Should I be worried? I found out that my surgeon has only performed this lap band surgery on 3 other people. I would be the 4th. This program was first established in December. But I was not aware that I would be one of the first to have this operation here. I have been wanting this surgery for a very long time. I have researched it for awhile now. I do not want to be a Guinea PIG! Should I start searching elsewhere for this to be done?

I am in the jumping through the hoops stage right now. I met with my surgeon yesterday for my surgical evaluation. I have done the nutritional evaluation and have the psch evaluation scheduled for next week. I was told that after I was through with the rest of these steps I could schedule surgery but not before paying the $5000 surgeon's fee and the $1400 ansethesia charge upfront.

I have BCBS insurance and am pretty sure they are going to pay for this. I have $1900 left to pay on my coinsurance. Why, if I have insurance am I being aske d to pay these costs upfront before surgery? Has anyone else had to do this?

I am so confused. I need some good sound advise from someone that has been there. What would you do?

Reannah: You have a right to a copy of all your medical tests, including the disks of upper GI's. Contact medical records at the hospital at which you had the testing done and request copies of everything you had done. And I'm sure you will be able to find an experienced bariatric practice in which you don't have to pay such outrageous upfront fees. Good luck. Let us know how it works out.

I would even consider turning him ---- state medical board??? ---- because that isn't right ---- charging money upfront for what insurance pays for anyway. I have BCBS and the surgeon who is one of their Preferred Providers must take the allowed amount and cannot bill me for more. it's in their contract!