@vrj0522 I had to pre-pay my OB for her portion of the delivery - but I haven't had to pre-pay the hospital at all. That would be so frustrating. I would be worried they would take forever to reimburse me, plus the last thing you want to be worrying about on top of a newborn is getting your money back.
@vrj0522 We had to prepay our OB for our estimated portion of her part of the delivery. They had us start that with the first appointment though so it's already paid off.
@vrj0522 That's so frustrating! Have you called your insurance company directly to ask them how they want you to handle it? Can you get proof of your deductible amount to show that you'd be overpaying?
Married 03.09.09 Sweet Baby H 12.21.11 Sassy Baby P 03.26.14 Little Brother Due 05.22.17
@vrj0522 we, too, had to pay our OB their portion by April. We started payments back when we confirmed pregnancy. Haven't had to pay anything to the hospital yet besides the down payment for the epidural (which seems to be be odd and not done most places).
"A day without laughter is a day wasted." ~Charlie Chaplin
@vrj0522- I had to prepay my OB for his portion and the hospital what they're estimating my portion to be. It's estimated to be double what I paid with DS less than 2 years ago. Same insurance, no plan changes. It's annoying, isn't it?
@vrj0522 - You must be a more critical thinker than I am, because we paid my OB around 20 weeks an 'estimated' amount for my care through them for the whole pregnancy and I just called the hospital and paid what they asked as well. I never thought to question it, because I thought it was normal.
I do see what you mean about the total being more than your deductible though... That is suspect.
I didn't have to prepay OB or hospital. Last time with DS, I had to make a $35 copay to hospital. A few months after baby, the copay was returned. Between my primary and secondary insurance, everything was covered. I was shocked and I hope that will be the case this time around.
Thanks everyone. I guess it makes me feel better to know that I am not alone although it seems like a dumb practice to a degree because it just confuses everything.
Between what I paid the OB, additional charges from ultrasounds, and what the hospital is now asking for, I'd be paying $2k over my deductible and I don't know who would be responsible for reimbursing me, I am guessing both would reimburse a part of it. I think the reason why I already heard from the hospital is because we're already on their schedule for an induction, but I refused to pay until we check in. That gives me a couple of days to call the insurance and figure out how to proceed.
Me: 38 DH: 36 Married 8/27/2011 BFP #1 9/28/2011 DS born 5/22/2012 BFP #2 4/24/2013 m/c 4/25/2013 at 4w BFP #3 1/31/2014 DD born 10/14/2014 BFP #4 1/20/2016 m/c 2/12/2014 at 7w2d BFP #5 8/19/2016 DS2 born 4/29/2017 BFP #6 3/7/2018 EDD 11/18/2018
@vrj0522 I was asked to pay around 300 to my OB practice last time- nowhere near 2k! And I wound up getting reimbursed from insurance after delivery. I think with the ACA in place or whatever deal my insurance is doing now- I haven't been asked to pay anything. Although I think they'll be billing us a flat 150 and then 100 a night for the hospital. I hope you can get it figured out- that's a lot of $ to front!! Worth the time on hold with insurance. I can't tell if my coverage is getting better or worse. It's a cluster f***.
Snackies- a few that weren't mentioned but would be good-
- freeze a big batch of smoothies in mason jars. They thaw out on the counter after about 15-20 minutes and then you don't have to clean your blender all the time.
- overnight oatmeal in a mason jar. You can Pinterest 100000 recipes but I smash a banana, pour in oatmeal almost to the top, then pour in vanilla soy milk. Another thing you can make a big batch of and eat over a few days. Plus I'm pretty sure oatmeal is good for supply and you could mix in a little brewers yeast for an additional boost.
- Costco sells fig bars which have a ton of fiber and I'm currently stashing them throughout my house
my blood sugar would get low on motn nursing and I would feel super nauseous- something I didn't know could happen and just an FYI in case it happens to anyone else! My ob suggested almonds by the bed. And stash water everywhere!
@vrj0522 I had to do the same thing. I hadn't to prepay my OB, then I had to prepay $300 for DS circumcision even though when I called insurance they told my "my portion" will only be about $140. So I had to pay an extra $160 because that's the way the OB office works. So there's no telling what I'll be owed back from them. Just today I had to "self pay" for Brenner's first Pediatric appt because I'm waiting on my work to add him to my insurance. So they will have to also reimburse me once he is added and the policy is backdated. It's seriously so frustrating
@Hansolosparka: you'll pay only $100 a night at the hospital? Total? Where do you live?!
(You don't really have to answer that. I'm just sitting here with my jaw dropped open.)
@vrj0522: So annoying, I can see that! This is your friendly Captain Obvious over here, but, if you're unsure of who would be reimbursing you, then def keep your receipts! Whoever is swiping your credit card, cashing the checks, or taking your cash is who'd I'd check with first (you know, like months down the road, when stuff finally starts getting sorted out). So frustrating.
@BeachMommy2B that's strange about your pediatrician. My insurance covers the child for 30 days after birth until you can get the birth certificate to the insurance to officially add them.
Ughhhhh speaking of adding baby to insurance, @WombThereItIs and @bacorrea remind me, we have to actually go to the DEERS office in person right? Once we have the birth certificate and social? DH is leaving like 15 days after delivery and will be gone past the 1 month mark. Am I going to be screwed?
Married 03.09.09 Sweet Baby H 12.21.11 Sassy Baby P 03.26.14 Little Brother Due 05.22.17
Ughhhhh speaking of adding baby to insurance, @WombThereItIs and @bacorrea remind me, we have to actually go to the DEERS office in person right? Once we have the birth certificate and social? DH is leaving like 15 days after delivery and will be gone past the 1 month mark. Am I going to be screwed?
We had to with P. that was in 2014. How old is your kid again @WombThereItIs it sounds like you need POA @hp_momma
ETA When DD was born the first two weeks we just took her back to the hospital for weight checks. Then Fort Hood had a newborn clinic we were assigned to. I can't remember if we were assigned before or after she was in DEERS. The newborn clinic we were in was where we stayed until we moved when DD was 3 months.
@vrj0522 2k over deductible! I would be throwing a fit! Hope your convo with insurance is helpful.
Everyone talking about billing and insurance has me worried. Hope billing and coverage goes as smooth as it did with DS. I don't think our insurance has changed and we won't find out what we owe until after everything is done.
Ughhhhh speaking of adding baby to insurance, @WombThereItIs and @bacorrea remind me, we have to actually go to the DEERS office in person right? Once we have the birth certificate and social? DH is leaving like 15 days after delivery and will be gone past the 1 month mark. Am I going to be screwed?
We had to with P. that was in 2014. How old is your kid again @WombThereItIs it sounds like you need POA @hp_momma
ETA When DD was born the first two weeks we just took her back to the hospital for weight checks. Then Fort Hood had a newborn clinic we were assigned to. I can't remember if we were assigned before or after she was in DEERS. The newborn clinic we were in was where we stayed until we moved when DD was 3 months.
Yes I remember having to go to DEERS with DD2 in 2014... but we were on Reserve Select since DH was in school. Now I just want the new baby on Prime like the rest of us. Ugh I was hoping to avoid POA and having to do the visit by myself with 3 kids in tow. I guess I need to have DH figure it out and call, although @wombthereitis yours sounds so much easier! I also have to get DH to login to DEERS and switch the kids PCM because their current doctor isn't retiring and I don't like the one they re-assigned us to at our current@hp_momma Things would be so much easier if they just let Spouses take care of things without having to jump through so many hoops!
Married 03.09.09 Sweet Baby H 12.21.11 Sassy Baby P 03.26.14 Little Brother Due 05.22.17
@SKZW that is my insurance per night copay- I'm sure the hospital charges waaaay more- that's just my out of pocket per night. And we've already met our yearly deductible but I think we still have to pay it.
@hp_momma you should be able to log in or call Tricare and change your kids doctors without your DH.
Yea I tried and the lady was a B. She told me that I "can't just switch from clinic to clinic whenever I please". Umm yes, my doctor is leaving and the other ones are awful. Plus I'm currently assigned to the AF side and just want to switch to the Army pediatricians. Especially since the hospital on the Army side is where all the specialty pediatrics is and I may have to end up going to with this LO with an unknown diagnosis. I'd rather all my kids be at one clinic. So now DH gets to deal with it!
Married 03.09.09 Sweet Baby H 12.21.11 Sassy Baby P 03.26.14 Little Brother Due 05.22.17
@hp_momma you should be able to log in or call Tricare and change your kids doctors without your DH.
Yea I tried and the lady was a B. She told me that I "can't just switch from clinic to clinic whenever I please". Umm yes, my doctor is leaving and the other ones are awful. Plus I'm currently assigned to the AF side and just want to switch to the Army pediatricians. Especially since the hospital on the Army side is where all the specialty pediatrics is and I may have to end up going to with this LO with an unknown diagnosis. I'd rather all my kids be at one clinic. So now DH gets to deal with it!
That's really frustrating! I'm sorry. I hated my experience with AF doctors so much I switched to standard. I know AF has more money, but I haven't been impressed with their medical people.
@hp_momma you should be able to log in or call Tricare and change your kids doctors without your DH.
Yea I tried and the lady was a B. She told me that I "can't just switch from clinic to clinic whenever I please". Umm yes, my doctor is leaving and the other ones are awful. Plus I'm currently assigned to the AF side and just want to switch to the Army pediatricians. Especially since the hospital on the Army side is where all the specialty pediatrics is and I may have to end up going to with this LO with an unknown diagnosis. I'd rather all my kids be at one clinic. So now DH gets to deal with it!
That's really frustrating! I'm sorry. I hated my experience with AF doctors so much I switched to standard. I know AF has more money, but I haven't been impressed with their medical people.
The only pediatrician I liked at the clinic (and why I stayed on the AF side) was an Army doctor haha. The other ones that are left are actually civilian doctors but they have no bedside manner. I can deal with that as an adult, but when it comes to a pediatrician I want someone who can make my kids feel comfortable!
Married 03.09.09 Sweet Baby H 12.21.11 Sassy Baby P 03.26.14 Little Brother Due 05.22.17
@vrj0522 my OB wanted me to pay up front also, it was so frustrating. They wanted do close to $550 a month! And with DD the hospital billed to insurance first so my OB sent me a big fat refund a couple months after delivery. I've paid a few payments this time around but I've refused to pay anymore the last few months. I'm up to date on all actual charges and now they are just collecting money they will eventually send back which I'm not okay with. I have real life bills that need to be paid.
@hp_momma you should be able to log in or call Tricare and change your kids doctors without your DH.
Yea I tried and the lady was a B. She told me that I "can't just switch from clinic to clinic whenever I please". Umm yes, my doctor is leaving and the other ones are awful. Plus I'm currently assigned to the AF side and just want to switch to the Army pediatricians. Especially since the hospital on the Army side is where all the specialty pediatrics is and I may have to end up going to with this LO with an unknown diagnosis. I'd rather all my kids be at one clinic. So now DH gets to deal with it!
My son was born in 2014 and auto enrolled. We were on prime. The 2 week visit was scheduled for us by the hospital before we were discharged since he wouldn't e in DEERS immediately but I think by the time we went to that one he was in and we could schedule his 1 month.
Have you done your hospital registration yet? When you go they can confirm with you how enrollment works or your PCM/OB should know.
Re switching: yes you can switch but the caveat is the provider has to have open slots. Doctors and NPs have a "panel" of only so many patients. If they are full Tricare can't add you to them, they can only see options of who has open spots. Right now is probably the hardest time of year to switch because it is PCS season so provider count can dip a bit while docs in outprocessing and you are waiting on the replacements to inprocess. I know here pediatrics tends to be crazy full but there may or may not be spots in family medicine as well so you could ask about that too.
Omgosh, what is it with 4 am? Is it some kind of witching hour? For the last 2 weeks, my eyes pop wide open at 4 and my body is like "yeah, ok - time to start the day".
Also, on that note, I had when "well meaning" people decide to let you know that it's your body's way of preparing for the sleepless nights ahead. I don't want to prepare. I want to sleep.
Has anyone done a Wildtree Workshop? A mom from DS preschool is hosting an event and has invited all the preschool mom's with the idea that everyone who comes donates 1 meal to me and 1 meal to another expecting mom. I feel like I should sign up for the event too since it's in part to benefit me but I'm torn, it seems really expensive. Basically they give me a grocery list, I'm estimating my cost for the food i need to bring will be about $75 and then you pay another $78 for the event which includes there spices and sauces and help prepping the food for freezer storage. In the end you get 10 freezer entrees but I would still need to buy things like side dishes, buns for burgers etc for it to actually be a meal.
I'm guessing 4am may be a start time for a bit of us once baby comes? I hate the "preparing for baby" thing too. I'm pretty sure I need REST to prepare for a newborn who is going have me not sleeping.
Yes to the people talking about "preparing!" First I want to prepare by resting!! Second at least when the baby's here I'll have something to DO at 4am instead of just stare at the wall!
DH said that we both slept terrible last night. He said he was up a few times and each time he was I was. I was like nope, I actually slept pretty good and those times I was up is my norm. So welcome to my world of getting up every 2-3 hours to pee/roll over. I am excited for this LO to come out so then we can both enjoy being up in the middle of the night. I also told him sometimes I want to punch him to wake him up because I get angry at how peacefully he is sleeping.
@bailey8809-2 - $150 for 10 incomplete meals doesn't sound that great but you would at least have the main entree so it could be worth it with a newborn. I personally wouldn't do it at another time though.
Me: 38 DH: 36 Married 8/27/2011 BFP #1 9/28/2011 DS born 5/22/2012 BFP #2 4/24/2013 m/c 4/25/2013 at 4w BFP #3 1/31/2014 DD born 10/14/2014 BFP #4 1/20/2016 m/c 2/12/2014 at 7w2d BFP #5 8/19/2016 DS2 born 4/29/2017 BFP #6 3/7/2018 EDD 11/18/2018
DH said that we both slept terrible last night. He said he was up a few times and each time he was I was. I was like nope, I actually slept pretty good and those times I was up is my norm. So welcome to my world of getting up every 2-3 hours to pee/roll over. I am excited for this LO to come out so then we can both enjoy being up in the middle of the night. I also told him sometimes I want to punch him to wake him up because I get angry at how peacefully he is sleeping.
Ha yes! Typically my husband wakes a couple times in the night to use the restroom. Well once 3rd tri started and I was telling him that I'm up multiple times to pee he was like "no you're not". Uhm...yes, I am. He believes be now, probably because I'm up once an hour peeing, drinking more water, popping more tums, snacking, staring at the wall, staring at my phone, pacing...
Party of 5 is on Netflix...wondering if it holds up 18 years later (also realizing this makes me really old)...I guess I have maternity leave to answer that question.
Re: Weekly Randoms 4/24-4/28
For snacks I absolutely LOVE kids Cliff bars! They are very filling.
1st Baby 5/12/17, Henry
Sweet Baby H 12.21.11
Sassy Baby P 03.26.14
Little Brother Due 05.22.17
"A day without laughter is a day wasted." ~Charlie Chaplin
Married:09/14/13
Baby 2 - Due: 5/4/17
I do see what you mean about the total being more than your deductible though... That is suspect.
May17 Siggy Challenge
Labor
Between what I paid the OB, additional charges from ultrasounds, and what the hospital is now asking for, I'd be paying $2k over my deductible and I don't know who would be responsible for reimbursing me, I am guessing both would reimburse a part of it. I think the reason why I already heard from the hospital is because we're already on their schedule for an induction, but I refused to pay until we check in. That gives me a couple of days to call the insurance and figure out how to proceed.
Married 8/27/2011
BFP #1 9/28/2011 DS born 5/22/2012
BFP #2 4/24/2013 m/c 4/25/2013 at 4w
BFP #3 1/31/2014 DD born 10/14/2014
BFP #4 1/20/2016 m/c 2/12/2014 at 7w2d
BFP #5 8/19/2016 DS2 born 4/29/2017
BFP #6 3/7/2018 EDD 11/18/2018
Snackies- a few that weren't mentioned but would be good-
- freeze a big batch of smoothies in mason jars. They thaw out on the counter after about 15-20 minutes and then you don't have to clean your blender all the time.
- overnight oatmeal in a mason jar. You can Pinterest 100000 recipes but I smash a banana, pour in oatmeal almost to the top, then pour in vanilla soy milk. Another thing you can make a big batch of and eat over a few days. Plus I'm pretty sure oatmeal is good for
supply and you could mix in a little brewers yeast for an additional boost.
- Costco sells fig bars which have a ton of fiber and I'm currently stashing them throughout my house
my blood sugar would get low on motn nursing and I would feel super nauseous- something I didn't know could happen and just an FYI in case it happens to anyone else! My ob suggested almonds by the bed. And stash water everywhere!
(You don't really have to answer that. I'm just sitting here with my jaw dropped open.)
@vrj0522: So annoying, I can see that! This is your friendly Captain Obvious over here, but, if you're unsure of who would be reimbursing you, then def keep your receipts! Whoever is swiping your credit card, cashing the checks, or taking your cash is who'd I'd check with first (you know, like months down the road, when stuff finally starts getting sorted out). So frustrating.
Sweet Baby H 12.21.11
Sassy Baby P 03.26.14
Little Brother Due 05.22.17
May '17 labor memes
ETA When DD was born the first two weeks we just took her back to the hospital for weight checks. Then Fort Hood had a newborn clinic we were assigned to. I can't remember if we were assigned before or after she was in DEERS. The newborn clinic we were in was where we stayed until we moved when DD was 3 months.
Everyone talking about billing and insurance has me worried. Hope billing and coverage goes as smooth as it did with DS. I don't think our insurance has changed and we won't find out what we owe until after everything is done.
DS2 5/17
#3 Due 9/20
I also have to get DH to login to DEERS and switch the kids PCM because their current doctor isn't retiring and I don't like the one they re-assigned us to at our current@hp_momma
Things would be so much easier if they just let Spouses take care of things without having to jump through so many hoops!
Sweet Baby H 12.21.11
Sassy Baby P 03.26.14
Little Brother Due 05.22.17
Sweet Baby H 12.21.11
Sassy Baby P 03.26.14
Little Brother Due 05.22.17
Sweet Baby H 12.21.11
Sassy Baby P 03.26.14
Little Brother Due 05.22.17
"A day without laughter is a day wasted." ~Charlie Chaplin
1st Baby 5/12/17, Henry
Have you done your hospital registration yet? When you go they can confirm with you how enrollment works or your PCM/OB should know.
Re switching: yes you can switch but the caveat is the provider has to have open slots. Doctors and NPs have a "panel" of only so many patients. If they are full Tricare can't add you to them, they can only see options of who has open spots. Right now is probably the hardest time of year to switch because it is PCS season so provider count can dip a bit while docs in outprocessing and you are waiting on the replacements to inprocess. I know here pediatrics tends to be crazy full but there may or may not be spots in family medicine as well so you could ask about that too.
May '17 labor memes
Also, on that note, I had when "well meaning" people decide to let you know that it's your body's way of preparing for the sleepless nights ahead. I don't want to prepare. I want to sleep.
Married:09/14/13
Baby 2 - Due: 5/4/17
@Hansolosparka Do itttt!
1st Baby 5/12/17, Henry
@bailey8809-2 - $150 for 10 incomplete meals doesn't sound that great but you would at least have the main entree so it could be worth it with a newborn. I personally wouldn't do it at another time though.
Married 8/27/2011
BFP #1 9/28/2011 DS born 5/22/2012
BFP #2 4/24/2013 m/c 4/25/2013 at 4w
BFP #3 1/31/2014 DD born 10/14/2014
BFP #4 1/20/2016 m/c 2/12/2014 at 7w2d
BFP #5 8/19/2016 DS2 born 4/29/2017
BFP #6 3/7/2018 EDD 11/18/2018
1st Baby 5/12/17, Henry