $400 and then ins. pays $320. No fill is worth that much and if you look at my fills/unfills you can see that mounts up to a huge amount.

didn't any of you pay a "program fee"? I paid a $2,000 program fee, which covered fills visits, fluro, etc. for the 1st year, unlimited visits. No co pay, etc. I have blue cross which is terrible. When I was doing the research, most doctors, if not all had a program fee.

Sunsett... I also have UHC through my company. I will be going for my very first visit next Thursday. I'm hoping for a very quick decision will be made as for me having the surgery done. It is so differernt for everyone. I've seen where some folks had to wait a whole year because of thier insurance policies. I'm hoping this doesn't pop up when I go to my doctor. I did check with UHC and the only criteria I had to meet was being labeled morbidly obese. I think I just make that criteria. They didn't say anything about having to do anything else. We will see I guess when the doctor submits my request for the surgery I imagine. I'm really hoping that all will go smoothly. As for the fills... what would be the approximate cost if I had to pay for it myself? Can anyone answer that for me? And to be able to do it yourself?? I guess I could do that but I'd be afraid I'd do it incorrectly. Kinda scary. The reason I'm directing my question to you sunsett is that my name is also Dianne - must have been the 2 n's thing. :-) How long have you been banded? Would you do it again? How much weight have you lost? How long did it take? How often do people get the band filled? Why do you have to keep getting it filled? Does the saline go somewhere? Does the band become stretched out? I don't quite understand what happens to the band to require more fillings. Sorry so many questions, I'm just a newbie. Any advice and explaintions would be greatly appreciated. Dianne