hospital stay after birth, how long?

nmaldo77

I just called my insurance and I am freaking out because they said they will only cover 24 hours of me being at the hospital after I give birth.  

I had assumed it was a standard 3 days.  Is 24 hours enough time??  I am scared to find out how much it will cost out of pocket and then, not sure if we can even afford to stay an extra day.

 Is 24 hours enough time? 

 Advice please!!

 

starswinger

24 hours sounds pretty standard for a normal vaginal birth. Most C-sections these days seem to rarely go past 2 days.

Redsoxchick

I'm no expert, FTM but I think they generally keep you two nights. I am not sure if they'll send you home after 24 hours, but I could be wrong. It all depends how the birth goes I assume and how LO is doing. 

lzembek

My experience, and most mothers I know, has been 2 days for vaginal, 4 for C-section.

messfam07

It depends on your birth and your LO. I had to stay 3 days because of my GD, RH and BP. I could have stayed longer but I requested to go home. If you have a normal vaginal delivery with no complications they tend to only keep you for one day.

frostnoel

If it was medically necessary for you to stay longer, they might cover the extra time.  Did you ask them that?  With DS#1, I had to stay 3 days because he had some complications and I got a bill for the 3rd day.  When I called to explain, the covered it. 

acaudill75

I had a c-section after a failed induction. I was there from midnight Sunday, gave birth Monday afternoon and was released Thursday afternoon. My insurance covered everything except for the extra it cost to bump up to a private room. I had very low iron, and was on the verge of a blood transfusion, so I don't know if that had anything to do with it. My insurance didn't even try to deny coverage. I don't think they can kick you out if you aren't physically ready to leave. Your ob knows how to write up your medical record so that insurance is billed accordingly. I wouldn't worry too much about it. If you have to share a room, you might even WANT to leave after 24 hours.

rosenb2b

24 hours is typical for a vaginal, normal delivery.    For a c/s, I think typical is 3 days for most hospitals/insurances but it completely depends on circumstances surrounding your delivery.

 

Ivana_Stolichnaya

With my daughter I had a vaginal with no complications or jaundice...no NICU etc. I stayed for 2 nights.  Total bill came out to $2500 after insurance covered their portion.  My hospital had a payment plan set up for anyone who wanted to go that route.  $100 per month, we just finished paying off her birth last month....just in time to give birth to our son!  Woo-Hoo!

NiniJ55

You should be happy!  I have always heard the standard is 2 nights.  I had went into labor on a Friday and did not give birth until Sat. evening so I had that extra Friday night stay in the hospital.  I went home Monday evening.

After giving birth you don't want to be in the hospital - you will want to be in the comfort of your own home.  So don't worry about it.

DBride2006

You should call and check if your doctor "prescribes" a longer stay if they cover it.

I was admitted on Friday evening, delivered at 7 AM Saturday morning and didn't leave until Monday morning. I had a routine vaginal delivery with no complications, but did have some tearing and I guess they wanted to keep an eye on me. We also live in a pretty rural area, so the hospital wasn't rushing me out to make room for other people (which happened to my friend who lives in a big city).

My insurance covered the whole stay, no questions asked.  

cherishMB

Depending on time of day you deliver and type most Drs send you home after one night. There are some birth centers who let you leave after 2 hours so 24 is plenty! I personally hated being in the hospital afterward, I begged my Drs to let me leave early. If there is an issue your ins WILL cover staying longer. I think they are required to cover 48 hours though for vaginal and 72 hours for c-section.

I just saw this though-not sure how old it is

 "Under the Newborns' and Mothers' Health Protection Act, if a plan covers maternity or newborn benefits, it must allow mothers and newborns a 48-hour hospital stay after a vaginal birth and 96 hours if a cesarean section has been performed"

Kristine Schilling

24 hours is standard for a normal VB. However, with a CS it extends. The insurance Comp most likely has CS contengencies build into the policy. Call them back to verify and put your mind at ease if possible.

tkmiraglia

My doctor requires at least a two day stay after a vaginal birth and at least three day stay after a c-section. Those limits are set by the hospital itself...so I guess I just kind of assumed the insurance would cover it. 

If they don't, keep in mind, hospitals are generally non for profit, so as long as you are paying something a month (even if it's only $10) they can't send it to collections.

I would however talk to both your doctor and your insurance company if for no other reason than to keep you all on the same plate.  

hillbillysunshine

Around my area, it's 2 days for vaginal birth and 3-4 for c-section.

What about if your doctor doesn't "release" you?  Check with your insurance.

Also, my vaginal delivery was pretty standard (if there is such a thing) as far as it goes with an epidural - epidural, superficial tear not requiring any stitches - and I would have been fine to leave after 24 hours.  So if you HAVE TO, and you don't have a lot of complications, then you'll prob be ok to get out of there.

sapphirebride06

My water broke at 8am on a Monday, we were at the hospital per my doctor by 12pm that day and had DS at almost 3am the next day (Tuesday).  I was discharged Wednesday around noon.  So I only stayed one night after DS was born because the first night I was still in labor technically.  So from birth at 3am on Tuesday until noonish on Wednesday is the time I stayed and I was SO ready to go home.

med380

This must differ by doctor or by region, cause around here the standard stay is 48 hours for vaginal, and 72 hours (I think) for c-section.  With DS, I had a normal vaginal delivery with no complications and was in the hospital from late Tuesday night until Friday morning (he was born on Wed morning).

24 hours seems like a really short stay to me.

nmaldo77

Thanks a lot,

I feel better already.  I have a Dr.s appt today so I will definitely discuss this with my OB.  However it sounds like if I have a VB (which is what I am hoping for) and everything comes out like a dream.  I should be physically okay to leave after 24 hours.  Which in that case sounds like it would be awesome. 

For a CS my insurance covers up to 96 hours.  

I was just freaking out because I thought.... what if I can't even walk and they are kicking me out of there?  Like someone mentioned earlier, it sounds like if that is the case, my insurance will cover it.  Otherwise financially it would be tough for us.   Either way I will do my homework to find out and know what is covereed ahead of time. 

Thank you sooo much!  Feeling MUCH better. 

 

 

jgal84

Wow, mine is 48 for a regular delivery, 72 for a c/s. That seems short to me.

KRISTA555

I milked it for everything it was worth, but I could've gone home after 24 hours.

A S-ski

I don't know what my insurance covered but the hospital policy was that you had to stay for a minimum of 24 hours after delivery.  We couldn't wait to get out of there.  We had our bags packed and DS in his car seat just waiting by the door until they cleared us.  The hospital sucks!  You'll want to be home with your LO ASAP-trust me.

JuneBugBaby2012

We get 2 days after delivery and you go home on the third day afternoon. You have the option to leave after the first 24 hours if everything looks good. But I'm not leaving until they kick me out!  The recovery rooms are more like hotel rooms at our hospital. The bed isn't that great, but I don't have to cook, clean, or worry about anyone else besides baby.

fyrefairie

nmaldo77:

I just called my insurance and I am freaking out because they said they will only cover 24 hours of me being at the hospital after I give birth.  

I had assumed it was a standard 3 days.  Is 24 hours enough time??  I am scared to find out how much it will cost out of pocket and then, not sure if we can even afford to stay an extra day.

 Is 24 hours enough time? 

 Advice please!!

 

My understanding is that 24-48 is standard, but this is what the pre-auth...if there is a medical need for you to stay longer the doc just needs to get prior authorizaiotn by calling them

jccutie999

This.

 

My insurance company told me standard is 2-4 days but if they have to keep me longer its covered.  

ryry1977

With DS1 we stayed in the hospital 24 hours after his birth.  They offered for us to stay another night...but we were excited to get home with our new little family.  This time we will stay the minimum of 24 hours again.  I liked getting out soon...and we were in a really nice family oriented birthing hospital.

baloneydisc

Our insurance covers up to 48hrs for vaginal delivery and up to 72hrs for a c-section.  Our hospital policy is 24-48hrs for vaginal delivery and 48-72hrs for c-section.  It also depends on if there are any complications, then they adjust the timeline for what will be covered.

Lena122

24 hours is plenty of time assuming you have a vaginal birth. How do you think women do home births and birthing centers? Now if there's complications that may be a different story and I would think that your insurance would address that.

FWIW, my insurance covers 48 hours for vaginal and 72 for c section. 

xxbabycakesxx

With my first LO I was admitted to a room late Friday night, had LO early Saturday morning and discharged Sunday lunchtime.  I was supposed to stay but was given the option to stay or leave because I had a routine vaginal birth and the hospital was getting packed with more woman.

erbear

That's standard for a vag birth. 3 days (72 hours) for a c-section. I left the hospital 48 hours after my c-section  with my 2nd...I wanted out!

ghdst1

My insurance covers 2 days for vaginal delivery and 3 days for c/s.  With my son I had a c/s.  He was born on Tuesday afternoon and I was discharged friday morning.  Most of the people I know who have had vaginal deliveries in the last 2 years have been released from the hospital within 24 hours.  As long as LO passes all their tests and your OB releases you then both of you are good to go.

revolution_breeze

JuneBugBaby2012:

We get 2 days after delivery and you go home on the third day afternoon. You have the option to leave after the first 24 hours if everything looks good. But I'm not leaving until they kick me out!  The recovery rooms are more like hotel rooms at our hospital. The bed isn't that great, but Idon't have to cook, clean, or worry about anyone else besides baby.

this is my thinking.  with dd i volunteered to go home the next day.  dumb.  with this one i will stay until they kick me out.  it is me with the baby beside me and they come in and help me and bring me food and take care of me.   heaven.