How is it possible for medical costs to vary so greatly between two Dr.s? My last two pregnancies with my first Dr. were less than $2000 a piece, that includes the birth, Dr visits, labs, multiple ultrasounds and everything.
This Dr. is way more expensive. A single pap smear was almost $700, the ultrasound was $675, that I had to pay both out of pocket... my other Dr. charges $150 for the same exact ultrasound! (I would use him still but we moved 7 hours away.)
My insurance (AETNA) does really suck this time around a lot more than my last insurance with my last Dr, but this current Dr's prices are incredibly high to begin with. I'm worried because the hospital is even more expensive, what will the cost be after the actual birth?.... I'm due in about 7 weeks and am absolutely terrified because of our medical bills, and constantly having to argue with insurance over the fact that we have met our $700 deductible... twice! I canceled my last Dr visit because he charges me $250 every time I go to see him, my last Dr all I had to pay was a $40 co-pay.
I'm just stressing and even considering a home birth because I am just so worried. Any other moms have an experience with this? Any home birth stories to share?!
(I have a different insurance, but the coverage is pretty close to the same, 80/20. Our Dr, labs and hospital is all in-network and everything we have done is able to be covered.)
It shouldn't matter if they are a preferred provider with Aetna. They can bill what they want, but will have to adhere to Aetna's allowed amount. Aetna in general won't cover a home birth.
I had my last baby in 2010 and the OB worked with my insurance company and gave me a total cost upfront. Well, I was already 10 weeks pregnant but by the time I was 12 weeks, I had my portion of the cost given to me and then we used a payment plan to be paid off by the time we were 36 weeks. This was ONLY for the OB and assumed a normal vaginal delivery - we ended up with a c-section. The hospital bills were what we expected based upon our deductible and co-insurance EXCEPT that they tried to bill us for a NICU stay that my son didn't have - so do read the bills.
Home births can be absolutely wonderful - if your prior pregnancies and births were normal, low-risk and this one is also - then statistically it is safer to birth at home than at a hospital (due to the risk of infection at a hospital). If you are truly interested in homebirth, contact your local ICAN chapter and ask for some homebirth midwife referrals. www.ican-online.com
Best wishes,
C.
I had 2 successful and happy homebirths. Midwifes are great if your state licences them - if not, consumer beware as there is no regulated standard in non-lincencing states.
Also know that while midwives/homebirth are cheaper overall, many insurances don't cover them. We paid about 3000 out of pocket for each baby - that was a package deal for the whole pregancy/prenatal care and such. BUT . . . everyone's rates are different.
Also know that if you are due in 7 weeks, many midwifes will not accept a patient that far along. Most of them want to be involved in your prenatal care and get to know you a little before the big day. So it is worth researching and looking into, but you may not find anyone willing to take you.
Good luck!!!!
Not sure if you are aware, but Aetna will require you to meet the deductible for your new baby once he/she is born also. If it is an in-network dr he can only charge you the contracted rate he has with Aetna. Most OBs charge a global fee for maternity care. They do not bill your insurance until after the baby is born so that may be why Aetna is not showing you've met your deductible. Until they receive the claim, Aetna will continue to show you haven't met your deductible. If you are paying your dr his fees, he will most likely owe you a refund for some of it after he files your claim.
Hope this helps.
I'm sorry about your insurance frustrations. I can sympathize as in the last 10 years my husband's company has had excellent insurance. Then Jan 2012 rolled around and we were forced to choose either a Health Reimbursement Acct or Health Savings Account. Both have high deductibles. Changes in our current government policies are having a negative impact on our health care system in general.
Anyway, I just wanted to say that home birth, while it may seem the cheaper overall option, it's still not cheap. Plus there is a risk associated with it that you will need to really consider. If all goes well, you might be looking at just $1000-$2000 out of your pocket, but if you have an emergency with you or your baby you might end up paying the hospital anyway. Mama H has a good point about the deductible being met after your birth.
Sorry for the stress this is causing you. I'd keep pressing your insurance company for answers, let the Dr.'s office business manager know why you cancelled your last appt (due to cost) and see what they can do for your, and PLEASE continue going to your appointments (that reduces your risk for complications) even if you have to find another Dr or Nurse Midwife. If you do ultimately choose home birth, please be sure you are aware of the risks. Usually things go well, but in my experience there has been a handful of women and babies that I have delivered that wouldn't be here on this earth if they had been home deliveries. Screening and risk assessment of the pregnancy and the woman's medical history is EXTREMELY important in preventing tragedy. Also, be choosy about your midwife--they do not all have the same skills and training. Best wishes! Nurse Midwife Mom of 3
Our home birth was amazing! It was cheaper too. The midwife was $3000 from the first visit to the final infant check up. She let us do payments, but the insurance actually covered her so she reimbursed us. Payments are probably not an option due to the late term, but your fee might be prorated due to the smaller amount of appointments left.
I have had an unmedicated hospital birth, an unmedicated home birth and a medicated hospital birth and the home birth was the quietest, quickest and most peaceful birth for everyone. The were no complications with any of the births, but recovery was the fastest in the home birth too.
Good luck
Have you tried talking with the office about reduced charges for things not covered by insurance. I know most offices will reduce their charges for someone who has no insurance.
My daughter had a home birth and we all loved it. It was her third baby and she said doing it at home was so much better than in the hospital. She used a mid-wife and only went to the doctor 2-3 times. Her tests may have been thru the doctor's office.
I wonder if you can make the switch at this late date. It's my understanding that pregnancy care and birth is a package deal. Call around to home birth offices and ask.
The hospital should be able to give you a rough estimate of how much the birth will cost. Call the business office.
I hate to even mention this, but if it is the doctor office rather than your insurance causing the problems, perhaps you can show up at the hospital in labor and take the on call doctor.
I'm not sure if that would lessen any financial aspect but a thought.
Good luck. I know how stressful it is to change doctors. I was 18 weeks when I found my 2nd OB and after it was amazing.
Find out if it is the doctor or the insurance that is the problem. Then go from there.
Good luck!
I can't speak to the home birth, but, an option to help manage the medical expenses is Care Credit.
It's basically a credit card that allows you to make interest free payments for up to 2 yrs.
We've used it for vet bills and for my tummy tuck.
Sorry to hear your insurance sucks!
I can address the pap through Aetna...your physician must sent you to the preferred laboratory or you will pay much more out of pocket. I would talk with someone internal to figure out what is going on.
my father had Aetna growing up. I remember it being wonderful and have never ever heard anything bad about the company. i would continue to work with the company and find out exactly what is going on speaking with managers. i know that when you move to bigger cities they are sometimes more expensive depending on where you live. but Richmond is still a smaller town ??? it sounds odd.
That being said...the women that gave home births really enjoyed it (if thats proper to put it that way?). One chose to do it for her third child as she did not feel comfortable with the way hospitals handled everything durring the birth and scooping the baby away to clean it. So she did a water birth at home and we got to watch it on dvd! it was a bit much for me and I was very comfy at the hospital.
Another woman chose to have a home birth for the whole experience being much better, safer and cosy for her. I personally admire women and think they are crazy at the same time. I know I couldnt handle it. But its wonderful when women take that road. I personally think its the harder road to take but usually when one dosent take the easy way out its really worth it.
Sounds like the difference is your insurance not the doctors. I have to wonder did you leave the state in that seven hour move? I live right by the river, I could move five minutes and my health insurance would drastically change.
Just from what I have learned working for doctors all these games come from Medicare and then mutate from state to state.
Sorry I can't answer your actual question. :(
Are there any birthing centers where you are? That might be a less expensive option as well. I am going for a home birth this time, and my midwife's fee is $3000. With my first we had 80/20 insurance coverage through United Healthcare, I ended up having a c-section, and I still ended up paying $3000.
