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3rd Trimester
anyone NOT have insurance? (longish, but not too bad)
I'm not really sure how to ask this, so I'll try to make sense the best I can lol. This is for the mommas who either don't have insurance, might not when LO is born (as in quitting your job before LO is born), or already had a LO with no insurance.
I just had to meet with my HR manager to discuss when my last day would be/how long I would take for maternity leave/if I was even coming back at all. Initially, I hadn't planned on NOT coming back to work, and taking 12 weeks leave so in case I wanted to come back a little early, I still could. But the last couple months I've been thinking that I'm probably not going to come back to work. At least not here. It's an hour plus from where we live, our families/free child care lives, and from SO's work. I'm the only one that comes out here and as it stands now, from the time I get up until I come home, my days are 14 hours long, sometimes more. After my son is born, I am NOT going to want to be that far away or for that long every day. The problem is that if I quit, I obviously will not have insurance when it comes time to deliver. The reason that I would quit before going on maternity leave is because if I don't quit, take maternity leave with the intention of coming back, then change my mind and quit after my maternity leave, I'll have to reimburse my company. I don't exactly have an extra $2500 laying around to do that. I'm not so much concerned about LO having insurance after he's born, because if I do quit, he will go right on SO's insurance. But what I'm concerned about are the hospital bills. I'm so afraid they are going to be totally outrageous and we're going to end up having to pay $10,000 out of our own pocket for having a baby. I
guess my question is this: For those of you who didn't have insurance to cover the birth, was it that horrible? How did you manage? I know that babies are born every day to mothers without insurance but I don't know what my options are yet. I was thinking I would probably have to talk with a financial person at the hospital? I just need a little reassurance that it won't be as bad as I feel like it's going to be. I'm sorry if this isn't really even a question or doesn't make sense lol...
This discussion has been closed.
Re: anyone NOT have insurance? (longish, but not too bad)
I don't have any experience with not having insurance and giving birth (as this is my first) but you might want to also look at how your doctor is billing your insurance for your prenatal care. My doctor bills everything after the baby is born as a package, and I know others have prepaid, and others pay as you go. If you bill everything at the end, you might want to talk to your doc/insurance compay to make sure that the submit it in a way so that the insurance company can't deny you coverage (because we all know they can find ways to deny things for the smallest reason) for the care you received while still under the insurance plan.
Yup, this. I would go back to work for as long as I needed to to appease the 'rules' and then give my 2 weeks then.
The Mouse ~ 06.12.08 | The Froggy ~ 02.23.11
This is what I would do.
Someone else had suggested this to me, and I agree. But I didn't outright ask if I could do that (I didn't want to make myself look bad this soon lol), and she did say she had to look more into the maternity leave policies because it only touches on certain things in the Employee Manual. I'm supposed to meet with her again in 2 weeks to talk to her about it more and give her my decision, though. I am just trying to think of the worst case senario if I wouldn't be able to do this. I do have a feeling it would be a lot longer than that, though.
Can you go on your SO's insurance?
I'd look into doing something like this. I know lots of people who came back and gave notice either their first day back or at the end of their first week or first pay period back.
Even if you did quit and owe $2500, it would be much cheaper then hospital bills.
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Ditto. Its crappy to do to the company but look into this and see how long you have to be back to be covered.
eta: I only say longer because one of the guys I work with had to have back surgery in April, and he used all of the vacation time/medical leave that he could. And he had to work the rest of the year in order to not pay it back I think. But again, she has to check on that. If they only said I had to come back for a few weeks, hell, even a couple months, I'd put up with it to avoid paying that back. I just didn't want to give it away too much that I was planning to leave just yet. Even though they are awesome people to work for, and my HR manager is great, they still have a job, and they are still going to do what's in the best interest of the company. I just want to make sure I don't make them feel like I'm screwing them over, and also not screw myself over.
No, I can't because we aren't married yet. Not til November this year lol. But like I said, I'm not too concerned about myself being on insurance as much as I am our son, and he can (and will) go on SO's insurance if I quit.
Haha, I guess that is very true when you look at it that way!
If you can't afford COBRA (and it sounds like you can't if you don't have the $2,500 to pay them back for insurance if you quit) you need to stay employed as long as you have to to keep your insurance until you can make other arrangements. It may suck, but you could really be putting your family's finances in jeopardy if you don't.
You also need to think about how you are going to make ends meet with a baby and no job if you don't have even $2,500 now and you are working full-time.
My HR manager actually did bring this up, but it seems like I would be paying a lot more as opposed to taking Riley's suggestion of just paying back that $2500. I don't have any experience with COBRA though, so I'm also open to info about that, in easy terms, please! lol.. I'll admit, dealing with insurance in general is not my strong point. It took me 2 years to finally get used to mine!
I just want to know how bad the bills are going to be, and if I should be worrying myself as much as I am. I mean, if me or LO need anything in the hospital, its not like they're going to be like "Well, you don't have insurance, so we aren't going to give you this/do that..etc" I'll get the bill later...
But she also said that some hospitals might have a different rate at which they bill people with no insurance based on income. I don't know... it's a little overwhelming
Oh please. Not everyone who has kids has $2,500 just sitting around in the bank for a rainy day at all times. Get off your high horse.
The Mouse ~ 06.12.08 | The Froggy ~ 02.23.11
This. Definitely look into the option of continuing your current insurance after you quit. Even if you only elected it for a month, I doubt it would cost $2500. My guess is that it would probably be about $500 for one month. Then you could drop the insurance.
I think this is a much better choice than coming back and quitting. Coming back and quitting seems like a huge hassle, and could possible damage your reputation. You'd have to set up (and pay for) child care for those 2-3 weeks. Whoever is covering for you would transition your workload back to you, only to have you drop it 2 weeks later, etc. Sounds like a huge pain. COBRA would be cheaper and easier, and you'd be DONE with work and wouldn't have to think about/stress about/deal with it while you're adjusting to life with your new baby.
DS born Dec 10, 2013
If you are the only person covered on the plan (ie no other kids), I seriously, seriously doubt that COBRA would be more expensive than $2500. Your HR department should be able to give you the exact price now so that you can make a decision.
DS born Dec 10, 2013
This. I worked in HR for 8 years before resigning to SAH with the kids. I know it is not ideal, but do not quit before you go out on leave. You absolutely are risking your family's finances by doing so. Assuming you have an uncomplicated delivery and a healthy newborn, the costs are high. If you or your LO had complications the costs could be astronomical.
Hope you can work something out that makes you feel comfortable. Good luck.
Thank you Totty
Maybe I can clarify a bit more... I have money to pay my bills through the time that I would be on normal maternity leave with any job (10-12 weeks). I don't plan on being unemployed forever. After I am feeling better, probably after 4-6 weeks, I will be searching for another job. I'm not the type to sit around and wait for one, either, so I'm not worried about finding one fairly fast. Also, SO works full time, so we will be able to take care of LO. If I quit, it will be before LO is born, and when he is born, he would go on SO's insurance so he'll be covered. I just wouldn't be. So my concern is just how much the birth/my care will cost afterwards. I've heard people say it can be around $10,000 or more, and obviously I would be paying for that and anything in between the time I quit until I have another job with insurance. I just wondered if it was THAT bad for people. If anyone had experience with hospitals NOT charging that much, etc. I'm just trying to feel a little better about the decision that I'm most likely going to make.
I was laid off and my hubbys job doesn't offer insurance so I enrolled in grad school just for insurance! But it wont cover my LO. But for you I would call the hospital that u plan to deliver at and ask about financial assistance. If your balance is above a certain amount and you don't have income then they will help you. The thing is you have to stick to the story of not having a job and no one to help you either. But since you're not married you should be ok. Also since you're not married you should be able to get assistance from the state and I've heard they will pay your hospital bills after delivery. Don't quote me on that though. I don't qualify for state assistance bc although my DH doesn't have insurance he makes to much! So we're going to pay out of pocket!
Good luck!
You keep asking how much the bills will be and no one seems to be responding to that. For us, in Minneapolis, for an uncomplicated vaginal birth the hospital fee is $17,000 and the doctor's fees are $4500 and there is no sliding scale. I know we could never afford this (without wiping out most of our e-fund), but with insurance we only pay $1500.
As for insurance, check out Cobra. I would also consider staying employeed through your maternity leave. What exactly are you paying back? Is it your insurance premiums? If that is the case, that seems really high, and most businesses pay your premiums for the entire month if you work past the 1st...I'd check that out.
And while I don't advocate using government programs unless the are absolutly necessary, look into WIC. Because you are single you may qualify for help.
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You don't have to tell them that is your intention. I would just tell them you are going to return after 12 weeks maternity leave. If you decide to give your notice 2 weeks after you return, so be it. I just wouldn't ask if you can do that, because then they may just let you go instead.
Thank you for all the suggestions. It did cross our minds to get married at the courthouse a few months ago, one reason being insurance, but decided not to. And I'm actually glad we didn't. I will find out more about the COBRA option when I meet with them again in a couple weeks. If it is manageable, then I might just go with that for a while, since it won't be for too long anyway. I definitely don't want to ruin my reputation with my company by doing something douchey, but I also have to look out for myself and my family. Hopefully I'll be able to find a nice happy medium somewhere. Looks like SO and I will have to have an even longer insurance talk
This. Exactly. And if you have a problem about telling your families or feel they would be hurt they are not there, invite them, tell them the reason why and if they don't like it, oh well. They aren't going to be stuck with a $10,000 + hosp. bill from a baby and any additional extra costs that may pop up. My friend had a 'normal delivery' until unexpectedly it turned into a c-section. She went home, was fine for two weeks, then developed a mass infection and spent another week in the hosp. Can you imagine that bill?!? Or what if you develop PDD and need anti-depressants? Or happen to get in a fender bender? A lot more can happen than a routine child birth. It's not worth it to risk without medical insurance. Hate to be the piss in your coffee but not everything goes all roses and champagne... just something to think of.
I paid cash, out of pocket for the first half of this pregnancy. Finally, I was able to secure insurance and what a load off my mind!
My husband is self employed and I'm a SAHM. Anyway, if I was still without insurance I would be saving money by using a birthing Inn and a mid-wife. It saves a TON of money! I'm still with my mid-wife but am giving birth at a hospital.
Honestly, I would have just had to pay it off. The appointments were pay-as-you go at the rate of $84/ea. Labs were around $1000 altogether. 20 week Ultrasound was $550. Birthing Inn would have cost around $2000 and that's not counting the mid-wife. Altogether barring zero complications, it would have cost around the same for a decent used Honda. Ugh...
edited to add: we DID have insurance just not obstetric care.
You are crazy if you quit before your leave. Crazy. You need to have insurance for this birth and AFTER. What if you get in a car accident after you quit. Your family could be ruined financially. You are going to be a mother and need to do the responsible thing and get insurance. Whether that be staying employed or going on COBRA, you need it.
I'm not a huge fan of the suggestions to use gov't assistance, since you have a job that you are choosing to leave. However, I think you should stay on through your leave. I'm assuming you have to pay back vacation time, maybe even STD pay? If so, can you opt to take your leave unpaid? That would mean you still get to keep your insurance, but you wouldn't have to pay back time if/when you don't return.
I wouldn't do anything that means not having insurance. Even if the hospital has a sliding scale, you're looking at a crap load of bills. Very high bills that need to be paid and could take a long time of making payments to do so.
I also have a friend that got married at the JOP and still had the big wedding months later for insurance purposes.
Tough decision - good luck.
They're not married yet. So she can't go on his insurance, but baby can and will.
COBRA can be pricey. They can charge you up to 102% of what your plans premiums are (so what you pay plus what your company pays). But, since you're so close to delivery, you'd only be paying for a month or two. Unless you have a crazy expensive policy, it would be cheaper than the $2500 (and we actually do - DH's policy is $1,500 a month to continue under COBRA so it could really be that much). After delivery you could get yourself on an inexpensive individual policy. That's not ideal because with a 63-day gap in group coverage you are subject to pre-existing conditions, but it is better than not having insurance.
Also, maybe consider legally marrying your FI for the benefits. Just saying.
No matter what, you need to have insurance. I called my hospital because I was trying to decide between two different plans (one with 100% coverage and one with a 10% co-pay) and it is between 9k and 17k for a ROUTINE delivery (obviously the higher-end is c-section). That doesn't include anything non-routine, emergencies, etc. That is a lot of money to be paying OOP when you don't have to. At a minimum, go back to work for the required time after maternity leave, but don't be uninsured.
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1) women like you set all women back. If you aren't coming back say so don't wait until after maternity leave. It gives those of us that do comeback a bad reputation.
2) You can't afford not to work.
3) you aren't married you have no legal protections (alimony etc). Don't quit your job
are you serious?
Not having insurance is idiotic. You never know when you will get into a car accident, etc. Plus youy can have complications after your pregnancy, and you need to have follow up visits with your doctor afterward. Are you planning on skipping post-natal care?
Also, if you dont have $2,500 saved, then you can't afford not to work, ESPECIALLY without health insurance.
Do you also know what the unemployment rate is in this country? Around 10%. If you think you are going to get a new job at the snap of your fingers, you are mistaken.
And leaving your employer in a lurch is a shittything to do. Go go back to work for a few weeks and then planning on quitting, just so you dont need to pay back your insurance is fraudulent in my eyes (no comment on whether it is legal).
And if you do decide to quit-- how about actually asking HR how much COBRA will cost rather than assuming it will be $$? When I was laid off, it was only $165 a month.
And to answer your question, my c-section was $37,000. I didnt pay that, though-I had a $2,000 OOP cost, per my insurance plan.