Wow, just got off the phone with my surgeon's office....the attitude, my God! Now I would not be venting like this, but this is the second snotty attitude experience I have had.

Today I call to check the status of my chart and all my incoming reports. So I ask to talk to the nurse....the receptionist gets back on and asked me what I was calling for???? (This is only the second time I have ever called to talk to anyone!) I told her I had questions about my chart and wanted to know what the self-pay price is just in case I have to go that way. I would like to be prepared for the cost and figure out how to pay for this surgery, you know?! Well, she says the nurse is not available, but she (the receptionist) would check my chart and get back to me. O.k., fine....

Then she told me that I would have to MAKE an APPOINTMENT to discuss self-pay prices with the nurse! Her attitude was very snotty and, I might add, kind of secertlike.

This is no fly-by-night organization. It's big and according to my research one of the best in the Midwest.

Does all this seem right to you? Was your experience similar? I can't believe I need to make an appointment to talk to the nurse. Oh, by the way, the nurse can be seen ONLY on Wednesdays...

Margo

I have had no such experince with my Docs office with anything like that. Anytime I call and want to speak to the nurse or assistant they call me back or put me on hold. If it were me I would ask to speak to the person handling the insurance part of the program and see if that is the person with the prices. Or again tell her here is my number have the nurse call me back please.

Sorry office like that just Peeve me off.

I would consider asking the nurse if that if the usual protocol because if the office is always treating it's patients like that their patients are not going to be very happy. Maybe the receptionist was having a bad day but I would definately look into why you were treated that way! Sometimes a patient needs to speak to a nurse ASAP espeically if there are some problems. I would hate to know I could only talk to a nurse on Weds if I had problems.

Thanks for your replies....I just got a call back from the reception who informed me as to what reports are in and which are not.

Can you think of any reason that they could not tell me the price of the lap band....I mean, I am a patient and all....hell, even if I weren't a patient they should be able to tell me this information without an appointment....I am so confused and really hoping I have made the right choice with this place.

Margo

Margo, self-pay patients are unusual enough in this day and age that it's not really surprising they won't have a "list price" for a given surgical procedure. You'll probably end up negotiating it if you're self-pay; some costs like the hospital fees and the band itself are fixed, but the surgeon's fees are flexible. They'll likely want to talk with you a bit more before throwing a price out there, since they'll not want to scare you away but also not undercut themselves out of the gate. It's normal procedure, I'm sure.

Try asking for the "range" of costs for self-pay patients. You might get a better response if you try that. Where are you insurance-wise? Do you think you have a good chance?

Where does the insurance coverage stand? Well, we are waiting on 4 more reports (EKG, Pulumontary and the blood work and physical therapy). I had all these appointments on May 27. I thought they would have all the reports in by tomorrow, but some how I doubt it now!

Once the reports are in to my surgeon they have to package the stuff up and send it off to the insurance company. Now, my insurance coverage is up in the air since each time I call they give me a different answer. I called the insurance person who sold the policy to my husband's boss and she said she would put the coverage book in the mail...still have not seen that either!

I have a feeling the policy excluses WLS.....if so, what can I do then, but self-pay, right? Man, I am frustrated.

Margo

Don't have that problem here, I'm on first name basis with the entire staff. Sure makes a difference to have friendly, helpful staff.

When I called my doctor's office BEFORE I made my first appointment, I ask about the self pay prices and they told me what each thing would cost and even the hospital charges. I knew before I made my first appointment to even talk to him what all the charges would be. Sorry you had such a bad experience, if you continue to have problems with her I would mention it to the doctor when you see him.

Margo, you might want to check the "Doctors and Hospitals" forum; search for the surgeon's or hospital's name, and see if any other bandsters have posted experiences with this outfit.