I am 3 months into my 6 month diet & exercise program. All of my appointments are complete. Now all I can do is wait until my 6 months is up. I have a couple of questions: My surgeon is requiring me to pay up front before they will schedule surgery. I have called and asked for a quote of sorts, something to give me an idea of how much I need be saving. I have insurance with BC/BS of Georgia. My individual deductible is $3800 & family is $7600. So far the insurance has covered the majority of the costs. I also had $1200 in an HRA account which has been used. I was able to find out the the surgeon charges $3480 for Gastric Bypass and $2575 for the Sleeve. I was told that his fees are what I need to cover to get a surgery date. I just wish I could get a straight answer. Has anyone else had to deal with this and approximately how much out of pocket did you have to pay to the surgeon. Also, I will not be able to meet with the surgeon until my 6 months is up. Is that normal? I would have thought that a consult of some sorts would be part of the evaluation process. Any thoughts are appreciated.

It may depend on your surgeon. I had to pay my deductible plus 20% estimated cost with my BCBS Insurance. The surgical coordinator should be able to tell you how much you would need to pay before the procedure is scheduled.

I hope this helps

I met with the surgeon on the day I began the process. I began incurring cost at the beginning of the process and some of these charges started eating away at my deductible from the get-go. But since this entire process (6 month medically supervised weight loss and exercise program, pre-op testing, second round of pre-op testing, surgery/hospital) can take almost a year, it can be staggered over 2 calendar years and effect two years of deductible. Overall the entire cost was in the $50K range and my out of pocket after insurance was around $5K. But I have a different insurance than BC/BS. Also I was not asked to pay up front prior to surgery.

There are many costs to consider in arriving at the final costs, for example the cost of the anesthesiologist, the cost of the pre-op testing, the cost of the second round of pre-op testing by specialist in their respective fields if this is warranted. I even incurred the cost of a second surgeon that assisted my primary surgeon. So it is difficult to determine the final out-of-pocket cost in advance.

my surgeons office runs the cost of their fee per my insurance and puts it on a nice sheet of paper outlined for me

my surgeons office runs the cost of their fee per my insurance and puts it on a nice sheet of paper outlined for me

How far in advance did they do that? Or was it right before your surgery?

I'm sitting at my surgeon's office for my final (pre op) appointment. I still owe around $2k to meet my Out Of Pocket, but they're only asking $700 up front and the remainder will be owed to the hospital.

That's a pretty high amount...

Adding: I have UHC for insurance

Sent from my SM-N910V using the BariatricPal App

Edited March 2, 201610 yr by sassyfrass23

I met with the surgeon on the day I began the process. I began incurring cost at the beginning of the process and some of these charges started eating away at my deductible from the get-go. But since this entire process (6 month medically supervised weight loss and exercise program, pre-op testing, second round of pre-op testing, surgery/hospital) can take almost a year, it can be staggered over 2 calendar years and effect two years of deductible. Overall the entire cost was in the $50K range and my out of pocket after insurance was around $5K. But I have a different insurance than BC/BS. Also I was not asked to pay up front prior to surgery.

There are many costs to consider in arriving at the final costs, for example the cost of the anesthesiologist, the cost of the pre-op testing, the cost of the second round of pre-op testing by specialist in their respective fields if this is warranted. I even incurred the cost of a second surgeon that assisted my primary surgeon. So it is difficult to determine the final out-of-pocket cost in advance.

I appreciate your input, thank you very much. I am aware of additional costs that will be applied, all of those will go to insurance first and then I will be billed. I'm just wondering how much I need just to schedule the surgery. In other words, the surgeons fee. I know you can't tell me that, but I do appreciate your input.

I met with the surgeon on the day I began the process. I began incurring cost at the beginning of the process and some of these charges started eating away at my deductible from the get-go. But since this entire process (6 month medically supervised weight loss and exercise program, pre-op testing, second round of pre-op testing, surgery/hospital) can take almost a year, it can be staggered over 2 calendar years and effect two years of deductible. Overall the entire cost was in the $50K range and my out of pocket after insurance was around $5K. But I have a different insurance than BC/BS. Also I was not asked to pay up front prior to surgery.

There are many costs to consider in arriving at the final costs, for example the cost of the anesthesiologist, the cost of the pre-op testing, the cost of the second round of pre-op testing by specialist in their respective fields if this is warranted. I even incurred the cost of a second surgeon that assisted my primary surgeon. So it is difficult to determine the final out-of-pocket cost in advance.

I appreciate your input, thank you very much. I am aware of additional costs that will be applied, all of those will go to insurance first and then I will be billed. I'm just wondering how much I need just to schedule the surgery. In other words, the surgeons fee. I know you can't tell me that, but I do appreciate your input.

I met with the surgeon on the day I began the process. I began incurring cost at the beginning of the process and some of these charges started eating away at my deductible from the get-go. But since this entire process (6 month medically supervised weight loss and exercise program, pre-op testing, second round of pre-op testing, surgery/hospital) can take almost a year, it can be staggered over 2 calendar years and effect two years of deductible. Overall the entire cost was in the $50K range and my out of pocket after insurance was around $5K. But I have a different insurance than BC/BS. Also I was not asked to pay up front prior to surgery.

There are many costs to consider in arriving at the final costs, for example the cost of the anesthesiologist, the cost of the pre-op testing, the cost of the second round of pre-op testing by specialist in their respective fields if this is warranted. I even incurred the cost of a second surgeon that assisted my primary surgeon. So it is difficult to determine the final out-of-pocket cost in advance.

I appreciate your input, thank you very much. I am aware of additional costs that will be applied, all of those will go to insurance first and then I will be billed. I'm just wondering how much I need just to schedule the surgery. In other words, the surgeons fee. I know you can't tell me that, but I do appreciate your input.

I met with the surgeon on the day I began the process. I began incurring cost at the beginning of the process and some of these charges started eating away at my deductible from the get-go. But since this entire process (6 month medically supervised weight loss and exercise program, pre-op testing, second round of pre-op testing, surgery/hospital) can take almost a year, it can be staggered over 2 calendar years and effect two years of deductible. Overall the entire cost was in the $50K range and my out of pocket after insurance was around $5K. But I have a different insurance than BC/BS. Also I was not asked to pay up front prior to surgery.

There are many costs to consider in arriving at the final costs, for example the cost of the anesthesiologist, the cost of the pre-op testing, the cost of the second round of pre-op testing by specialist in their respective fields if this is warranted. I even incurred the cost of a second surgeon that assisted my primary surgeon. So it is difficult to determine the final out-of-pocket cost in advance.

I appreciate your input, thank you very much. I am aware of additional costs that will be applied, all of those will go to insurance first and then I will be billed. I'm just wondering how much I need just to schedule the surgery. In other words, the surgeons fee. I know you can't tell me that, but I do appreciate your input.

Sorry for all of the duplicate posts! I'm still new here and the internet isn't cooperating.

I'm sitting at my surgeon's office for my final (pre op) appointment. I still owe around $2k to meet my Out Of Pocket, but they're only asking $700 up front and the remainder will be owed to the hospital.

That's a pretty high amount...

Adding: I have UHC for insurance

Sent from my SM-N910V using the BariatricPal App

Did you just now find that out or have you known?

I am 3 months into my 6 month diet & exercise program. All of my appointments are complete. Now all I can do is wait until my 6 months is up. I have a couple of questions: My surgeon is requiring me to pay up front before they will schedule surgery. I have called and asked for a quote of sorts, something to give me an idea of how much I need be saving. I have insurance with BC/BS of Georgia. My individual deductible is $3800 & family is $7600. So far the insurance has covered the majority of the costs. I also had $1200 in an HRA account which has been used. I was able to find out the the surgeon charges $3480 for Gastric Bypass and $2575 for the Sleeve. I was told that his fees are what I need to cover to get a surgery date. I just wish I could get a straight answer. Has anyone else had to deal with this and approximately how much out of pocket did you have to pay to the surgeon. Also, I will not be able to meet with the surgeon until my 6 months is up. Is that normal? I would have thought that a consult of some sorts would be part of the evaluation process. Any thoughts are appreciated.

I did meet one of the surgeons during the educational seminar, he also performed my Endoscopy. But I have not had an opportunity to sit down with him and ask questions. I have been to several support group meetings, but that isn't the same as being one on one with the surgeon. I just hope I'm not making a mistake with this particular group.

@ I didn't get my quote for the surgeon's fee until my surgery had been approved which happened on 021516. Was told to have my payment ready for this appointment that I'm currently at. So...not a ton of notice in advance but......it is what it is. Lol

Sent from my SM-N910V using the BariatricPal App

@ I didn't get my quote for the surgeon's fee until my surgery had been approved which happened on 021516. Was told to have my payment ready for this appointment that I'm currently at. So...not a ton of notice in advance but......it is what it is. Lol

Sent from my SM-N910V using the BariatricPal App

I kinda figured that would be the case. My 6 month diet/exercise program is up the middle of June. I am thinking that my surgery will be in August. I'm trying to give enough time for surgeon appt., insurance approval and scheduling of surgery date. Am I being realistic or does that seem like too much time?