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Natural Birth
Insurance doesn't cover midwifery?
I just checked, and my insurance won't pay for a midwife. I really wanted to use a birthing center, but they estimate the cost at $4000-5000. I know I'd still have to pay a good chunk of change if I go to a OBGYN/hospital, but it would be a lot less than five thousand bucks, considering insurance will pay 80% of the bill.
Without going into a tirade about how much I hate health insurance (WHY would they prohibit a cheaper option?!?!?), did anyone else have the same experience? Did you just pay out of pocket for a midwife/birthing center?
Did anyone else consider cost when choosing how to deliver?
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Re: Insurance doesn't cover midwifery?
We're paying out of pocket for a home birth with a midwife, but it's MUCH cheaper. Only around $2,000 for us.
If it's what you really want, don't let the cost deter you. You want to have the best birth experience that you can, and to be as comfortable with your plan as possible.
Here's another question: how do I even start to find out how much a hospital birth would cost? Assuming I don't need a c-section and I do need an epidural (just trying to eliminate some of the many, many factors).
What am I supposed to do? Ask an OBGYN's office? Call a hospital?
my MW is now with my insurance, but for DD1, she was not. DD1's birth ended up costing us $10,000 out of pocket (you read that right).
I had a high deductible plan that was separated into in-network and out-of-network (and the deductible amounts don't mingle). My MW was considered out-of-network, her back-up OB was in-network, and my preferred hospital was out-of-network.
If I had no complications, then I would have just owed my MW's fee (around $3500 at the time). Unfortunately, I ended up in the hospital. So I had to pay the MW and the hospital out-of-pocket. Only the OB's fees were reduced significantly.
Now my MW, her back-up OB and the hospital are all in-network. So my potential out of pocket is much lower.
We are paying OOP $4,500 for our home birth midwives. We will send the bill to our insurance and just cross our fingers that they will pay some of this - Cigna PPO. We are not counting on it, though.
I just figure that I'm paying for better statistics, as well as all of the other benefits of a home birth. Our hospital option - 36% c-section rate; our midwives - 2% c-section rate. For me, it's worth the money.
Had to pay for #1 out of pocket, but so worth the piece of mind. See if you can get a discount for paying ahead of time, we were able to save some money by paying before 36 weeks. Also, mine will do a payment plan, allowing you to continue paying for up to a year after the birth, at no additional charge.
Although I'm curious as to why they're only giving an estimate instead of hard numbers.
And yes, health insurance sucks!! (and we have a really good plan that would pay 100% of ob/hospital birth)
Yes I had to have a hospital birth because we didn't want to pay OOP for the birth center and insurance didn't cover it. It sucks!
I would double check with your insurance to see if you would be covered for a hospital birth attended by a nurse-midwife. Most of the hospitals in my area have midwives on staff. If that isn't an option, I would just interview OB's until I found one that was supportive of natural childbirth. And then I would hire an experienced doula.
As far as finding out how much a hospital birth costs, I agree with OP to call your insurance company. I recently did this too as my insurance changed and I learned that the hospital charges different prices depending on which insurance you have. Your insurance company can probably provide an estimate.
Good luck. I totally feel your frustration!
Call your OB and tell him/her you're cash-pay. We were quoted 2600 at one office and 3500 at another. Those quotes do not include u/s or labs. Then call the hospital. The quote I got for the hospital portion was 8500. That is BASIC care - no meds, no anesthesiologist, etc.
And THAT is why we are looking into a birthing center
I had the same problem with BCBS, they said there were only 3 midwives in my ENTIRE area that they covered. I called the midwives and asked them, and it turns out that the OBs they practice with are covered. Basically, you see the midwives for your care, but it's billed through the OBs. Very common, actually.
I'm delivering at their birthing center and it's within the L&D of the hospital, just in case.
Try going to local birth circles and asking there, or emailing local midwives and doulas to see what they say. If I'd taken BCBS' first answer, I'd be stuck going to regular L&D instead of what I really wanted. I don't know if the insurance ppl just don't know what they're talking about or if they don't want us to know our options!
I agree with pp about checking local birth groups. You might find better answers. Also, if I switch to a lower form of my insurance, the most I'll pay (non maternity) is $1000/year and around $16/day for the hospital stay (That's it for maternity). Otherwise I can go to network providers and have it all covered. Have you checked your local hospitals to see if they have "birthing center" rooms. We have one here where it's an at home setting in the hospital and you can leave the same day.
Also, with my insurance I can see a mw if they are at an ob's office, even if the mw isn't listed as a care provider. If one person is covered in the practice, then everyone is.
Oh my gosh! I decided to call my insurance company (BCBS) just to be sure of the coverage. They don't cover just "plain" certified midwives, but they do cover certified nurse midwives. As long as they are an "Advanced Practice Nurse" then they are covered, and CNW are considered APNs. Oh my gosh, this has made my day! I am so excited (okay, that seems weird) about the idea of natual labor and delivery. Now I just have to wait and see if it all goes as well as I hope it does.)
Thanks so much for everyone's really supportive answers. This is a great board.
Yes and yes. The dr office I go to gives a flat rate for the delivery if no complications and they know how much that is up front. They know how much everything they do costs or they can look it up for you. The woman in billing called my insurance company two weeks before I even got on the plan officially (husband switched jobs) and found out exactly what they would cover for me.
The hospital also has a billing department and people specifically for helping the uninsured as well. It never hurts to call and ask questions. Ask specific questions if you can and if they don;t know ask to be transferred to someone that does.
I work in a pharmacy and hate all insurance companies. That being said if you have insurance they have a customer service number. It is there job to help you find the information you need to know. Always be super sweet to customer service reps and they will go out of their way to help you. if they don;t call back and talk to someone else.