MaterniT21 Test

Re: MaterniT21 Test

• tgortney member

  January 2016

  I'm surprised your office offered it to you since you are in your 20s. Most offices only offer the NT scan with blood work as genetic screenings (for low risk mothers and it's covered by most insurances).
  
  MaterniT21 (along with Harmony, Verifi, Panorama or whatever else it's called depending on the company) is a NIPT test. They're usually not covered by insurance if the mother is low risk and there's no family history of genetic defects. And the patient will end up paying thousands out of pocket unless the office has some sort of deal with the company they use.
  
  Oh and a NIPT will tell you the sex of your baby as early as 10 weeks because the test looks at fetal DNA in the mother's blood. They look at the sex chromosomes for aneuploidy.
  
  When I got my Verifi test, it took a week find out the results but to really answer your question. It is NOT routine test for most offices (maybe for yours).
  
  I would definitely verify all that info before you get hit with a huge bill you weren't expecting.
  
  The 18-20 week anatomy scan is when most people find out the sex and that is common because genitals will begin to differentiate by then. Before that time, they all look the same.
  
  Note though, if you chose to get the MaterniT21 test, it is a serious test to make sure your baby is healthy. Not a fun way to find out what sex your baby is earlier than 18-20 weeks.

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• DisneyIsabelle member

  January 2016

  @tgortney I was surprised too. We have no reason to believe high risk at this point as my DH and I luckily have no medical issues in our history and our family medical history was pretty much no to all questions. 
  
  I almost wondered if the woman made a mistake. We do have pretty good health coverage as DH is a state employee. I'm definitely very aware that the point on the MaterniT21 test is not for the purpose of finding out gender. 

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• tgortney member

  January 2016

  I think she did make a mistake but verify that. I had both NT scan with blood work and the NIPT. I'm also low risk with no family history. It definitely gave me peace of mind when both tests came back negative but I will have to pay out of pocket for the NIPT. I used the Verifi test through Progenity. Check out their website if you're interested.

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• DisneyIsabelle member

  January 2016

  @tgortney I just texted a friend who had the same dr. and had a baby 6 months ago. If she did not have it too, I will call to confirm. I'm hoping she did not make a mistake as the more testing the better in my opinion because a)peace of mind if everything is ok and b) more time to research/prepare for any potential issues. 

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• DisneyIsabelle member

  January 2016

  Well my friend said she too had testing at 12 weeks (but doesn't remember the name of it) but it was indeed for Down Syndrome and other anomalies and did also determine gender and that it was covered by insurance. So, I suppose it's not a mistake, I am anxious to hopefully hear that everything is healthy. 

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• IB113 member

  January 2016

  I think insurance companies are increasingly covering these even for lower risk pregnancies. I am low risk, but my doctor's office offers NIPT to everyone (which I think is also increasingly the norm, especially in metropolitan areas).  I called the insurance company and sure enough, it was covered.  Always good to check, but I think this is a rapidly-changing field and some of the information out there (and on the boards) is outdated.

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• tgortney member

  January 2016

  IB113 said:

  I think insurance companies are increasingly covering these even for lower risk pregnancies. I am low risk, but my doctor's office offers NIPT to everyone (which I think is also increasingly the norm, especially in metropolitan areas).  I called the insurance company and sure enough, it was covered.  Always good to check, but I think this is a rapidly-changing field and some of the information out there (and on the boards) is outdated.

  I wouldn't nescessarily call it outdated. I think it just depends on the region and practices of the offices. But I have heard that the NIPT is starting to replace the NT scan with bloodwork screening because it is quicker turnaround and I believe, more accurate. Of course, it's just a screening and not diagnostic like amnio or CVS.
  
  To OP, that's awesome that your office offers it as routine. Mine was optional and an out of pocket expense but I don't mind paying for peace of mind.

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• cmerribury member

  January 2016

  Do you or your SO have any family history of genetic issues that would be covered under the test? If so, that may be why she'd like to perform it. 
  
  I second PP who said to call insurance and ask about coverage, though. I had the Panorama test done due to two previous genetic losses and AMA, and it was covered. I paid about $150 for it, but was told that OOP it could cost up to $1600. That's a lot of money. 

  
  
  

  
  

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• DisneyIsabelle member

  January 2016

  @cmerribury No the only thing we answered yes to was one grandparent that had diabetes. Literally everything else was a no as far as family history goes. 

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• cmerribury member

  January 2016

  DisneyIsabelle said:

  @cmerribury No the only thing we answered yes to was one grandparent that had diabetes. Literally everything else was a no as far as family history goes. 

  Hmm, in that case I'd most certainly follow up with the doctor and see why it was recommended for you. The nurse may have just made a mistake. If they do recommend it, call insurance first. It does provide a great deal of peace of mind, but I didn't have it with my first...only after two losses and being older than 35. 
  
  Good luck!

  
  
  

  
  

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• Infantino22 member

  January 2016

  As the other ladies have said, definitely call your insurance - just because your doctor is recommending it doesn't mean your insurance will cover it. Two separate things, unfortunately. I'm 35 (AMA) and I still had to get prior authorization from my insurance (United Healthcare) in order to get the test covered. Good luck and hope you're able to do the test without additional cost!

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• DisneyIsabelle member

  January 2016 edited January 2016

  The weird thing is, it's not that my Dr. recommended it. I haven't met the Dr. yet. I only spoke with a Nurse or maybe not even that today as she just had us fill out paperwork and reviewed what not to eat, etc. and then told us what would be happening each week as if reciting it the same way they tell every person. Then on the way out I went down to the lab in the same building for a urine and blood test. 
  
  I'm guessing it's the way his practice does it as a friend had a baby with the same OB 6 months ago and also had genetic testing at 12 weeks. 
  
  I suppose I'll either call and confirm with the office or just confirm about coverage on that at my appointment in a week and a half since they have my insurance info. 
  
  edited to add info.

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• DisneyIsabelle member

  January 2016

  Update just in case anyone was curious (but probably not). It ended up being the harmony test (although the nurse had said the other) there was a $10 copay for today and they said I wouldn't have any other copays for my other prenatal visits

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