Prenatal care on hold?

girlmom52325 · January 12

My OB’s office gave me 4 weeks notice to come up with the cost of delivering my baby girl in May. They wanted the payment in full at my 20 week appt, along with a newly implemented “membership fee” of $400 to remain a patient at their office (they took too many patients and are trying to weed out people that can’t afford this)
I really LOVE this doctor and want to continue being a patient with them but I can’t afford just yet to pay all of these required fees, so I haven’t been to my 20 week anatomy scan. Am I okay at this point in my pregnancy without prenatal care for a few weeks until I can come up with the money?

mcmanda4321 · January 12

Where are you located? I've never heard of anything like this. How do they even know how much you owe? Do you have insurance? I would leave if my doctor asked me for this, but maybe it's different wherever you are from. I also wouldn't push your 20 week anatomy scan to 24 weeks. They look at some crucial things during that scan to make sure baby is developing okay.

cuveema12-23 · January 12

Hey i would like to second that! Honestly that sounds horrifying and so inappropriate of the practice. I am so sorry that you’re having to deal with this so far into pregnancy!

Do you have any options for other practices? While you are going through compiling the money I would be looking at other locations and seeing if at minimum a place will do your anatomy scan. There are a lot of locations that can do that and some pair with home birth midwives and such so they are used to seeing someone once or twice only.

I really understand liking your OB but having a back up plan would probably be a good idea. Especially if they are over booked they still may try to do what’s most convenient for them versus what’s best for you (pushing induction, c section, etc.)

girlmom52325 · January 13

@mcmanda4321 I am located in south Florida. I’ve never heard of this either but the doctors office I’m talking about says that the total estimated cost of my delivery will be $1200, and that’s with my health insurance. So at my 16 week appt they said at the 20 week appt they want half of that amount, and then at my 24 week appt the other half of that amount. I’m assuming it’s to ensure that it’s not something they can bill me for after and I can ignore it or prolong paying it. This is just an estimated cost as I may owe more depending on the type of delivery (induction, c-section, any complications etc)
I know I need to look at other options but I’m so upset having to start somewhere new after the halfway point in my pregnancy. I already had to switch OB’s at 8 weeks because I didn’t like the first doctor I saw. I really wanted someone who would be with me the entirety of the pregnancy as this is my first child and I’m terrified of the birthing process

girlmom52325 · January 13

@cuveema12-23 I’m going to be looking into other options this week as I can’t prolong this process forever. Tbh my boyfriend has listed an expensive collectors item for sale and we’ve been relying on that item selling to pay for these fees so I could stick with the same doctor who’s been seeing me. I wish this was something I knew about when I had first started seeing them, but it was information given to me at my 16 week appt when I had already been there 2 times prior. I’ll have to call my insurance company on my day off this week and see which providers are in network and try to schedule an appt from there. Just nervous it will be another place I don’t like and more time wasted

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