NICU Bill Vent

FaithRocks · September 2009

So the doctor Trig had in the NICU was not contracted with my insurance. My insurance paid something like 90 percent of the bill (this is the doctor, not the hospital bill) and the doctor's group is billing me for the balance. They appealed to get 100 percent paid but my insurance denied the appeal and now I am stuck with an $8,500 bill that I can't afford. Anyone deal with this and have suggestions for what I should do? I think it's ridiculous that I should pay this given that this was an emergency.

clyoungsey · September 2009

what saved us was the max out of pocket expense. check your insurance's policy on it...

Tianacheron · September 2009

are your nicu docs out of network? if they are in network, they are not permitted to balanace bill you. i went through this problem too, my nicu was not out of network, but the doctors were. the social worker in the nicu and I actually wrote a letter to the insurance company and to the insurance commissioner of our state and they did pay the claim. if you want to PM me your email address, i'd be happy to send you a copy of what we did.

preemieparent · September 2009

I would go back to them and make sure they understand this was an emergency delivery. You did not have a choice as to who your baby was seen by so therefore they should have to cover the total. Go into detail about the fact that your baby was born premature and taken directly to the NICU. Do a formal appeal so that all of the information is reviewed.

Good luck!

franciscaz · September 2009

First off I remember you from SAIF board and I wanted to say your son looks sooo good and strong!

Next I had this issue having seizures in college. If it is under 10 grand I recomend trying to negotiate with the doctor the debt down and a payment schedule. They would rather get some money than non so it is likely you will be fine. My payments were like $50 a month.

A couple yrs later I had another health emergency and the debt was almost $50,000 so I filed for bankruptcy. There was no other choice. I was only 21.

AFwife1106 · September 2009

*francisca*:
If it is under 10 grand I recomend trying to negotiate with the doctor the debt down and a payment schedule. They would rather get some money than non so it is likely you will be fine. My payments were like $50 a month.

I've done this before too. They will usually work with you, especially if you talk to them BEFORE it goes past due.. once it goes to collections it's 100 times harder to get anything done.

jkipp82 · September 2009

I found out after Carter was born that the county we just moved to, everything is out of network. Luckily they covered the delivery and nicu because it was an emergency delivery. However - his pediatrician is out of network, so we have to pay a $500 deductible, then 20% up to $1500. UGH.

There should be something you can do either because it was an emergency - or a limit for what you have to pay!

sweetpea18 · September 2009

preemieparent:

I would go back to them and make sure they understand this was an emergency delivery. You did not have a choice as to who your baby was seen by so therefore they should have to cover the total. Go into detail about the fact that your baby was born premature and taken directly to the NICU. Do a formal appeal so that all of the information is reviewed.

Good luck!

This exactly! If that doesn't work, call and try to negotiate a discount and a payment plan.

AviatorJJ · September 2009

i had Aetna and went to the ER when i was pg. Aetna said they did not have a contract with the hospital. after i appealed their denial of the bill of it took about a year to get it resolved and they finally paid it saying since it was an emergency they would cover it. appeal it and don't take no for an answer.

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