How much did L&D cost you?

AnotherPreggo · January 2014

Just got hit with a $300 bill for our first ultrasound, and got me thinking of how we ended up having to pay $4000 out of pocket for our first baby. DH has a different employer now, but he looked into it and figured it will be right around the same amount again.

How much did your birth(s) cost you out of pocket?

ghostof5letters · January 2014

$5,000 way better than the 55k billed.

We've already had this discussion

VTKatie · January 2014

Great question, I was going to ask as well. I have a $4500 out of pocket max. My insurance pays 80% of the bill, until I hit $4500 and then it goes to 100%.

ghostof5letters · January 2014

*cue the Canadians

AnotherPreggo · January 2014

ghostof5letters said:

$5,000 way better than the 55k billed. We've already had this discussion

Ehh, we've repeated plenty of convos by this point already. I missed the first one, but whatevs.

And yeah... I think we were billed $30,000. I'll take the $4,000 anyday over that, obviously. But everyone I know is blown away that we had to pay so much!

TRS48 · January 2014

I just got an estimate & all of my OB services from 12 weeks on (not including ultrasounds or lab work-- which I pay 100% for until I meet my $3k deductible) including L&D will cost us around $2200. I was wondering if that was high or not?

AnnaMPAdams · January 2014

TRS48 said:
I just got an estimate & all of my OB services from 12 weeks on (not including ultrasounds or lab work-- which I pay 100% for until I meet my $3k deductible) including L&D will cost us around $2200. I was wondering if that was high or not?

That's pretty cheap. For a normal vaginal delivery and prenatal care, my office charges $3,800. Obviously that doesn't include any hospital charges that will be billed later.

ghostof5letters · January 2014

Just a heads up, that estimate won't include hospital bills, or anesthesiologist billing, or the baby's bill for their hospital stay. Once they leave your body, they get their own bills

cuntasaurusrex · January 2014

I looked at the explanation of benefits through my insurance website (FTM) and from what I can understand there, inclusive of newborn care (first visits to ped)/nursery care/labor and delivery, etc- my copay is $250. I don't see anything there about the actual physician coverage though. My OB hasn't covered finances at all, so I'm kinda wondering if this is going to come up ever, or if I'm just going to be slapped with some bill I wasn't expecting later on.

lindslalala · January 2014

We got a bill that was somewhere around $300ish. If I remember correctly it was so low because we'd already maxed out our OOP for the year? Insurance confuses me though so I really don't know.

tourqeyes · January 2014

For the OB/GYN (which includes their payment for delivery = ~$1200

For the hospital bill for me and my son = ~1600

I had insurance.

livkight · January 2014

Thanks for asking this question! I've been pretty curious myself, and it's kind of confusing to figure out.

susanskowera · January 2014

For some reason our company has an amazing plan in regards to women's health (there are maybe 50-60 women out of like 500 employees). Pap smear and regular check up once a year is covered completely, and all prenatal and L&D costs are covered 100%, and I'm able to go to the hospital of my choice, not just what is considered in network. I'm by no means bragging, just still in awe that a plan like this exists! I think I made about 5 calls to the HR department and the insurance provider to double, triple check. Crazy! But, I do agree...the costs here are ridiculous. My mom had her hip replaced a few years ago...$150K.

marathonmom823 · January 2014

$13. A two-day charge for the tv which we didn't turn on once. So dumb.
Everything else was covered, from all of my prenatal appts through L&D and my 6-week pp check-up.

jnnfrrose6 · January 2014

I just got my bill from my doctor. I have to pay estimated prenatal costs ahead of time which came out to about $3100. I have to look into it as they can't submit this to my insurance until the actual care happens, so if my insurance covers any of it, will they reimburse me (I assume yes)?

For DS we also had to prepay the hospital, which was basically what was left of my deductible at the time. I expect we'll have to do that again as well. Now that DS is on my insurance though it is a family plan with a High POS so my deductible is around $5400 before everything is covered by insurance.

We did get a reimbursement from the hospital last time as it came out cheaper once it was submitted to my insurance, but the reimbursement basically covered the bill we got from the anesthesiologist, so that was a wash.

I do have an HSA account, so at least we can pay some of this with the tax free money.

allardr · January 2014

We ended up paying around $3,700. Which was roughly what we expected after looking into our insurance.

The killer was all those first year appointments those added up to another $2,500ish.

am7rice · January 2014

I just paid my co pay for each appt. (under my insurance it was ab $25 each appt)and never recieved a hospital bill w DS. He was born in March. I had insurance and I was also covered under DH. Now this time around I'm only covered under DH and my co pays are $10. No bills for us or anything yet.

susanskowera · January 2014

AnotherDreamer said:

I have to meet my deductible first. My insurance is changeing next month, so I was going to have to pay $1k (plus 20% of our $2k OOP max) but now I'll be paying $5k (plus 20% of our $12k OOP). I'm not happy. That's an understatement. I have to pay $288 for each ultrasound (I get double billed because it's twins) with my MFM, and a $55 co-pay for each OB visit, and since I'm high risk there will be a lot of those. I'll also get hit with the hospital bill for two babies, who may have to go in the NICU.

I know with DS my OB gave an estimate for OOP expenses since they were showing what my insurance would cover- it was like $3k for a c-section (I'll get billed double this time for twins). That didn't include hospital fees, the costs of anesthesia, and all that. I never saw my hospital bill with DS because it was covered 100%. I miss the insurance from with DS, maternity was 100% covered after deductible. I only had to pay $1k plus DS's hospital expenses. Sigh.

Bottom line- cost varies. Your doctor, area, hospital, all make a huge difference. What your insurance covers make a huge difference. It's best to call around and figure things out. I mean with DS I paid $1k for me, and this time I'm looking at $7,400 probably... if we're lucky. It will probably be more because I'm not understanding things correctly. This stuff confuses me, and whenever I call in I get difference answers because I don't even think our reps know what they're talking about half the time.

I know mine could be worse, it's just the sudden change that has me upset more I think. That and needing to come up with $500 extra a month I hadn't expected (with scans, medications, appointments, due to being high risk) I would have met my deductible really quick with our old deducible, not so much this new one.

I think I would go on a rampage....Such shit that they can double charge for this stuff. I realize that, yes, there are two of them, so that makes more work and they should charge more. But, really? Double? Crazy.

BW1088 · January 2014

$200 co-pay for the hospital (included anesthesia for my epidural x2, pitocin induction, private room, a dose of Stadol, 2 MVT, 1 dose of IBP, and 2 overnights) and $70 co-pay for my OB's services. Also paid $50 co-pay for the first OB visit.

That is all. Great insurance. \:D/ Should be about the same this time since I haven't changed anything with insurance.

runrinserepeat · January 2014

$0. I'm not Canadian, but I've got great insurance.

katnipeverclean · January 2014

We paid about $2500 for all of it which included L&D ECS, NICU and my stay. I know NICU alone was almost $10K before insurance.

lowerygirl · January 2014

Mine will be $0. I'm not Canadian either, but my husband is active duty military and as long as I deliver at the hospital on base (which I will be), it won't cost us a dime.

marathonmommy11 · January 2014

$34 for a 3 night stay. But we have tricare.

jensavicci · January 2014

For a homebirth (for me at least)

Midwife fee: $3,500
Labor prep class: $55
blow up pool: $30

Labor: priceless

INmommy871278 · January 2014

After insurance we are paying $680 not including the hospital bill. I think hospital bill last time was something like $700, we got very lucky with our insurance.

Alibabs · January 2014

ashleysyn2 said:

ghostof5letters said:

*cue the Canadians

\:D/

$0

Though, we were prepared to pay extra for a suite. There weren't any available when we checked-in though. Oh and we paid for parking which ended up being fucking expensive.

HAHAHAHAHA Parking is expensive. We only have metered on street parking where my hospital is, so if it runs out while you're in there you could be clamped...but the hospital will bail you out

In Ireland we have 3 levels of care: Pubic which is free for all the services provided, Semi-Private which costs about $1200 all-in and Private which is about $4k

You can claim most of the bills back in tax from the government and if you have health Insurance they will cover most or all depending on your plan.

No-one in the world should have to pay the bills you Americans pay to have a baby or any hospital care! It's ridiculous! I'd have my baby at home if the bills were that high here!

seells · January 2014

$0 for DD and it will be $0 again for this baby. Also not Canadian. Although I'll tell you I wish I was, I'm crying over only getting 12 weeks off. That whole 1 year paid sounds like bliss.

AutumnBonfire · January 2014

My insurance covers it 100%. I paid a $20 copay at the first OB apt with DS and $15 with this baby because it went down (although my contributions out of each paycheck went up). After that, I didn't pay one dime.

TRS48 · January 2014

Wow, some of you have awesome insurance... What insurance do you have that totals $0 for L&D? Are your plans employer based? I know some of you mentioned you are on military plans or Canadian, but besides those... I need to hear how people are getting such great deals?

mcvgal · January 2014

with DS it cost us $150.00 out of pocket for L&D but $750.00 out of pocket for DS' 40-day NICU stay

theredofhead · January 2014

Also not Canadian... $0 for me too. I work for a healthcare system that offers amazing insurance.

runrinserepeat · January 2014

@TRS48 My plan is heavily subsidized through my employer, and I work in the healthcare industry.

SuperKim13 · January 2014

TRS48 said:

Wow, some of you have awesome insurance... What insurance do you have that totals $0 for L&D? Are your plans employer based? I know some of you mentioned you are on military plans or Canadian, but besides those... I need to hear how people are getting such great deals?

I have 100% coverage with my employer subsidized insurance. I also work in healthcare.

That said I don't get paid maternity leave. (Have to use Earned Time and sick leave)

as1baby · January 2014

$5, the opening a file at my ob office cost (was a weird charge request to me) the rest will be $0, I'm qualified for the Illinois Moms & Babies program that covers obs/docs/L&D/labs... until baby is born, then depending on my income at that time it can go until baby is 1 year old and I believe I'm 6 months post baby. After that there is a different program to enroll in based on income that has different cost levels.

TRS48 · January 2014

Wow this makes me want to go get a job at one of these companies! When you all say healthcare do you mean a healthcare insurance company or just general healthcare? Sorry if I'm being too nosy I am just really curious about this!

bgoodbpar · January 2014

I'm blown away by these numbers!!. My son cost me nothing out of pocket for prenatal care, L&D with epi and 3 day stay ( all L&D patients have suites now at the hospital I delivered at), and postnatal care, lactation consult and well baby. With my new insurance through a new district I have a copay of $250.

I'm feeling blessed to say the least! We really need some reform in all things maternity in the U.S.

But no paid maternity leave for me BTW. Any time off paid comes from my sick balance which is next to nothing because I just started with a new district. And who wants to use all their sick time knowing they have two kids at home who will get sick at some point and require me to take to a day off.... okay rant over....

honeybee434 · January 2014

From what I've estimated we will pay anywhere from $2200-3000, depending on how the hospital bills everything. Worst case my OOP max is $4750, so I know it won't go over that.

redhotmama7 · January 2014

I had to pay a copay this far and everything else should be 100% covered. A fellow employee at my H job wife had a baby last year they paid $20 total for that first copay. My copay even counts towards my OOP... But since everything in network is covered 100% it's basically free.

My H does not work for healthcare and isn't military and we aren't Canadians.

TheSliceOfLife · January 2014

Will end up costing $0 and I live in the good old US of A. Co-pay max at OB office is $60 and there is a $2500 deductible, but I have a $5000 HRA that will cover both. I work for the county govt and I am also a union member.

theredofhead · January 2014

TRS48 said:

Wow this makes me want to go get a job at one of these companies! When you all say healthcare do you mean a healthcare insurance company or just general healthcare? Sorry if I'm being too nosy I am just really curious about this!

I work for a large healthcare system in Boston that governs some of the biggest hospitals in the area. Our insurance is heavily subsidized and if you pick the best/highest tier insurance (I do) and choose to use one of the system's hospitals (I did), we are covered 100%. It is a way for the healthcare system to make more money, offering the best coverage "in system", so more people will go to them. I have no problem doing this, as the hospitals are nationally and world ranked!

BW1088 · January 2014

I have Humana through my healthcare employer. I'm a RN in a large hospital organization. I knew our insurance was amazing when we got bills for DD's birth and I'm even more amazed now that I've read this thread! We do pay a $20 co-pay for well-child visits, but that's next to nothing.

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