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Would you take the insurance money or get the birth center experience?

jolene118jolene118 member
in Babies on the Brain
So I've always wanted to do a natural birth, if I can. We have a midwife/birthing center near by that offers a homier experience. They have incredibly low tear rates, c section rates, etc. I would absolutely love to give birth there when the time comes, however I just found out it's not covered under my short term disability policy. I have a policy through work that many women use when they have a baby, where if you get hospitalized you automatically get an amount of money plus money every day you are hospitalized. For me, it would work out to be around $2600. However, with the birth center you actually go home within 12 hours, so it isn't considered a "hospitalization."

We are still TTC so this isn't a decision that has to be made now, but I just learned I wouldn't be able to take advantage of the insurance money if we do the birth center. We're trying to keep it quiet that we're trying so I can't even talk to anyone about this! What are your thoughts? Which would you choose?
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Re: Would you take the insurance money or get the birth center experience?

  • JenandJosh1310JenandJosh1310 member
    Hmm have you looked into any hospitals that are unmedicated birth friendly? If/when we get pregnant the hospital near us has midwives on staff and (from what ive read) is very open to working with you and what type of experience you want. I think i want to go that route bc i def want to try for as natural/unmedicated as possible but i have anxiety, and i think ill feel better being in the hospital in case something happens. Maybe youd be able to get a little of both worlds in a situation like that? That is a tough decision to make!
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  • MamabeagleMamabeagle member
    Check the waiting period for that policy. I can almost guarantee it will not kick in just because you stay overnight at a traditional hospital.
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  • myjessesgirlmyjessesgirl member
    I think it might be something to bring up with HR. They are generally used to dealing with hypotheticals. You have a lot of time to look into hospitals and birthing centers if you get pregnant and policies do change, so it might also pay to just wait until you know for sure that you will need to make the decision. If it truly is all about staying overnight at a hospital and that is he only thing that short term disability would cover, then it sounds like you would be better off going the traditional hospital route. Many hospitals do offer much more in terms of natural births and it might be worth it if you end up getting more compensation from work.
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  • jolene118jolene118 member
    Mamabeagle said:

    Check the waiting period for that policy. I can almost guarantee it will not kick in just because you stay overnight at a traditional hospital.


    The waiting period is 10 months. And it actually does kick in with a hospitalization. That's the kind of policy it is, and a lot of women use it specifically for giving birth. It's in addition to a traditional percentage of income per week that one cannot go to work.

    I had asked the insurance guy about using it with a birth center and he said there had to be "room and board" charges for it to work. Since our local birth center sends new moms home within 12 hours, it's not considered a hospitalization and there are no "room and board" charges, which is why I won't be able to use it if we would choose the birth center.

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  • Xstatic3333Xstatic3333 member
    maestoso0811 said:

    Mamabeagle said:

    Check the waiting period for that policy. I can almost guarantee it will not kick in just because you stay overnight at a traditional hospital.


    The waiting period is 10 months. And it actually does kick in with a hospitalization. That's the kind of policy it is, and a lot of women use it specifically for giving birth. It's in addition to a traditional percentage of income per week that one cannot go to work.

    I had asked the insurance guy about using it with a birth center and he said there had to be "room and board" charges for it to work. Since our local birth center sends new moms home within 12 hours, it's not considered a hospitalization and there are no "room and board" charges, which is why I won't be able to use it if we would choose the birth center.

    Something to ask about-our local birth center can transfer moms to the hospital for an overnight stay after the birth if they aren't feeling ready to go straight home. OP, if yours has a similar procedure you may be able to have the best of both worlds.

    One other issue with our birthing center is that it can only handle one birth at a time, and if there is even the slightest hint of an abnormality or risk they send you to the hospital instead. Therefore, many moms who aim for the birth center end up in the hospital with their midwife. It's my first choice too, but I'm trying not to get my hopes up.
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  • jolene118jolene118 member
    Thanks so much for the suggestions! Our birth center can handle up to 3 at a time, but I do know they will send you to the hospital if there is any kind of risk at all. I haven't looked in to our hospitals birth protocols yet or taken a tour or anything, so I am definitely keeping an open mind. A friend of mine has just started going to the birth center and was raving about it, so I would love to do it if I can.
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  • penelope4612penelope4612 member
    I'm a little bit confused.  Do you have health insurance?  Shouldn't that be covering your birth?  Are you looking to have the short term disability cover your copay/deductable or something?  I think my decision would be based a lot on what the final cost would be to me.  
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  • TingLeongTingLeong member
    that's one cake you got there
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