I've gone to Novus (Memorial Hospital) but haven't checked out any other facilities. Do they all charge $1500 for pre/post care? THis is supposed to include the dietician and psych eval as well as dealing with the insurance. Before I spend that kind of money I want to know what your experience was like.

Hey Beth, you might get more answers if you post your question under the "doctors and hospitals" section. Good luck!

I had my surgery at St. Vincent's in Jax Fl. I only paid my co payment my insurance company required for out pt surgery. I have been hearing more and more lately about what I conceder "extra expenses" that are being charged. I am hearing of this after care stuff and diet programs (??) I don't get it all. IF you have insurance and they require a co-payment,that you pay...why these other charges?

The dietician was not covered on my insurance so I paid that out of pocket $100

The psych eval was not covered so I paid out of pocket $150

Then I had my out pt surgery and paid a co=payment

Insurance covered pre/post care ( I would think if insurance was gonna cover the surgery they would cover pre/post)

One of my patients/customers had her surgery done at another hospital and had all these extra expenses, they put her on a low carb diet, have her taking a TON of supplements ( provided by the doctors office) and after so many months are up she is expected to continue to purchase these supplements from them. Sounds like a racket to me. Granted things change and I am sure some things have changed since I had my band but it sounds to me like the more popular the band becomes the more they come up with things that are "needed"

When I researched/got the band I learned that the band was a tool to asset you not a cure,I also learned that you do not have to be on a "diet" but rather change your eating and life style habits. Some of the follow up diets are so strict I would have become frustrated and burned out long ago (like I never tried a diet before???) I have not been on a diet since getting the band.

Sorry I didn't mean to go on there, I just think there has been a lot of unnecessary Lap Band related things surface that are designed to take your money, turning a simple situation into a complex one. How did the rest of us survive with out all these special after programs?

I would keep looking around in the area and nearby areas,compare cost and what they offer ,call your insurance company and find out exactly what they cover.