Update
meyou4042
Posts: 40
Hello all! Hope you all have had a great week!
As most of you know, I went to my "Information Session" on Tuesday morning at TGH. I was very excited about what I learned and was raring and ready to go.....until I sat down and really started thinking about it. My biggest concern was that I had to pay $750 for a "Wellness Assessment" first and foremost before even seeing a Dr. If, for some reason, my insurance did not approve the surgery, the staff would help me appeal, but there was NO refund on the $750. Now for some people that might not be much, but for me it is a fair chunk of change.
So, before moving forward I checked my insurance to see if there was any other DR's in the Tampa area.....and low and behold I found the Brandon Regional Bariatric Center. There is no $750 fee, the Information Session is with the actual Dr that will be doing your surgery. After the session the coordinator will verify my insurance coverage and then make an appt with the Dr. The day I see the Dr is day 1 of my supervised diet, and from what I understand their practice does the excelled diet portion and its only three months.....so I could possibly be looking at surgery in Sept!! The Dr also refers me to a psychologist and diet specialist that are on my insurance, so my only cost to see them is my co-pay!
I am schedule for the information session next Tuesday at 6pm, and I can't wait! I am truly hoping that this is the right path, and things will start rolling along!
As most of you know, I went to my "Information Session" on Tuesday morning at TGH. I was very excited about what I learned and was raring and ready to go.....until I sat down and really started thinking about it. My biggest concern was that I had to pay $750 for a "Wellness Assessment" first and foremost before even seeing a Dr. If, for some reason, my insurance did not approve the surgery, the staff would help me appeal, but there was NO refund on the $750. Now for some people that might not be much, but for me it is a fair chunk of change.
So, before moving forward I checked my insurance to see if there was any other DR's in the Tampa area.....and low and behold I found the Brandon Regional Bariatric Center. There is no $750 fee, the Information Session is with the actual Dr that will be doing your surgery. After the session the coordinator will verify my insurance coverage and then make an appt with the Dr. The day I see the Dr is day 1 of my supervised diet, and from what I understand their practice does the excelled diet portion and its only three months.....so I could possibly be looking at surgery in Sept!! The Dr also refers me to a psychologist and diet specialist that are on my insurance, so my only cost to see them is my co-pay!
I am schedule for the information session next Tuesday at 6pm, and I can't wait! I am truly hoping that this is the right path, and things will start rolling along!
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Replies
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Great work! I settled on a doctor early on in my decision making process but my insurance company required me to change. I' can't say if that was a good or bad thing. The doctor that my insurance sent me to certainly was technically excellent and scientifically based, and used state of the art medical expertise (but I have issues with his lack of social skills and bedside manner!). There seem to be a lot of options out there, and once you start looking and focusing in on what works for you (and your insurance), your direction can change. I'm glad you got your insurance involved before shelling out $750!0
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Glad to hear things are looking up for you! I'm planning for my surgery date to be around September as well! Good luck to you with this new doctor!0
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It seems like things are working out great.0
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Confused. Is this a fee just to walk in the door? Doesn't it get billed to insurance (assuming you have)? That sounds sketchy.0
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Good job in doing your research and getting the information you needed and a doctor within your plan. I agree with Katematt, it sounds sketchy to have to pay for an initial consult that's not covered by insurance. Sounds like you dodged a bullet there.0
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Kate,
The $750 was just for the Wellness Assessment - in which I would meet with 4 doctors (not the surgeon doing the surgery), to get the psych, diet, exercise, etc. THEN, I would make an appt to see the surgeon. Was way too iffy to me!0 -
It sounds like you've made a good choice. Good luck
I am having my VSG surgery on Monday, and I am very excited and feel hopeful. I wish the same for you.0 -
Confused. Is this a fee just to walk in the door? Doesn't it get billed to insurance (assuming you have)? That sounds sketchy.
A lot of programs charge a fee that isn't covered by insurance. Mine, for instance, charges $500. It covers all appointments with nutritionists, with no copays, as well as email and phone support, for life. It also includes the monthly support groups. They charge the fee because insurance would never cover those things on a permanent, ongoing basis.
What I was surprised about the OP's $750 fee was that she had to pay even if she didn't get the surgery. That seemed pretty harsh.0 -
Yes, that was my concern as well! That is a lot of money to just "lose"....and the new Dr's coordinator said she has a guy that was going to the TGH program, paid the $750, and two years later is still waiting to be approved!
All of my visits - Dr, dietician, psychologist - all covered on my insurance, so I only pay a $25 co pay! I cannot wait until next Tuesday night! I hope I can get in with the Dr as soon as possible!Confused. Is this a fee just to walk in the door? Doesn't it get billed to insurance (assuming you have)? That sounds sketchy.
A lot of programs charge a fee that isn't covered by insurance. Mine, for instance, charges $500. It covers all appointments with nutritionists, with no copays, as well as email and phone support, for life. It also includes the monthly support groups. They charge the fee because insurance would never cover those things on a permanent, ongoing basis.
What I was surprised about the OP's $750 fee was that she had to pay even if she didn't get the surgery. That seemed pretty harsh.0 -
I'd have felt that $750 fee was sketchy too. My Dr. didn't charge anything like that. However, the Psych they used was not covered on my insurance so I had to eat that cost ($300) out of pocket. But everything else was covered.
Don't let things like people skills and bedside manner be the biggest determining factor in selecting a surgeon. Obviously you need to be able to communicate with your surgeon, however in general people who chose a specialty in which their patients are under anesthetic most of the time are not what most of us would call a "people person," more important is are they good with a knife? Are they a good surgeon. If they had a great bedside manner they'd be a pediatrician.0 -
Nice job taking matters into your own hands, keep moving forward! 0
