So stressed over insurance:

kelseyrayay

I have allied national insurance. They won't cover anything that has to do with the baby. Nothing at all! Unless I am high risk. I can't afford an obgyn fee of 5,000 $. I'm still trying to pay off bills from where I had my kidneys fail on me! And my surgery I had for my kidneys.. It's like a never ending thing! I'm so stressed about this! Does anyone know anything about insurance or has ever been through this? I just can't afford to do this right now!

WDDCH

If you are paying out of pocket ask for discounts. Make monthly payment plans. You may qualify for MC+ (Medicaid specifically for pregnancy). Don't be ashamed to ask for help. I had MC+ my first couple of pregnancies along with BlueCross. They paid for everything BlueCross didn't cover. It was a lifesaver. And it was temporary assistance. We're hardworking taxpayers so I don't feel the least bit guilty that we needed it.

kantorski12

Yes I have United Health care through my hubby's work and it was the same way.. cover nothing unless there was a problem. Totally doesn't make sense. They wont cover anything healthy but give issues and they will... anyway we applied for medicade and were denied so we had to look into getting a totally new health plan for me until the baby comes. Its crazy but it is what it is... its so hard. I am 16 weeks and still haven't been to the OB due to no insurance. Hang in there and look around for options!

WDDCH

To apply: you'll need your ID, marriage license (I think!), proof of income (child support, alimony, if applicable), proof of address (a bill with your address on it), current insurance card, SSNs of everyone in household and proof of pregnancy with due date (call your doc's office and they'll write up a note that you can pickup at the front desk). MC+ covers about three months before the date it is activated.

If I'm missing anything please add ladies. It's been awhile and I know these things change.

emshredder

I wasn't covered for my pregnancy under my parents insurance but luckily applied to medicaid and was accepted. It was really easy to do and a caseworker will help you apply for exactly what you need. I would hurry up and get on it though I'm not sure when the deadline is for applying.

bakerlady89

My first pregnancy we paid 100% out of pocket, because of not having a maternity rider on our insurance plan. It was about $18,000 AFTER discounts. We live in a low cost of living area and had a completely healthy, normal pregnancy and delivery experience.

If you can, try to get Medicaid. If you don't qualify for it (I didn't), Definitely make sure your providers are aware that you are paying out of pocket, they will likely try to help find you discounts. Set up a payment plan. I don't think most people ever plan on having to deal with this type of circumstance, but it happens and you'll be okay. I'm happy to answer any questions you might have.

Miz_Liz

All I can say is holy F@#! that is messed up! I can't believe it is legal for insurance companies to not cover your preventative visits - that is absurd! Don't they realize that all of this stuff is what can help keep THEIR costs down later by making sure mom and baby are healthy and any issues are identified right away before they become bigger issues?! I am so sorry that you are going through this - I would definitely look into other options that may be available to you, and if not, as PP mentioned, ask for discounts and set up payment plans. Maybe you can do like when people have a "honeymoon" registry and they register for different things on their honeymoon they want and you can have a "doctor's appointments" registry! UGH so sorry!

SassetteSmurfling

Wow I had no idea this was a thing. I'm sorry, that's really crappy. Sounds like some of the other ladies offered some good advice, definitely don't be afraid to ask for help and apply for whatever assistance you can. Good luck!

xcitdmomma

It's totally a thing. Everyone needs to examine insurance prior to getting pregnant. It's one of the reasons my husband and I had to wait so long.

neludelu

Yikes that stinks.

bakerlady89

xcitdmomma said:

It's totally a thing. Everyone needs to examine insurance prior to getting pregnant. It's one of the reasons my husband and I had to wait so long.

Our insurance agent told us our maternity costs would be covered(when we were shopping for ins), and they weren't. It wasn't until after my bfp that we found out everything would be out of pocket. Needless to say, we switched ins agents.

Some people don't carry maternity insurance because they don't intend to become pregnant either, accidents happen.

kelseyrayay

I tried for Medicaid and I don't qualify. I had a different insurance when I became pregnant and it covered the obgyn fees then it switched on me in January. They went out of business.. My deductible with insurance was 2000 and we were going to use tax money we got back to pay for it. But when the obgyn office called me today the said they don't cover fees that we would have to pay every visit we have gone too plus the rest I was shocked. We were told by our company they would cover it. Now we have a $5000 ob fee that we can't afford. And that doesn't even cover the delivery in the hospital. I don't know if l can even go to any appointments anymore because I can't pay for it.

Miz_Liz

If you were told by your company that they would cover it, I would go back at them for it.

bakerlady89

@‌ kelseyrayray
I'm confused. Did your insurance company go out of business??

If you were told by your current insurance that maternity care would be covered, then you should be as they would have been looking at your plan info while telling you that. Is it possible your ob is out of network and that is what is causing issues??

Please don't forgo prenatal care, it is SO important. Maybe look into an alternative such as a midwife practice and birthing center (just make sure they are certified with hospital privilege) which would potentially be cheaper and still provide you with a high level of care. Again, prenatal care is incredibly important to you and your baby!

lafsalot

Depending on where you live, check with the local health department on what your options are. Indiana now has a fund just for prenatal care because it is so vitally important to the well being of the child and mother. I have been seeing ads everywhere asking moms to reach out for assistance. They are so sad when they show the videos of the babies who needed prenatal care and mom couldn't afford it. It should be covered - check with your legislature as well, the state and federal healthcare laws require most preventative maintenance be covered to some extent.

kelseyrayay

My insurance I had last year went out of business then we got allied national insurance they told us and the obgyn we would be covered for everything and I get a call today saying they won't pay for any of it at all.

Miz_Liz

kelseyrayay said:

My insurance I had last year went out of business then we got allied national insurance they told us and the obgyn we would be covered for everything and I get a call today saying they won't pay for any of it at all.

What was their reasoning? Did you challenge them on the fact that they told you it would he covered? Did they provide you with anything in writing at the change over detailing what is and is not covered?

WDDCH

Cost for our homebirth - $2500. We paid out of pocket. She let me make payments. Included prenatal and birth. I had to buy a homebirth kit from InHisHands (included those blue pads that catch all the fluids and blood, gloves, umbilical cord clamp, etc.). I chose a highly skilled midwife who was also a nurse practitioner and worked in children's ER previously. I realize homebirth isn't for everyone but look around and see what options you may have in your area. I've also given birth at a freestanding birth center. I can't remember those costs but their price should include prenatal work AND birth. Only hospital transfer would incur more cost.

If there had been an emergency and we were transferred to hospital during labor or after birth - no hospital can legally turn you away as far as I am aware. And apparently that's a situation in which your insurance would cover you anyway from the sound of it.

Stephaniemariebuck

Agree with all the tips from pp. another thing to look into: check to see if you or your spouse's employers offer a health savings plan. We have one through DH's work and they match our contributions which is very nice. And it's pre-tax money that you can use to pay for medical expenses. We have a insurance deductible of 4000.00 but since we are in network we have been getting ridiculous discounts on labs, dr fees, etc... Check with your insurance company to see which docs are in network. You might have to switch docs but we paid 47 dollars for what would have been an 800 dollar visit because of the in-network discounts.

kelseyrayay

I just called my insurance company now and pitched a fit with them! I asked why they told us we were covered and then tell us we aren't? They agreed to go on what we had previously said of us only paying 2,000 instead of 5,000! They said the next kid if we had this insurance they wouldn't cover but since they told us they would they are going to cover it. But I don't think we will be using this insurance ever again!

GirlOnTheBeach

bakerlady89 said:

xcitdmomma said:

It's totally a thing. Everyone needs to examine insurance prior to getting pregnant. It's one of the reasons my husband and I had to wait so long.

Some people don't carry maternity insurance because they don't intend to become pregnant either, accidents happen.

That's why the rest of us pay for maternity insurance, even if we don't plan on getting pregnant: accidents happen. It's called being a responsible adult.

xcitdmomma

GirlOnTheBeach said:

It's totally a thing. Everyone needs to examine insurance prior to getting pregnant. It's one of the reasons my husband and I had to wait so long.

Some people don't carry maternity insurance because they don't intend to become pregnant either, accidents happen.

That's why the rest of us pay for maternity insurance, even if we don't plan on getting pregnant: accidents happen. It's called being a responsible adult.

^^This. I was very aware of the costs of pregnancy, even as a teenager, young adult, and newlywed. You have to be responsible.

Also, I don't understand how they are now denying it. Did your coverage change? They have to notify you of that. Does your insurance policy state that they do not cover it? I've never heard of a company just deciding randomly whether or not they'll provide coverage for maternity. Did it require pre-authorization? There should be paperwork for that. Most employer insurances will have maternity coverages. Most personal plans do not, and you may have to pay extra for maternity for a certain amount of time before you get pregnant.

jilladelario

kelseyrayay said:

I just called my insurance company now and pitched a fit with them! I asked why they told us we were covered and then tell us we aren't? They agreed to go on what we had previously said of us only paying 2,000 instead of 5,000! They said the next kid if we had this insurance they wouldn't cover but since they told us they would they are going to cover it. But I don't think we will be using this insurance ever again!

I'm glad you hear they held up to their original quote. Good for you for keeping them to their word. And yeah, I'd be switching too. Sounds like you're going to have to double check everything to keep them honest.

GirlOnTheBeach

kelseyrayay said:

I just called my insurance company now and pitched a fit with them! I asked why they told us we were covered and then tell us we aren't? They agreed to go on what we had previously said of us only paying 2,000 instead of 5,000! They said the next kid if we had this insurance they wouldn't cover but since they told us they would they are going to cover it. But I don't think we will be using this insurance ever again!

I would definitely get this in writing or you may find later that they will "forget" they promised that. Often, the people you speak with on the phone or even the agents are not thought of as the final word and the insurance company will say, "well, do you have it in writing? No? Then we will go off what your contract says."