Problems

sharon2u · July 21, 2007

Hi I was approved for my band and due to have surgery on Sept. 10 My insurance company lists that my Dr. is on their in plan and his name is even in my health plan manual along with a lisiting of all the other bariatric surgeons/general surgeons in thier group for they fall under the same address at least. Well anyway yesterday I got in the mail a letter from the Bariatric Group telling me that I need to sign the enclosed document in order for them to submit the claim to my provider which is no problem however as I am reading this over and over again not to miss anything I read the partWaco Bariatric Surgeons and physicans are non-participating providers with insurance companies for bariatric services and in order for me to have the surgery I need to pay up front 3500.00 for the surgeon and his assistant surgeon and it includes two pot op visits. But according to my provider yes they are covered under my plan and I have a letter stating just that and a fax from them too! Ok now here is the real kicker at the seminar I attended in March, we were all told that the fees paid will cover 1 year free fills, and that all the visits were included this was discussed several times by other people at the seminar. Wow now what do I do I don't have the money and cannot afford another bill coming in and I am just so confused and thinking of not having the surgery even ifg the insurance does cover it all due to the stress and the un known after surgery as to the costs. I just need to vent here but i still don't feel better. I will call my insurance company on Monday and tell them of this and see what they ahve to say and I am contacting the bariatric center as well. Seems really odd that no one mentions certain things at the seminar but now after insurance approval comes through tehre is a whole list of thigs I have to do and buy before surgery. Wow. Well thanks for listening. Sharon

faithmd · July 21, 2007

I'm sorry you are going through all this. I will tell you that MANY times there are LOADS of things many places do not tell you at those seminars. Even when you ask specifically sometimes they won't tell you. It's VERY frustrating!

I hope you get some good answers on Monday, and please make sure to get a copy of covered benefits in writing.