baby delivery costs??

[AZMermaid]

We do... But the state keeps cutting at education. Last year we had to choose between cutting teachers this further increasing classes (30 is the current limit for first grade, no aide), losing PE, art, music (and therefore our only break and opportunity to use the restroom besides lunch), or a small increase to our healthcare. The funding has been cut again this year so now they are looking at losing specials and nurses again or closing a few schools. So, I know why it happened. But it's still frustrating and hard to accept.

 

[teller80]

Has anyone else noticed that JennyLinn (the OP) has brought up the subject of babies? Everytime I see her post, I think of Jenny Lind, the baby furniture company.

 

[crisi]

That is excellent advice, and exactly what we did when we were planning to have a baby. However, open enrollment is over for most people and the plan they have now is the plan they will have for the year.

In which case, this may not be the year to conceive.

I did the same with dental insurance. For years I had the "cheap" dental insurance that paid nothing for orthodontia. When my kids reached the age where braces started showing up on their friends, we got the expensive insurance, and headed in to the orthodonist.

We have a HDHP now, but I know that in the next couple of years my husband is going to require major back surgery. But not this year, and probably not next year. Every year he asks his back doctor if next year will be the year - that year we will pay more for insurance - and therefore pay less for surgery.

I know that option isn't open for everyone - sometimes your employer doesn't offer several different levels of insurance.

I love my HDHP - its saved me almost $10,000 in insurance costs over the past few years - AFTER the higher deductables and out of pockets - my insurance costs have dropped to less than half. But I wouldn't have it if I were planning on having major medical expenses in any year. And you can't always plan, which is one of the reasons why we have a savings account that is more than adequate to cover the out of pocket maximum for several years. Ours is in an HSA, but we have additional savings as well.

I've been through the "its not fair" refrain before. We spent thousands out of pocket on uncovered infertility treatments 16 years ago when they were seldom covered. We then spent another $16-$18k on an adoption. And in the meantime my girlfriends were leaving the hospital with babies and no bills at all. All I can tell you is 1) life isn't fair and 2) if you are wondering where the money is going to come from to pay for the birth, you are going to need to come up with that every year to pay for food, clothing, activities, medical expenses, dental appointments, Christmas gifts, vacations, college funds - for the next eighteen plus years. Consider carefully if kids are a financial sacrifice you want to make - you don't have to make it - and if you want to make it, this is only the first time they'll hit your wallet. I'll add 2a) most people will tell you they are worth it, but sometimes, they really aren't.

 

[Gracie09]

If you want real sticker shock check out the cost of daycare. We paid $1350 a month for dd 1 when she was a baby at a YMCA affiliated daycare. If I go back to work full time this year (I'm interviewing) we would be paying just under. $2000 a month for our two four year olds to go to full day preschool/daycare. It's a montessory so it cost a bit more than others but not much.

 

[bethy]

In which case, this may not be the year to conceive.

I did the same with dental insurance. For years I had the "cheap" dental insurance that paid nothing for orthodontia. When my kids reached the age where braces started showing up on their friends, we got the expensive insurance, and headed in to the orthodonist.

We have a HDHP now, but I know that in the next couple of years my husband is going to require major back surgery. But not this year, and probably not next year. Every year he asks his back doctor if next year will be the year - that year we will pay more for insurance - and therefore pay less for surgery.

I know that option isn't open for everyone - sometimes your employer doesn't offer several different levels of insurance.

I love my HDHP - its saved me almost $10,000 in insurance costs over the past few years - AFTER the higher deductables and out of pockets - my insurance costs have dropped to less than half. But I wouldn't have it if I were planning on having major medical expenses in any year. And you can't always plan, which is one of the reasons why we have a savings account that is more than adequate to cover the out of pocket maximum for several years. Ours is in an HSA, but we have additional savings as well.

I've been through the "its not fair" refrain before. We spent thousands out of pocket on uncovered infertility treatments 16 years ago when they were seldom covered. We then spent another $16-$18k on an adoption. And in the meantime my girlfriends were leaving the hospital with babies and no bills at all. All I can tell you is 1) life isn't fair and 2) if you are wondering where the money is going to come from to pay for the birth, you are going to need to come up with that every year to pay for food, clothing, activities, medical expenses, dental appointments, Christmas gifts, vacations, college funds - for the next eighteen plus years. Consider carefully if kids are a financial sacrifice you want to make - you don't have to make it - and if you want to make it, this is only the first time they'll hit your wallet. I'll add 2a) most people will tell you they are worth it, but sometimes, they really aren't.

Love this reply. And that last bolded part is true for more people than you might think. And that doesn't automatically make them bad parents. For a lot of people out there parenting is no picnic - it's so unbelievably difficult. And then, when your children grow up there is no guarantee that after about age 12 they will ever want to be associated with you again. Even if you are the world's most fantastic parent your children will be individuals who will make their own choices in life no matter how much you try and influence them. There are no guarantees. I have found that my main motivation for being a good parent is knowing that I'm doing the right thing and doing my best without any outside appreciation. The best thing about having kids has been how much personal growth has resulted in it. And yes, the hugs and kisses (hopefully - but not guaranteed) while they are younger. It has to be enough. And then any other blessings that come from parenting are gravy.

 

[kymom99]

As a teacher you are probably unionized so talk to your union about health insurance. They are the ones who negotiate the plan with the school district. Tell them you want a better one.

I am a teacher and we have no control over insurance choices. Insurance is provided by the state. Also, in my state, public schools are unionized, but I work in one of only THREE districts with a negotiated contract. Seems that many teachers today can't or don't choose to pay for the union dues, so many districts do not have enough members to have a negotiated contract.

 

[Gracie09]

I am a teacher and we have no control over insurance choices. Insurance is provided by the state. Also, in my state, public schools are unionized, but I work in one of only THREE districts with a negotiated contract. Seems that many teachers today can't or don't choose to pay for the union dues, so many districts do not have enough members to have a negotiated contract.

Then that would be the teachers' collective fault wouldn't it. As an employee you have a choice. Find another job with better benefits. Last I looked people weren't locked into on position their entire lives. You don't like something do something to change it.

 

[AZMermaid]

Then that would be the teachers' collective fault wouldn't it. As an employee you have a choice. Find another job with better benefits. Last I looked people weren't locked into on position their entire lives. You don't like something do something to change it.

I enjoy my job. A lot. It isn't perfect, but nothing is. There are a lot of ways it could be better, but I worked at Enterprise for 3 years after college and that was horrible, so I left to pursue something I would enjoy more. My point was just what message does it send that an Urgent Care visit costs me $250 with no insurance and $450 with insurance. It doesn't really make people want to bother with insurance when it is cheaper to not have it. (obviously, people keep it for the catastrophic, but having a baby should not fall into that category).

 

[JennyLynn21]

***

OP, I know you keep saying you don't mean to offend when you say it's just not fair, but I guess I'm at my limit. I want to you consider something. If welfare is so great and easy why aren't you doing it? It's certainly an option -- want a baby? Quit your job, go on welfare, have the state pay for it. Why not? Because being on welfare is just plain horrible. It has its disadvantages. Please don't be envious of those who are on it. Trust me, except for those few cheating the system (and it is a relatively few), free health care is the ONLY thing those folks don't have to worry about. Be grateful for what you have is all I'm saying (and I think you probably are a happy and healthy person, you just struck a nerve with me).

I'm sorry to offend you and I am in no way jealous/envious of people who are on welfare. I understand at times in life people are down on their luck and need medical coverage. But during this time when people are down on their luck, the smartest thing is to NOT HAVE A CHILD. Birth control and condoms are free for low income people and I think it's so ridiculous when people are down and out and decide 'now is a great time to bring a child into the world.' It's a joke. To say $500 might as well been a million. Well Hospital bills don't collect interest, pay $10 for the rest of your life if you need to. I feel our country would be in a better place is people were help accountable for things more. I feel there is more people who cheat the system then those who honestly truly need it. All I'm venting about is my husband and I have good jobs, insurance and work hard to get everything we got and we STILL have to pay alot for a child, while our tax dollars go to people who didn't plan accordingly with their lives and clearly didn't have a birds and the bees talk growing up. Just my honest opinion!

 

[JennyLynn21]

In which case, this may not be the year to conceive.

I did the same with dental insurance. For years I had the "cheap" dental insurance that paid nothing for orthodontia. When my kids reached the age where braces started showing up on their friends, we got the expensive insurance, and headed in to the orthodonist.

We have a HDHP now, but I know that in the next couple of years my husband is going to require major back surgery. But not this year, and probably not next year. Every year he asks his back doctor if next year will be the year - that year we will pay more for insurance - and therefore pay less for surgery.

I know that option isn't open for everyone - sometimes your employer doesn't offer several different levels of insurance.

I love my HDHP - its saved me almost $10,000 in insurance costs over the past few years - AFTER the higher deductables and out of pockets - my insurance costs have dropped to less than half. But I wouldn't have it if I were planning on having major medical expenses in any year. And you can't always plan, which is one of the reasons why we have a savings account that is more than adequate to cover the out of pocket maximum for several years. Ours is in an HSA, but we have additional savings as well.

I've been through the "its not fair" refrain before. We spent thousands out of pocket on uncovered infertility treatments 16 years ago when they were seldom covered. We then spent another $16-$18k on an adoption. And in the meantime my girlfriends were leaving the hospital with babies and no bills at all. All I can tell you is 1) life isn't fair and 2) if you are wondering where the money is going to come from to pay for the birth, you are going to need to come up with that every year to pay for food, clothing, activities, medical expenses, dental appointments, Christmas gifts, vacations, college funds - for the next eighteen plus years. Consider carefully if kids are a financial sacrifice you want to make - you don't have to make it - and if you want to make it, this is only the first time they'll hit your wallet. I'll add 2a) most people will tell you they are worth it, but sometimes, they really aren't.

I appreciate your comment. We know 100% that we want children. And we know all the stuff that comes after the baby will cost money, and have no problem paying that. The problem we were having is that we HAVE INSURANCE. We were just shocked that with having insurance we will still be paying that much, I guess I thought that was what insurance was for. I know nobody else is going to pay for toys, food..ect ect. I just thought there was a good chance the INSURANCE was going to be paying more for the baby. Guess not!!

 

[kymom99]

Then that would be the teachers' collective fault wouldn't it. As an employee you have a choice. Find another job with better benefits. Last I looked people weren't locked into on position their entire lives. You don't like something do something to change it.

Hey! Wait a minute there! I didn't say I didn't like anything. I merely explained the way insurance works for teachers in my state. As a matter of fact, I am very active in my union. I an a building rep and serve on executive council. I said that my district has a negotiated contract. I'm not sure why you jumped on my post.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

My youngest is 4 but we are considering trying for another in the next year...right after I convince DH

So I just checked out insurance....

We do a HDHP with hSA. Our monthly premiums are free, paid by DH employer. They also contribute $500/yr to the HSA.

Our individual deductible is $3k/ family is $6k. Max oop is $6k. Everything else I covered at 100% after deductible. Preventative is free, which includes most of the prenatal/newborn lab tests.

So in short, I will budget $6k for it.

 

[supersnoop]

This whole conversation has ignored the effect of premiums.

My health insurance plan costs about $12,000k/year and it would cost me about $6,000 out of pocket to have a baby. I have another plan option that would be $18,000/year, and a baby would only cost me $200 out of pocket. A baby would cost me MORE if I was on the plan where I only paid $200. And think about all those years when you aren't pregnant.

Now, my employer covers about $10,000 of those premiums. That's really the problem we're facing in this county. People are either far removed from the actual cost of health insurance, or they ignore their premiums and only pay attention to their out-of-pocket costs.

My car insurance doesn't pay to change my oil. My homeowners insurance doesn't cut the grass. Why do we keep treating health insurance like some prepaid medical care plan?

 

[MillauFr]

My guess is that people will start questioning how much the care is costing. My son has a thyroid condition and all discussions with our doctor on our options include factoring the costs of various procedures. They are charging far too much and I have refused to get all of the tests the doctors have requested.

When he was born I refused to get him circumcised because the procedure was very expensive and completely useless in my opinion.

 

[crisi]

I appreciate your comment. We know 100% that we want children. And we know all the stuff that comes after the baby will cost money, and have no problem paying that. The problem we were having is that we HAVE INSURANCE. We were just shocked that with having insurance we will still be paying that much, I guess I thought that was what insurance was for. I know nobody else is going to pay for toys, food..ect ect. I just thought there was a good chance the INSURANCE was going to be paying more for the baby. Guess not!!

Yeah, when you pick your insurance (if you are lucky enough to get choices) you have to make sure its going to cover the things you think you'll need, or plan for it. Cheaper insurance tends to have high deductibles and high out of pockets on EVERYTHING, except the few things the ADA makes them cover completely (like mammograms) - you get cancer, have a baby, need to see a therapist - you'll be paying your deductible, then 20% to your out of pocket max. My husband's company is still offering a HMO that would cover that - to keep my family in insurance under the HMO would be $800 a month - through his employer (its $200 to have a HDHP).

And as I said, I had non covered fertility payments. Then adopted. Insurance didn't pay a penny for my son. Plus I didn't qualify for any paid maternity leave with him - because maternity leave is really short term disability. Disappointing, I know. But, in the scheme of what we have gone through in terms of highs and lows since our kids were born, financial and emotional - not a big deal. Would the extra $40k (in 1995 dollars) be useful towards college expenses, sure. (That is the approximate total for unpaid leave, adoption and a year of infertility -And we had a cheap adoption and stopped infertility treatments fairly early in the cycle). My sister has two $40k/ea IVF kids - insurance didn't pay a thing. My baby sister is working on finding a surrogate, they'll probably be $50k into having a baby. If you are lucky enough to get pregnant and only have to pay $8k out of pocket, you may take some peace in the thought that if you hadn't gotten pregnant easily, you could rack up tens of thousands of dollars quickly.

IF you have other choices in insurance, you may want to put off trying to conceive until late Spring. Prenatal care isn't expensive (and may be covered fully with the ADA - I'm not sure), then when open enrollment hits, pick up more expensive insurance next year.

 

[Gracie09]

I'm sorry to offend you and I am in no way jealous/envious of people who are on welfare. I understand at times in life people are down on their luck and need medical coverage. But during this time when people are down on their luck, the smartest thing is to NOT HAVE A CHILD. Birth control and condoms are free for low income people and I think it's so ridiculous when people are down and out and decide 'now is a great time to bring a child into the world.' It's a joke. To say $500 might as well been a million. Well Hospital bills don't collect interest, pay $10 for the rest of your life if you need to. I feel our country would be in a better place is people were help accountable for things more. I feel there is more people who cheat the system then those who honestly truly need it. All I'm venting about is my husband and I have good jobs, insurance and work hard to get everything we got and we STILL have to pay alot for a child, while our tax dollars go to people who didn't plan accordingly with their lives and clearly didn't have a birds and the bees talk growing up. Just my honest opinion!

I'm sorry but it is simply not true that Medicaid always pays for birth control. It is up to the individual state whether they will pay for birth control and many don't. There may be some private groups like planned parenthood that try and reach people but those groups are under increasing public pressure and budget cuts not to mention the women often have deal with protesters outside the building. Not a fun thing to get the pill when the person out side is telling you you're a baby killer. Also birth control fails. It's not 100%. I also welcome you to visit an area homeless shelter or food pantry and talk to these people "cheating the system". I guarantee you will find most are families trying to get by either due to a job loss, or husband leaving, illness mental and physical and not some welfare queen living it up in her public housing while driving her BMW. Like I said you don't like the benefits associated with your job find another. When my husband and I have job offers the benefit package counts just as much as the salary. I am applying for jobs that are 20-30 thousand below the salary I was making two years ago just so I can get college tuition benefits for my daughters in 14 years. I place a high value on that knowing how high college tuition is likely to be when they go.

Oh an Medicaid isn't exactly a great insurance policy. I am lucky my pediatrician takes my foster kids plan as a courtesy to me. If not I would end up having to go to a public clinic for their care. It took me six months to find an orthopedic to look at one of my kids feet and legs because at 2 1/2 she wasn't walking. And he was over an hour away. If I had to rely on public transit it wouldn't have happened. It took me ten minutes to find an orthopedic for my bio daughter. He was ten minutes away and I got an appt the next day.

 

[JediBonas]

Yeah, when you pick your insurance (if you are lucky enough to get choices) you have to make sure its going to cover the things you think you'll need, or plan for it. Cheaper insurance tends to have high deductibles and high out of pockets on EVERYTHING, except the few things the ADA makes them cover completely (like mammograms) - you get cancer, have a baby, need to see a therapist - you'll be paying your deductible, then 20% to your out of pocket max. My husband's company is still offering a HMO that would cover that - to keep my family in insurance under the HMO would be $800 a month - through his employer (its $200 to have a HDHP).

And as I said, I had non covered fertility payments. Then adopted. Insurance didn't pay a penny for my son. Plus I didn't qualify for any paid maternity leave with him - because maternity leave is really short term disability. Disappointing, I know. But, in the scheme of what we have gone through in terms of highs and lows since our kids were born, financial and emotional - not a big deal. Would the extra $40k (in 1995 dollars) be useful towards college expenses, sure. (That is the approximate total for unpaid leave, adoption and a year of infertility -And we had a cheap adoption and stopped infertility treatments fairly early in the cycle). My sister has two $40k/ea IVF kids - insurance didn't pay a thing. My baby sister is working on finding a surrogate, they'll probably be $50k into having a baby. If you are lucky enough to get pregnant and only have to pay $8k out of pocket, you may take some peace in the thought that if you hadn't gotten pregnant easily, you could rack up tens of thousands of dollars quickly.

IF you have other choices in insurance, you may want to put off trying to conceive until late Spring. Prenatal care isn't expensive (and may be covered fully with the ADA - I'm not sure), then when open enrollment hits, pick up more expensive insurance next year.

Most insurances don't cover infertility treatment, even in states where it's mandated (a lot of loopholes). Our insurance didn't cover any of our infertility treatments, luckily it did cover 100% of the costs once I was actual pregnant. We were also fortunate enough to be able to afford the treatments out of pocket without a problem.

If you have a choice of insurance I would definitely take a very close look at all your options and price out everything. As much as it might suck, money-wise it might be smart to wait a year if you can choose a plan that will save you a lot of money. Our insurance options changed dramatically for this year and we chose a high deductible plan, if we had been planning on more kids we would have chosen much differently. We ran the numbers on everything before finally choosing.

 

[Gracie09]

Most insurances don't cover infertility treatment, even in states where it's mandated (a lot of loopholes). Our insurance didn't cover any of our infertility treatments, luckily it did cover 100% of the costs once I was actual pregnant. We were also fortunate enough to be able to afford the treatments out of pocket without a problem. If you have a choice of insurance I would definitely take a very close look at all your options and price out everything. As much as it might suck, money-wise it might be smart to wait a year if you can choose a plan that will save you a lot of money. Our insurance options changed dramatically for this year and we chose a high deductible plan, if we had been planning on more kids we would have chosen much differently. We ran the numbers on everything before finally choosing.

Infertility coverage varies widely. At my Dh's first company they covered three retrieval and as many transfers as needed and up to 10k in drugs. At his second company it was 25k inclusive of drugs. It is very important to read the fine print and ask lots of questions. The hr department at his second company thought we were crazy because we wanted all the insurance information before he would accept the offer

 

[Disflyer]

Infertility coverage varies widely. At my Dh's first company they covered three retrieval and as many transfers as needed and up to 10k in drugs. At his second company it was 25k inclusive of drugs. It is very important to read the fine print and ask lots of questions. The hr department at his second company thought we were crazy because we wanted all the insurance information before he would accept the offer

This was identical to our IVF (25k in total cost) but we had to pay the drug cost OOP (ouch), it sounds like a lot but in reality this only covered one failed retreival (minimal egg growth so we didn't even do the procedure just an IUI), one full retreival, and a little left over, and does not cover the storage costs. Our issue wasn't the insurance rather it was finding a doctor that would accept the insurance. 99% of the specialists in our area did not accept any insurance (we had BCBS)...

 

[wallawallakids]

Our insurance did not cover any IVF costs either. We paid OOP for everything which included several rounds of clomid, 3 failed IUIs and 2 IVF procedures. Completely worth it but our insurance did not pay a cent for any of it.