Maternity coverage and bills!

NinaMarie1

Hello Ladies! I am a FTM and I am not well versed when it comes to health insurance/medical billing procedures so I have tried to educate myself a little bit but I still am confused. I guess my OBGYN office has decided that they want me to have my total prenatal visits, labs, labor and delivery paid for by my 8th month. Initially they told me they wanted a $350 payment every visit! It took my breath away the first time I heard that. I have never heard any of my family/friends saying that they had all of their medical bills paid for before the baby even arrived.

 So I started calling around to my health insurance co. (BCBS) and they stated that only 1 claim has came through for my very 1st visit in May... (btw I'm 6 months preggo) and that my OBGYN office may be doing what is called "Global Billing". The lady tried to explain what that meant but I had a little trouble digesting everything she said but basically my OBGYN office won't submit any claims until after LO is born. Before I continue to ramble... is anyone else having this similar experience?  I did call to try and work out a more suitable payment arrangement but the billing manager wasn't very flexible. I love my Dr so far but this situation has me a bit stressed! I have been making earnest payments but it's just not in the budget to make the kind of payments they have arranged!! Ughhh....

CurlyQ284

Yes, my office does Global Billing. My insurance covers 80 percent after the deductible and I am responsible for the other 20 percent. I have to pay it by my 28th week, but I paid it months ago. They will not bill the insurance until after delivery. My bill came out to somewhere around 560 dollars total but this is only for physician fees. This does not include hospital fees, which I will be billed for after delivery.

Zannemar

My OB's office does the same as PP.  The entire pregnancy, including all visits and ultrasounds done through my OB's office are billed to my insurance in one "package" if you will.  As I pay 20 percent (and Aetna pays 80 percent), I paid a little over 500.00 early in my pregnancy to cover my portion.  The only items which are billed separately are my lab costs, as well as the visits I have had with the MFM (because of a complication).  The hospital bill will, of course, come after delivery.

 Hope this helps!

 

 

CurlyQ284

Yes, lab costs were billed separately for me too.

techg0ddess

Yeah my doctor gave me a total for all dr visits and delivery that I'm responsible for (20%). It has to be paid before little one is born. They split it into monthly payments of $70. The only thing that I see going through my insurance so far is the ultrasounds (those are separate and I have to pay the day of) and the lab for blood work. everything else is covered in that total amount (about $500). That doesn't count the hospital stay, just the OB visits and her delivery. 

persephonerose

We had to prepaid the estimated cost for all of the Doctor side stuff that occurs in office. The preregister for the hospital so they could verify insurance coverage, but we will not pay for the hospital side (Labor and delivery) until after the baby comes.

If I read your post correctly they are including Labor and delivery costs in what they want you to prepay?  I would double check this as I have never heard of any OB's doing that as generally that is billed from the hospital.  

SusanC111

OP, my situation is the same as yours. They estimated my costs of prenatal visits, delivery, and post partum visits, and then subtracted what my insurance will pay, although it hasn't been submitted to my insurance yet. I'm paying 4 installments of 537. It's a lot! But I'm glad it will be taken care of before delivery. One less thing to worry about later. 

Jena503

You need to find out what the total is from the OB's office and what % your insurance pays (from BCBS).

My OB office does it this way too. When I go this week, I'll pay them around $670.  When I register at the hospital, they'll do a similar calculation and I'll have to pay them before my due date.

amdagny

I'm in the same boat.  However, I selected my current coverage (high deductible), so I have no one to blame but myself.  I didn't anticipate that I would be able to conceive so quickly, which is a good problem to have.  I was planning to switch to a standard deductible plan during open enrollment, but I never made it to that point.

NinaMarie1

Thanks for all your input and sharing your experiences with me. I have been making some calls and working it out. The OBGYN office was initially asking me to pay for everything including L&D (minus what insurance pays for, of course) but when I called and asked about this they tried to cover their ass and then said it wouldn't be a problem to let the hospital bill me for that once I have my LO. Looks like I've found a way to work it out! Thanks again!