Just paid for my delivery, details inside

Madringal · July 2011

A normal vaginal delivery is 3400 which includes all my checkups, a doctor for my delivery, and my 6 week post partum check up. After my insurance my total out of pocket is $902. This does not include any labs, ultrasounds, or non stress tests. This total could go down if I happen to use up more of my deductible between now andthe delivery. DH and I have a HSA so I paid for the delivery in full today which felt great not to have to worry about that. Hoping that between my ultrasounds, epidural, and hospital stay I use up enough of my deductible to only have to pay an additional $500.

GoldenPeaches · July 2011

Whoa. That's a ton of money but it must be nice to have it off your chest!

CalMum_Momma · July 2011

I had never heard of prepaying for hospital bills before today, and now this is the second post I've seen about it. What happens if you don't have the baby at the hospital? Do they give you your money back? This is such a strange idea to me. I will pay for my delivery when the bills come, after ins has paid their share!

Madringal · July 2011

CalMum_Momma:
I had never heard of prepaying for hospital bills before today, and now this is the second post I've seen about it. What happens if you don't have the baby at the hospital? Do they give you your money back? This is such a strange idea to me. I will pay for my delivery when the bills come, after ins has paid their share!

Yes, my money would be returned to me. They don't even bill insurance until I have delivered. A lot of doctors (and all the ones I know of) require births to be prepaid.

ColoradoAlly · July 2011

Thanks for posting this! I hope that our out of pocket is as affordable as your hospital's! I was thinking it'd be more like $3k, but I really have no idea.

jacobs32 · July 2011

Madringal:
CalMum_Momma:
I had never heard of prepaying for hospital bills before today, and now this is the second post I've seen about it. What happens if you don't have the baby at the hospital? Do they give you your money back? This is such a strange idea to me. I will pay for my delivery when the bills come, after ins has paid their share!
Yes, my money would be returned to me. They don't even bill insurance until I have delivered. A lot of doctors (and all the ones I know of) require births to be prepaid.

Just to clarify, that is the bill for your doctors services only, not the hospital, right. Hospital stay, anesthesiologist, and baby's care are billed after delivery. That's how I've seen it done at the two hospitals I've dealt with.

mrsgabus · July 2011

im thinking this too. Hospital delivery is usually between 7k to 22k without insurance..thats not including what you pay for your OB's presence

Madringal · July 2011

jacobs32:
Madringal:
CalMum_Momma:
I had never heard of prepaying for hospital bills before today, and now this is the second post I've seen about it. What happens if you don't have the baby at the hospital? Do they give you your money back? This is such a strange idea to me. I will pay for my delivery when the bills come, after ins has paid their share!
Yes, my money would be returned to me. They don't even bill insurance until I have delivered. A lot of doctors (and all the ones I know of) require births to be prepaid.
Just to clarify, that is the bill for your doctors services only, not the hospital, right. Hospital stay, anesthesiologist, and baby's care are billed after delivery. That's how I've seen it done at the two hospitals I've dealt with.

You are correct. It will be roughly an additional 5k for all if that, but I should be over my deductible which means i would be at 10% copay, so hopefully in the $500 range.

honeybee #1 · July 2011

Oh I envy you. They gave me the amount i'll need to pay like three months ago, and I still haven't managed to make a payment on it (oh thank you vacation that was already planned and lousy work hours), and they want it paid before the middle of next month. Between the deductible and hospital portion we'll end up paying about 1400. That's not bad, I'm sure, but it seems crazy that they want us to pay it before I'm even 30 weeks.

ronnie day · July 2011

We had the option of staying with my insurance but having to pay just under $1000 to keep it +$250 deductable, or going with my DHs insurance and paying $300 a month and then 15% of the hospital bill. So we decided it will be cheaper by almost $1500 to keep my insurance until Feb of next year and then sign up for DH's in March.

Had I kept working for four more months, we would have only had a $250 deduct.

Gennag1 · July 2011

mrsgabus:
im thinking this too. Hospital delivery is usually between 7k to 22k without insurance..thats not including what you pay for your OB's presence

I actually got the quote for our hospital fees last week without insurance, it's 1400.00 for natural unmedicated (which is my plan) and 7500.00 for a C-Section. My doctor was 1800.00, which we will be done paying when i deliver, and ultrasounds are 125.00. They have to be paid at the time I have the ultrasound.

Hospital births for people without insurance are much more inexpensive than people think!

hollinor · July 2011

honeybee #1:
Oh I envy you. They gave me the amount i'll need to pay like three months ago, and I still haven't managed to make a payment on it (oh thank you vacation that was already planned and lousy work hours), and they want it paid before the middle of next month. Between the deductible and hospital portion we'll end up paying about 1400. That's not bad, I'm sure, but it seems crazy that they want us to pay it before I'm even 30 weeks.

Man, this is just crazy! I hope this doesn't become the normal way hospitals and OB's do business. Right now I'm only paying my co-pays to see my OB which is $20. I checked with my insurance company a few weeks ago after a post commenting on the cost of delivery. I will have to pay a $150 co-pay for each day I'm in the hospital. That covers both me and the baby.

Temp574971250006741 · July 2011

My OB's financial department figured out what I would have to pay out of pocket and I have been making monthly payments to them. One month prior to delivery it must be paid in full but my last payment is actually in August. It was like $400. I was a bit pissed at first about it but then thought I would rather have it paid and out of the way before baby arrives.

rachbenn2007 · July 2011

I have never had to pre-pay for any of my OB's services. This is very strange to me. I guess we have really good insurance or something.

Madringal · July 2011

hollinor:
honeybee #1:
Oh I envy you. They gave me the amount i'll need to pay like three months ago, and I still haven't managed to make a payment on it (oh thank you vacation that was already planned and lousy work hours), and they want it paid before the middle of next month. Between the deductible and hospital portion we'll end up paying about 1400. That's not bad, I'm sure, but it seems crazy that they want us to pay it before I'm even 30 weeks.
Man, this is just crazy! I hope this doesn't become the normal way hospitals and OB's do business. Right now I'm only paying my co-pays to see my OB which is $20. I checked with my insurance company a few weeks ago after a post commenting on the cost of delivery. I will have to pay a $150 co-pay for each day I'm in the hospital. That covers both me and the baby.

But don't forget to ask your ob about the cost of actually delivering you.

sxyhrdrssr · July 2011

I have never heard of prepaying fOr delivery. A friend of mine actualy had an insurance agent show up at the hospital demanding the rest of their $$$...and this was while she was in labor. The only bill I ever received for my delivery with DS was $12 for the tv and phone availability:)

honeybee #1 · July 2011

hollinor:

honeybee #1:
Oh I envy you. They gave me the amount i'll need to pay like three months ago, and I still haven't managed to make a payment on it (oh thank you vacation that was already planned and lousy work hours), and they want it paid before the middle of next month. Between the deductible and hospital portion we'll end up paying about 1400. That's not bad, I'm sure, but it seems crazy that they want us to pay it before I'm even 30 weeks.

Man, this is just crazy! I hope this doesn't become the normal way hospitals and OB's do business. Right now I'm only paying my co-pays to see my OB which is $20. I checked with my insurance company a few weeks ago after a post commenting on the cost of delivery. I will have to pay a $150 co-pay for each day I'm in the hospital. That covers both me and the baby.

I think a lot of it has to do with your insurance company. My doctors office mentioned that they want me to pay my portion in advance because the insurance company lumps everything together after I deliver and then pays the doctors office. So the doctor only gets what my part is until a few months or so after the baby is born. But doing it like that, I don't have a co-pay for every office visit, the I think it's 20 percent that I pay is all that I pay after my deductible.

lilwildthing · July 2011

I did not have to prepay my OB with my DS less than two years ago, but with this baby I do. After insurance I'll owe around $750 dollars for a vaginal birth. (Hoping I won't need a c/s again.) That is just for the doc. I'm a little nervous about what the hospital bill will be. At least I've met my deductible now!

A2009 · July 2011

I wonder if this is a new trend with OBs because I also did not have to pay upfront with my previous pregnancy, but this time I do. Same doctor, same hospital, same insurance as before. For a repeat c/s I have to pay $140 out of pocket. This is based on what is covered by my insurance. I only had a copay for my first visit. This does not include any of the hospital fees.

Fasa · July 2011

CalMum_Momma:
I had never heard of prepaying for hospital bills before today, and now this is the second post I've seen about it. What happens if you don't have the baby at the hospital? Do they give you your money back? This is such a strange idea to me. I will pay for my delivery when the bills come, after ins has paid their share!

This is what my doctor's office wanted to do for DD#1. I ended up talking to the billing department and asked how they thought that they were going to bill 1st before the hospital etc. I pointed out that if they weren't the 1st to bill than I wouldn't owe them anything out of pocket. They didn't even argue with that and said well... if you would rather wait until after that is fine. I expected a fight and it was no big deal. The funny thing is, they were the last to bill. (They even billed after the gall bladder surgery that I had 6 weeks after DD#1 was born.) They haven't asked for either of my next 2 pregnancies.

BritanyV · July 2011

It's pretty normal for OBs to require your portion of the fee (after insurance) before birth. I had to do it with ds and I know my new ob requires it as well.

OurJellybean · July 2011

As a Canadian I cant even imagine having to pay for medical care! Let alone deliverying a baby!! Baffles my mind!

neener3 · July 2011

OurJellybean:
As a Canadian I cant even imagine having to pay for medical care! Let alone deliverying a baby!! Baffles my mind!

I was JUST going to write "run to Canada." My jaw actually dropped reading this.

kcvasquez · July 2011

OurJellybean:
As a Canadian I cant even imagine having to pay for medical care! Let alone deliverying a baby!! Baffles my mind!

I know, but Americans can't get it into their heads that health care like this would HELP!

CalMum_Momma · July 2011

BritanyV:
It's pretty normal for OBs to require your portion of the fee (after insurance) before birth. I had to do it with ds and I know my new ob requires it as well.

People keep saying this, but I've still never heard of it, wasn't asked to do it for DS or for this LO. Maybe it's only normal in some places.

aimlessone · July 2011

I had to pay a "global fee" which pays for the doctor's services, all prenatal visits, and one post-partum visit. I think it was around $3500 for vaginal, but with my insurance, I only paid $200 or so. I thought this was normal (first time here) because I remember reading previously in my insurance booklet a few years back that maternity visits would be just on charge. I'm now on my husband's insurance and it seems the same. Oh well, I'm just glad it's not that much more. The ultrasounds do add up, though, as do all those surprising lab tests. However, I don't think they have filed with my insurance company yet because I haven't gotten an EOB for that and they haven't asked me for more money because of my high deductible.

seashell_83 · July 2011

Our friends paid $100 every doctor appt. towards everything. She was scheduled for a C-section so by the time her due date came they had pretty much paid for the whole thing.

GoldenPeaches · July 2011

OurJellybean:
As a Canadian I cant even imagine having to pay for medical care! Let alone deliverying a baby!! Baffles my mind!

FWIW, not all American insurance makes you pay co-pays. You just only hear about the outrageously high ones.

starla-dear · July 2011

Not to be a debbie downer, but (and I hope this is not the case for you!)...

The hospital may end up charging you an insane amount if you have a c-section, induction, other meds, etc. I was induced, failed to progress, had epi, and ended up in a c-section and 5 days in the hospital. Grand total JUST for the hospital was almost 20K. Thank goodness we had amazing insurance, I only had to pay about 500 out of pocket total (including all OB charges beforehand, etc.). In reality, the 10% you owe after your deductible could be significantly higher than $500.

Again, I really hope and pray (for all reasons other than financial) that you have a safe, normal delivery

kcisthebombdotcom · July 2011

Gennag1:

mrsgabus:
im thinking this too. Hospital delivery is usually between 7k to 22k without insurance..thats not including what you pay for your OB's presence

I actually got the quote for our hospital fees last week without insurance, it's 1400.00 for natural unmedicated (which is my plan) and 7500.00 for a C-Section. My doctor was 1800.00, which we will be done paying when i deliver, and ultrasounds are 125.00. They have to be paid at the time I have the ultrasound.

Hospital births for people without insurance are much more inexpensive than people think!

The problem is you get A LOT more bills than that. That's just the hospital fees.

On top of that you pay a bill to your OB, a bill for the babys hospital stay and the million tests they do on newborns, a bill from the baby's pedi, if you end up needing medication a bill to the anasthesiologist, etc.

I paid $3k for my DS's delivery and $5k for my DD's delivery. Assume you will hit your insurance's out of pocket max between all the random bills you will get from your child's delivery.

neya28 · July 2011

starla-dear:

Not to be a debbie downer, but (and I hope this is not the case for you!)...

The hospital may end up charging you an insane amount if you have a c-section, induction, other meds, etc. I was induced, failed to progress, had epi, and ended up in a c-section and 5 days in the hospital. Grand total JUST for the hospital was almost 20K. Thank goodness we had amazing insurance, I only had to pay about 500 out of pocket total (including all OB charges beforehand, etc.). In reality, the 10% you owe after your deductible could be significantly higher than $500.

Again, I really hope and pray (for all reasons other than financial) that you have a safe, normal delivery

I had pretty much same situation but c/sec with general anasthesia. After all the bills and numerous arguments with our two insurances, we paid over $1500 all together. This is after they "settled" with us. They wanted over 5k after insurance coverage. I'm hoping this time is cheaper as I'm just having a RCS.

rachbenn2007 · July 2011

GoldenPeaches:
OurJellybean:
As a Canadian I cant even imagine having to pay for medical care! Let alone deliverying a baby!! Baffles my mind!
FWIW, not all American insurance makes you pay co-pays. You just only hear about the outrageously high ones.

Exactly!

I live in new jersey and when I had DD#1 with my old insurance i paid one $15 co pay to see my OB and then i was covered all until my 6 week postpartum appt, All labs, ultrasounds and my non-stress tests where covered also. I only had to pay $1000 for my emergency c-section and both of mine and DD#1 hospital stay and she was in NICU for a week. Total bill for DD#1 over 40k

Then when I had DS i had one $15 co pay (on our new and current insurance that is through DH's union hall) and thats it! I also had a c-section with him and we didn't have any out of pocket expenses. Total bill for DS 32k

jokesonyou · July 2011

nymh:
My OB's financial department figured out what I would have to pay out of pocket and I have been making monthly payments to them. One month prior to delivery it must be paid in full but my last payment is actually in August. It was like $400. I was a bit pissed at first about it but then thought I would rather have it paid and out of the way before baby arrives.

This is pretty much how my OB's office does it, too. Only we have to pay the full estimated amount by 28 weeks and the estimate was about $600 for us.

ecartstan · July 2011

My OB's office requires prepayment if you have a high deductible plan. I have an HMO with 100% coverage for my delivery. They explained to me that they had a lot of people who didn't pay their responsibility after insurance paid, so they require prepayment for those patients.

I asked my girlfriend who works in an OB's office and they do the same thing. She said her doctor had $175,000 in outstanding bills from patients that have not been paid dating back 5 years. He couldn't afford to not collect up front anymore.

reason00 · July 2011

That's insane.

Would you ladies pay extra if you needed a C-Section, then?

Madringal · July 2011

reason00:

That's insane.

Would you ladies pay extra if you needed a C-Section, then?

Yup. A C-Section is an additional $1000 before insurance.

uncharch7 · July 2011

I'm so jealous of the low bills. The prenatal bill+hospital is expected to be about $14k for us, we have a $300 deductible then $2500 out of pocket max, plus a $100 hospital admittance fee. We'll be out $2900 for this kid. I'm on a standard 80/20 plan.

awillis13 · July 2011

Every time I see these posts, I get nervous and want to call my insurance company to double check my coverage. I don't have ANY copays for maternity services, and I only have to pay the $500 hospital deductible (that covers both me and baby). They will pay for as many u/s as medically necessary (I had a few in the first tri because of spotting and I didn't have to pay for anything.

I'm not surprised that a teacher's union would make sure the insurance has good maternity coverage though.

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