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This will be long, but I need to vent to people who have been where I currently am.
I did my psych eval today. One more meeting with the nutritionist on Nov 16th and I will have completed my insurance requirements. My 90th day - the day paperwork can be submitted - is December 21st.
I'm left feeling a little uncertain with the process. I'm definitely 100% committed and ready to do this and have confidence in the surgeon. I'm just unsatisfied with the office's interest in the 90 process and it alarms me a bit.
First of all, after the seminar, I called to book my consult and was told it was covered 100% by insurance and I'd only have to pay for the psych eval and session with the trainer which was $300. I got a bill a couple weeks ago for $235 and assumed it was because I hadn't done the psych eval which I knew cost as much as the remaining balance between the $235 and $300. I paid it last week and today was told I now owed the $300 and they couldn't tell me what I paid for with the $235. After investigating I learned the consult was not covered by my insurance after all. By the looks of my claim page, I'm out another $450 just for the consult I had for the sleep study. I'm doing that next week and terrified of what that's going to cost!
I've done 2 of the 3 required visits with the NUT. I left the first meeting with very little take away. I was told to just not gain any weight and if I was up a little bit before the final weigh in, to call her and she'd give me a quick protein diet to do to shed those few pounds. The second meeting was to be a group meeting and I was the only one who showed so it was awkward and rushed.
I met with the trainer last week and the session was only 10 minutes long. He walked me back to a small room, asked me if I had any questions and handed me a print out.
I feel like I've not been given anything to prepare for life post-op and am grateful for google and forums like this to get me the info I'm not getting at the doctor's office.
I did my psych eval today. I showed up 10 minutes early and 10 minutes passed my appointment time was apologized to because they hadn't checked me in. I was rushed with the counselor to keep her on schedule. She brushed through my paper work and focused primarily on the fact that until I really started focusing on this journey, ate out every night for dinner. Her words were very judgmental and made me very uncomfortable. I made it clear that it is a habit I am and have been working on but she couldn't move past it and even said that since I work part time (6hrs a day instead of 8, plus at least 10 hrs a week I put into the direct sales company I work for, mind you), that I had no excuse not to cook and she "just couldn't get" why I would choose to go out to eat when I weigh as much as I do. So many things we could have talked about, my past, my hopes for a successful future, and we spent 10 minutes on her trying to understand why I go out to dinner.
As she walked me out, she apologized for the hallway smelling like food (someone had heated up their lunch) stating it must be difficult for me. I simply said "it doesn't work like that. I can smell food and not tackle anyone..."
I hope I made the right decision going with this center. It is the only Center of Excellence near me and the reviews are really good. Maybe I'm being too sensitive because nerves are setting in?
I did my psych eval today. One more meeting with the nutritionist on Nov 16th and I will have completed my insurance requirements. My 90th day - the day paperwork can be submitted - is December 21st.
I'm left feeling a little uncertain with the process. I'm definitely 100% committed and ready to do this and have confidence in the surgeon. I'm just unsatisfied with the office's interest in the 90 process and it alarms me a bit.
First of all, after the seminar, I called to book my consult and was told it was covered 100% by insurance and I'd only have to pay for the psych eval and session with the trainer which was $300. I got a bill a couple weeks ago for $235 and assumed it was because I hadn't done the psych eval which I knew cost as much as the remaining balance between the $235 and $300. I paid it last week and today was told I now owed the $300 and they couldn't tell me what I paid for with the $235. After investigating I learned the consult was not covered by my insurance after all. By the looks of my claim page, I'm out another $450 just for the consult I had for the sleep study. I'm doing that next week and terrified of what that's going to cost!
I've done 2 of the 3 required visits with the NUT. I left the first meeting with very little take away. I was told to just not gain any weight and if I was up a little bit before the final weigh in, to call her and she'd give me a quick protein diet to do to shed those few pounds. The second meeting was to be a group meeting and I was the only one who showed so it was awkward and rushed.
I met with the trainer last week and the session was only 10 minutes long. He walked me back to a small room, asked me if I had any questions and handed me a print out.
I feel like I've not been given anything to prepare for life post-op and am grateful for google and forums like this to get me the info I'm not getting at the doctor's office.
I did my psych eval today. I showed up 10 minutes early and 10 minutes passed my appointment time was apologized to because they hadn't checked me in. I was rushed with the counselor to keep her on schedule. She brushed through my paper work and focused primarily on the fact that until I really started focusing on this journey, ate out every night for dinner. Her words were very judgmental and made me very uncomfortable. I made it clear that it is a habit I am and have been working on but she couldn't move past it and even said that since I work part time (6hrs a day instead of 8, plus at least 10 hrs a week I put into the direct sales company I work for, mind you), that I had no excuse not to cook and she "just couldn't get" why I would choose to go out to eat when I weigh as much as I do. So many things we could have talked about, my past, my hopes for a successful future, and we spent 10 minutes on her trying to understand why I go out to dinner.
As she walked me out, she apologized for the hallway smelling like food (someone had heated up their lunch) stating it must be difficult for me. I simply said "it doesn't work like that. I can smell food and not tackle anyone..."
I hope I made the right decision going with this center. It is the only Center of Excellence near me and the reviews are really good. Maybe I'm being too sensitive because nerves are setting in?
I don't think you're out of line in being upset, but if this is the only center of excellence in your area, I'm not sure what your options are. Perhaps contact someone higher up to voice your concerns and definitely get ahold of your health care provider to stop the financial surprises. I had a financial rep to walk me through all expected expenses on my medical team. Perhaps your team or your insurance company has someone like that.
Good luck and keep on advocating for yourself. You're right to be preparing for a big change, and you'll be glad for the preparations.
Mine was actually very professional and did well though.
I share this often, because I think we can all help each other through our issues and wherever we're at in the process, I have a PRIVATE blog about this past year and a half process if you'd like to check it out :)http://stephnapp.weebly.com/newstephaniejourney
I spent the year and a half telling myself yes...no...yes...no... mayyyybe... LOL but I kept doing all the stuff I had to do in the six months so it was done when I made my final decision. As tough as this road is... it'll be worth it for all of us hopefully.
Good luck with everything!!