Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Psych Eval Cost.. is this normal?



Recommended Posts

Hey Everyone!

I am in the process of doing all my pre-op appointments and testing. I have my upper GI x-ray tomorrow morning and then my psych eval on Tuesday. After that, I am done! (YAY!) I received an email from the psychologist that is going to be doing my evaluation and she told me how much it is going to cost. The appointment is supposed to be between 2-3 hours long (first half talking to psychologist and second half doing assessments) and she is charging around $575 after insurance.

My insurance is a $1500 deductible and then after insurance, I have to pay a 20% coinsurance until I am at my out of pocket maximum of $3000. Before the appointment, I am about $500 away from my deductible. So I know anything after that will go towards my out of pocket maximum. I understand that the surgery process is expensive and in the long run, I'm still meeting my deductible and out-of-pocket maximum, but $575 just seemed like a lot of money. I am just curious if other people had to pay around this much or this amount is way out of the ball-park. If anyone has any insight, I would greatly appreciate it!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Paying $575.00 seems high to me.

My insurance does not cover the psychological so I did mine as part of a study group and it was free. (I got a free Fitbit) and if I am selected as part of the group I would earn $180.00. I had know idea about the $180.00 but I will take it. I just wanted the free evaluation. The process took about 4 hrs in total. If I had chosen not to the the study it would have been $100 for one hour. Someone I know paid $150.00 and the maximum as far as I know from another hospital was $200.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I haven't met my deductible yet, so I paid $200 out of pocket for a 15 minute video conference.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Omg no! I paid $150! My Dr had me do it online. You take an assessment and they call and it takes like 15 minutes. Bariatric Phsyc evaluation.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Bariatricpsychevaluations.com

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Wow that seems high. Mine was $70 for an hour in person interview. Can you choose another psych provider?? Your surgeon might have suggestions for providers they work with regularly.

Sent from my SM-G950U using BariatricPal mobile app

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Thanks for the link gabybab. Unfortunately my surgeon requires in person evaluations. Bootscraper, the provider is actually one of their recommended offices to the eval. I’m tempted to call the coordinator of my program and ask her if this is normal. Part of me feels like the psychologist is just charging me the most she can because she knows I will have to meet my insurance anyway so why not make the most money off me. My husband and Mom are of the thought process that I’m going to meet my deductible and out of pocket maximum anyway so why does it matter in the end who gets the money as long as it counts.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I was self-pay and did the online version. I wanted to say it cost 250

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hey Everyone!
I am in the process of doing all my pre-op appointments and testing. I have my upper GI x-ray tomorrow morning and then my psych eval on Tuesday. After that, I am done! (YAY!) I received an email from the psychologist that is going to be doing my evaluation and she told me how much it is going to cost. The appointment is supposed to be between 2-3 hours long (first half talking to psychologist and second half doing assessments) and she is charging around $575 after insurance.
My insurance is a $1500 deductible and then after insurance, I have to pay a 20% coinsurance until I am at my out of pocket maximum of $3000. Before the appointment, I am about $500 away from my deductible. So I know anything after that will go towards my out of pocket maximum. I understand that the surgery process is expensive and in the long run, I'm still meeting my deductible and out-of-pocket maximum, but $575 just seemed like a lot of money. I am just curious if other people had to pay around this much or this amount is way out of the ball-park. If anyone has any insight, I would greatly appreciate it!
That sounds too much. Maybe u should do research first n try a diff psyh. Asking prices first. I just had my psyh. Eval done and i was with this dr only 10 min and he is highly recomended by my surgeon. Yes just 10 min. I was sooo happy.

Sent from my LGMS210 using BariatricPal mobile app

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I am a psychologist. Although I don't do bariatric evaluations, if the psychologist you selected is doing an interview with you and assessments (MMPI or some other personality instrument) then I don't believe $575 is too much. Those assessment instruments are expensive to purchase and to score, and there is usually a report that gets written and sent to the surgeon.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Thanks Foxbins! I really appreciate your answer. I did end up seeing the psych and I think it was worth it. I ended up being there for about 4 hours which included the interview and 3 assessments.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

On 2/21/2019 at 5:14 PM, gabybab said:

Omg no! I paid $150! My Dr had me do it online. You take an assessment and they call and it takes like 15 minutes. Bariatric Phsyc evaluation.

i did this too so glad i found him..the psych I was originally referred to gave me a price of $600 as well with insurance..no way I was doing that

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I paid around $400 for my psych eval. Insurance would have covered it if she took it. Alas, She doesn’t take insurance. Worst part is I loved her so much I’d see her as a regular therapist. I’m in Los Angeles. Big cities = $$

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

12 hours ago, KateBruin said:

I paid around $400 for my psych eval. Insurance would have covered it if she took it. Alas, She doesn’t take insurance. Worst part is I loved her so much I’d see her as a regular therapist. I’m in Los Angeles. Big cities = $$

That's how I felt about the lady that I saw for my psych eval. I really liked her a lot and would definitely considered her as my regular therapist. I know after surgery I will have met my out-of-pocket maximum so maybe I will go see her until the end of the year. Plus I know that her regular sessions aren't that expensive. We did end up doing some longer assessments and I think that is where most of my money went for the eval.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • vsg.with.sharon

      Hey everyone!
      I’m new here! Looking for some friends! 🥰
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • LeighaTR

      Four days post surgery. I am sipping as fast as I can and getting NO WHERE near the goal of 60 - 80 grams of protein or the 64 oz of liquids. I just feel FULL. I don't know if it can still be the gas build up (I would think by now that would be gone) but it is a struggle to drink. And so far I have not had the nausea or spasms and don't want to wander into that territory by pushing too hard with liquids. I about passed out today as it was my most "strenuous" day. Went from second story to basement for shower and I was sure I was going to pass out. Looking back on my last few days I have had a total of less than 1000 calories. Am I just not getting enough nourishment in me? Once again a friday where I can't get ahold of the doc until Monday rolls back around so I am hoping maybe someone here has some experience on how to keep energy going. I do have fibromyalgia too and that may be where some added fatigue comes into play. How did you all fair with the goals the week after surgery?
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      2 days until I fly out to San Diego to have my Bypass Surg. in Tiajuana Mexico. Not gonna lie, the nerves are starting to surface. I don't fear the surgery itself, or the fact that I'm traveling alone, but its the aftermath that I'm stressing about the most, after this 8 week wait. I'm excited to finally be here, but I am really dreading the post surgical chapter. I know its going to be tough, real tough and I think I'm just in my head to much now that the day i here. Wish me luck, Hopefully I'm one of the lucky ones, and everything goes smoothly. Cant wait to give an exciting update,. If there is anyone else have a June bypass or even a recent one, Id love to have someone to compare war stories with. Also, anyone near San Antonio Tx? See ya soon with the future me. 💜
      · 3 replies
      1. Phil Penn

        Good Luck this procedure is well worth it I am down to 249.6 lb please continue with the process..

      2. Selina333

        I'm in Houston so kind of near you and had the sleeve in Dec. Down 61 lbs. Feeling better. Was definitely worth it. I hope the everything is going well for you. Update us when you can!

      3. Doughgurl

        I am back home after my bypass surgery in Tiajuana. I'm post op day 4. Everything went great! I guess I'm one of the lucky ones who have not encountered much pain at all, no nausea thus far and I'm having no problem keeping down broths and water. Thank you for your well wishes. I cant wait to keep up this journey and have a chance at better health and simply better quality of life. I know there will be bumps in the road ahead, and everything won't be peaches and cream, but at least I have a great start so far. 😍

    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

      2. Doughgurl

        Thank you so much for your well wishes. I am hoping that everything goes easy for me as well. We don't eat out much as it is, so it wont be too bad in that department. Thankfully. Also, I hear you regarding your back and feet!! I'd like to add knees to the list. Killing me as we speak! I'm only 5' so the weight has to go. Too short to carry all this weight. Menopause really did a doosey on me. (😶lol) My daughter also lives in Houston. with her Husband and my 5 grand-littles. I grew up in Beaumont, so I know Houston well, I will be sure to keep in touch and update you on my journey. I may need some advice in the future, or just motivation. Thank You so much for reaching out, I was hoping to connect with someone in the community. I really appreciate it. 💜

  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×