My husband and I are both having the sleeve done, pending insurance approval We are looking at sometime in April. We are in the final stages of appointments required by insurance now. My question is what insurance doesn’t pay (our case 20%) do we pay before or after surgery? Just trying to prepare myself.

it may vary depending on insurance policies. With mine, I got billed for my 10% co-insurance after I had the various procedures done (sleep study, nuclear stress test, labs, surgery). Although I think by the time I had my surgery, I might have met my out-of-pocket maximum for the year, in which case I wouldn't have had to pay the co-insurance any more (once I've forked over something like $5000 in any given year, insurance starts covering 100%. I think I may have met my maximum that particular year - so my surgery might have been covered 100% - I can't remember, to be honest....). But if I paid anything for it, I would have been billed for it after the surgery.

I just had surgery this past Wednesday. My out of pocket max for the year was $3,575. But I had some other stuff already done so by the time surgery was scheduled, I was down to only needing to pay $2,000 out of pocket. My surgeon's office and the hospital where the procedure was done told me I would have to pay them prior to the surgery. I don't know if everyone is like that but that how it was for me.

The hospital I went to wanted the full deductible up front. I told them no way would I do that. I said I would pay part of it, but when I checked in no one ever asked me for any payment. I have a high deductible policy with an HSA. So I already had enough to cover the deductible. My suggestion would be to wait until after the bills go through insurance. If they want it up front, negotiate a partial payment. You don't know which bill the insurance company will handle first and if you pay the hospital first and the insurance company pays your doctor it will be a big mess.

Thanks everyone!