Hi everyone,
Just wanted to take a sec to say hello and say my initial impression of this site was very positive. I do have one concern already. It is now 3 a.m. and I have been reading post for almost 5 hrs. Is this a pre-op addiction transference? LOL

But seriously, today I went for the 1^st step in this process which was a bariatric seminar given by the surgeon I have determined to be the best choice in this area. The only information taken today was a brief form to gain insurance info. Hopefully my carrier (United Healthcare) says they do cover RNY and I can go on to the next step which would be the initial consultation. I was wondering if anyone could tell me if an enrollment fee is common. This office has an out-of-pocket enrollment fee of $500, half of which must be paid to initiate the scheduling of your work-up appointments. This fee is said to cover, “quality care of our patients, entitles you to our support group meetings every month, insurance specialist, scheduling of your work up appointments, insurance approval process and administrative time”. Is this type of fee common? Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. Again, hello everyone and look forward to getting to know you better.

Hi Hippyman and welcome to the neighbourhood

I can't answer your question about the enrollment fee as I'm from New Zealand but I can definately say a resounding YES! to the "addiction transference". Not only pre-op but for life! This site and the wonderful people in it will get you "hook, line and sinker". As you get to know the different personalities in here (which since you've been in here for 5 hours you've already witnessed) you will quickly feel among loving, supportive, encouraging, inspirational and highly knowledgable friends.

Sit back and relax and enjoy the ride. It's great!

We look forward to getting to know you and joining in on your journey with you.

Kind wishes
Barbara

Hip, Hip, Hooray! Welcome to the neighborhood! Get yourself all read up and absorb all of the information you can pre-op. It will be soooooo helpful after the surgery. You came at a fun time. We were all a little nutsy last night. Hope you enjoyed our craziness.

I have never heard of an enrollment fee, but I can see why they might do that. They can put a lot of time & manpower into trying to get a person OK'd and, I'm sure, there are quite a few who back out. All of that time would be lost. When you say that it also covers the support group, I would hope that means they bring in some really good speakers. Seems like some of the things you listed should be covered in the appointment & surgery fees, but that's just my opinion.

Keep up posted on your approval progress.

Hi and welcome! Five hours? Is that ALL??? Get back to me when you call in sick in order to continue reading...

I didn't have an enrollment fee, but did have to pay upfront for certain things that they required that they knew the insurance would not cover, or for what they were not willing to submit. I think the psych appt was in there and some classes. I want to say it was like $300.

Hey there hippy man! Welcome to this wonderful site!
It is like no other and we're thrilled you've spoken up!
I'm not aware of enrollment fees and whether that common place now,
but lots of folks will read your post and respond!
Post often! Good to have you in the Neighborhood!

Hello and welcome to the neighborhood! Like Kim, I didn't have an enrollment fee but I did have to pay a one time fee of $250.00 and that covered telephone consults with the nutritionist, a seminar with the surgeon all about WLS that lasted over an hour and various pre-op things. The seminar alone was worth the cost.

Howdy and Welcome to the Neighborhood!

Unlike the others, I did have a fee to pay. I had to pay a one time $375 for a "lifetime membership" to my Centers program. It amused me that it was a membership.. but the center is known for it's excellence, so I sucked up and paid it.

No fee for me,

Welcome HippyMan. Good to have you aboard!

Hi HippyMan,

No membership fee here, but we have to pay $10 for each support group we attend (three were required pre-op). Welcome and good luck with the surgery! --Kathy

Hi Hippyman!!



I'm sure you will like it around the 'hood here and I'm glad you're enjoying reading!!! There is a lot of wisdom here.

I had no fees of any kind, but I started my WLS journey over 5 years ago. I agree with what Jean said, it makes sense that they might have a fee.

Good luck to you and keep posting and share your experience with us!

Welcome to the 'hood from another pre op member.

No fee required ahead of time here but I do have a $35.00 copay for every appointment so I'm absolutely certain I've already paid out several hundred dollars in the past 4 months with more to come.

There is so much information and support here. Glad you've found the site.

Hi & welcome. Glad to have you here. You have come to the right place. I didn't have an enrollment fee either. But, I had upfront things and it was about $300. IT WAS SO VERY WORTH IT!

I guess I am the odd one out. I did have a one time non-refundable $500 enrollment fee. This did not include the payment for the psychiatrist consult, my nutritionist, or any other services. Basically I was told it was to cover the cost of the bariatric coordinator which was not only a neccessity, but was also a way of determining how motivated you were to begin the process. My doctors office, which was VERY highly recommended...had many people that started the process, they put many hours into insurance authorizations, paperwork, etc...to have them change their mind, or refuse to follow the rule and put weight ON before the surgery <which cancels the option to have the surgery>...and just decide a few months later to try again. The $500 fee made that a bit of a harder pill to swallow so to speak.

My out of pocket expenses for the before surgery items, not including the surgery itself...came close to $3000. The BEST $3000 I have ever spent.

Welcome, glad you're here.
I had to pay a couple different fees that totaled to about $500. One was for the nutritionist and the other was to the center for paperwork and whatever.
I think a lot of goes towards the time they spend trying to get people approved and then they change their minds or never get approval. And then the centers are out the time spent.
Not much help I know. Sorry!

My center doesn't charge a fee per see they do charge my insurance co. and they now require us to take a class that does cost around $150.00 as a prerequisit but if your serious about it what can you do but pay it right it is your health and well being. Small price to pay when you think about it long term but short it sucks if your stuck financially.

Hi Hippy man,

I didn't have to pay an enrollment fee but did have to pay cash for the psychatrist and nutritionist up front. It was somewhere around $200. That reminds me that stupid shrink was paid by my insurance company and he never refunded me my money. Thanks for the post and reminding LOL.

Denise

Hi, Hippyman! Welcome!

I don't know about a pre-op addiction transfer, but this site has definitely been a post-op one for me! I don't seem to get anything done on the computer any more except read posts here. And I usually don't get to all of those. It's thrilling to be part of a group that is so dynamic and active. I think you'll like it here.

As for the enrollment fee, I didn't have to pay anything until I was approved and scheduled for surgery. I then had to pay my $100 co-pay to the hospital and $300 to my surgeon. I got back most of the $300 from the surgeon after my insurance paid, however, because they covered more than was anticipated. That was exciting. And totally unexpected.

Every center is different, though. There is another WLS group in the city where my surgery was done that requires their patients to pay a non-refundable, non-insurance-covered $500 fee up front. I believe they call it an "education fee" or something similar. If I recall correctly, it covers follow-up support and support group meetings.

Good luck on your path to surgery. I hope everything works out so that you can get the surgery of your choice and join the losing side.

Welcome to the neighborhood..... This wonderful, addicting place will become apart of you that you will crave daily.....I know I get lost in reading at times and lose track of time.....as for the fee I had no up front fee at my doctors office but as you have read from the posts here some have fees that fall under different categories in the long run you will not think twice about out of pocket fees when you discover the new life that awaits you the Good Lord has plans for your future so don't let speed bumps slow down your treasures that await you....hugs