I have searched the message boards and most of the posts where people discussed this topic are a from a few years ago and the posters are no longer using this site. Has anyone on here had a baby on a high deductible plan or currently pregnant on a high deductible plan? I am trying to estimate my future costs and am finding it difficult. I'm looking for others to discuss this topic with, especially now during open enrollment. I know every pregnancy is different, but just to give you an idea I am at 18 weeks and so far have spent $1675.19 out of pocket. I am posting this on the second trimester board because that is where I am at in my pregnancy and I didn't really see a message board for budgeting, medical expenses, etc.
Thanks,
Heather
Re: Pregnant on high deductible insurance plan
I had my DD on a high deductible plan, and I still have one now and am pregnant again. Do you contribute to an HSA? They are great and carry forward year to year, so it's wise to put as much as you can afford to in there for future expenses (you never lose it like an FSA, it follows you for life, as it is attached to your SSN and not your job).
Anyway, my plan (covered me and DH pre-DD, and then added DD when she was born in June) had a $3,800 deductible and a $5,700 out of pocket max (assuming all of the expenses were in-network, which they were). After hitting the deductible, we paid 20% of normal expenses and 10% of maternity until the out of pocket was met. We never hit the out of pocket max that year. Obviously we did hit the deductible (I mean the epidural alone cost $6k, but I was in the 10% portion of the plan by that point, and it was the best $600 I ever spent). So we paid for most of the pregnancy (including the anatomy scan), the delivery (went into labor on my own, vaginal delivery with epidural), my follow up appointments, and DD's doctor appointments for the first 6 months without hitting the out of pocket max. DH wasn't at the doctor much that year, it was mostly me and DD. We had more than the out of pocket max in our HSA so that covered everything. I'm now due in June again. I assume we'll have roughly the same situation this time, though DH might have to have some knee surgery, so I expect we'll actually hit the max next year. Of course, if I need a C-section or to be induced, or this baby comes early and requires extra testing, etc, that cost could be higher, but you can't really plan for that. we rolled a lot of HSA balance forward this year because we didn't have many expenses, so at least we'll be able to cover costs with money we've already saved.
I was pretty excited until I realized My pregnancy is split between two years...
DD1 born 5/24/10.
Missed M/C at 14 wks Feb 2012.
DD2 born 5/14/13.
Missed M/C at 9 wks July 2015.
DD1 born 5/24/10.
Missed M/C at 14 wks Feb 2012.
DD2 born 5/14/13.
Missed M/C at 9 wks July 2015.
Not sure exactly what your question is?? As far as budgeting goes: Hospital billing is usually quite willing to work with you, min amount payment plans, financial assistance/bill deduction if you prove certain income for family size.
And prices: I know it's rare, but the hospital I'm going through this time has every single procedure and price listed in a document on their website. From a blood draw to a vaginal vs c-section birth. Maybe call and see if the hospital you are going through has something similar if you'd like to get a general idea for costs.