OT: Paying for pregnancy and birth

[SageFemme]

DH and I want to TTC next year. We have 3 options on how to pay for the prenatal care and birth.

1. Go through Indian clinic for prenatal care which is in my same city and Indian hospital for the birth which is 1 1/2 hours away scared1. This would be free. The doctors at the Indian clinic have bad bedside manner (according to a coworker) and I'm not sure how the Indian hospital operates.

2. Go to Indian clinic for prenatal care, then pay for birth out of pocket at fantastic hospital less than 5 minutes away. I have no idea how this would work as far as who would be my Dr., etc. but it was something my DH thought of. Has anyone ever done something like this?

3. In a few months, get on an insurance that would pay 80% of maternity care. It would be about $400/month and has a 365 day waiting period before any maternity care is covered. I have researched MANY insurances and this is the "best" thing I've found.

 

[tjbaggott]

Sorry can't help you with your question, but I am curious about the subject. "Paying for maternity care and birth"???? WOW, I knew the U.S. healthcare system was different, but didn't know THAT was part of the different. Maternity care and birth ect, is one of the Many things covered under our Universal Health care.
Out of curiosity, how much in total does all that cost?
A thought though on one of your options, how long would you have to pay the 400.00 a month to have the 80% covered and how does that total compare to just paying out of pocket without the coverage. Would having the coverage for $400.00 a month, if you can maintain it for several years, benefit pediatric care for your baby for years to come, and provide continued health coverage for yourself? If so, then perhaps that would be the way to go.
Congratulations on your expected bundle of Joy, and all the best to you.

 

[greens_in_WA]

the tough thing is its hard to say how much a birth will cost, there's 'typical' and then there are complications. If the baby is pre-term or anything odd happens at birth or deliver the 'typical' price can sky-rocket quickly. Do you know other women who've actually used the Indian clinic, cousins, aunts, etc. of your spouse? They should be able to answer all of your questions (at least I hope so!) Hard decision though.


Best wishes for your family.

 

[griergirl2]

Paying for any of it outright might be slightly insane. Our DD's birth maxed out our insurance deductable since she was born a month early and ended up in the NICU for 10 days...you never know what will happen. Had we not had the insurance, the bills would have been six figures!

 

[SageFemme]

Sorry can't help you with your question, but I am curious about the subject. "Paying for maternity care and birth"???? WOW, I knew the U.S. healthcare system was different, but didn't know THAT was part of the different. Maternity care and birth ect, is one of the Many things covered under our Universal Health care.
Out of curiosity, how much in total does all that cost?

The costs of maternity care varies widely hospital to hospital. I know that the hospital that is 5 minutes away says on their website that they have a "pre-paid maternity package" where they "significantly reduce" hospital costs. I'm going to call them tomorrow to see what the cost of a normal ******l birth would be. Of course, if there's complications then it would be much more.

 

[laceemouse]

Sorry can't help you with your question, but I am curious about the subject. "Paying for maternity care and birth"???? WOW, I knew the U.S. healthcare system was different, but didn't know THAT was part of the different. Maternity care and birth ect, is one of the Many things covered under our Universal Health care.
Out of curiosity, how much in total does all that cost?
A thought though on one of your options, how long would you have to pay the 400.00 a month to have the 80% covered and how does that total compare to just paying out of pocket without the coverage. Would having the coverage for $400.00 a month, if you can maintain it for several years, benefit pediatric care for your baby for years to come, and provide continued health coverage for yourself? If so, then perhaps that would be the way to go.
Congratulations on your expected bundle of Joy, and all the best to you.

There is no universal health care in the US, but many people who don't have health insurance do have access to some other option such as a free clinic or some sort of welfare to pay for their health care.

We have always had private insurance, we pay a fee every month but get it through my husbands job and it covers everything we need.

To the OP, I would not be overly worried about the 1 1/2 hour drive, with all four of mine I had plenty of time to get to the hospital, even in rush hour traffic in DC! I don't worry too much about bedside manner either, as long as they seem competent they don't need to be my friend.

 

[SageFemme]

the tough thing is its hard to say how much a birth will cost, there's 'typical' and then there are complications. If the baby is pre-term or anything odd happens at birth or deliver the 'typical' price can sky-rocket quickly. Do you know other women who've actually used the Indian clinic, cousins, aunts, etc. of your spouse? They should be able to answer all of your questions (at least I hope so!) Hard decision though.


Best wishes for your family.

I have 2 coworkers who have - one who is still pregnant and the other who I need to ask this weekend. Anyone else have used them too long ago for it to be valid anymore, LOL.

Thanks!

 

[SageFemme]

Paying for any of it outright might be slightly insane. Our DD's birth maxed out our insurance deductable since she was born a month early and ended up in the NICU for 10 days...you never know what will happen. Had we not had the insurance, the bills would have been six figures!

This is why I have a dilemma! I am trying to cover all my bases with trying to figure out the best option. WWYD?

 

[SageFemme]

OK, my post didn't go through the first time so hopefully it does this time...

I don't worry too much about bedside manner either, as long as they seem competent they don't need to be my friend.

That is what I told my coworker...however, I do need them to respect my wishes on not wanting a certain procedure such as an episiotomy in certain circumstances, etc. That is what I'm worried about. I don't know 100% if you get to choose the doctor and if it's the same one during the delivery...I need to find this out.

 

[tjbaggott]

If I were in your situation, I'd probably do what a PP suggested. Go to the Indian Hospital. An hour and a half drive really isn't that far to go, as long as you have a normal lenght labour. Or is there a place you could stay at, closer to the hospital (friend, hotel, family member), for the days leading up to your due date? We lived 45 minutes away from our Hospital when I was having my 3rd baby. When my labour started, and I went to the hospital, my labour began going very slowly but was definately labour. BUT WENT VERY SLOWLY. The doctor however told me that 3rds can be so unpredictable as far as births go. My 1st was average, my second came VERY quickly, and they wouldn't send me home for number 3 lengthy slow progressing labour because we lived so far out, and "3rds can be unpredictable". The total length of labour with him turned out to be 23 Hours.
Because you live so far from the Indian Hospital, ask them that if you show up in early labour, would they send you home till you progressed further or keep you because you live so far away.

 

[Pixie Dust for Me!]

Forgive me OP, I don't understand...are you already pregnant or hoping to get pregnant?

If you are already, then I think I would contact various hospitals around your area and see what you can work out without insurance. Not knowing your financial circumstances, you may also want to check to see if your OB care and birth can be covered by a public plan (i.e., Medicaid or whatever your State calls it).

If you aren't, then please let me caution you against becoming pregnant without insurance! I had a "normal" pregnancy (tons of morning sickness) but really, normal. I wound up having a c-section (11+ years ago) and my total hospital bill was more than $15,000! Baby was fine and so was I.

Fast forward a few years...my co-worker was having a very normal pregnancy. She felt great and the baby was developing just fine. At 20 weeks she got a bad cold. No big deal. Then, she got a stomach flu bug at 27 weeks which put her in full blown HELP syndrome. Her little girl was delivered at 28 weeks (a HUGE surprise to everyone) and their hospital bill for mom's care, and baby's care was nearly $250,000!

I guess what I'm trying to say (and I don't mean to scare anyone) is that anything can happen and while we all hope for the best, sometimes other things happen.

Finally, I'll also add that some women do go "quicker" than others. I wouldn't want to be 1+ hours away from my delivery hospital (nor would my SIL who went from slight contractions to water breaking to needing to push with her first in 45 minutes!)

Good luck with your decision,

K

 

[mjkacmom]

I think a concern would be what are your health care options like after the baby arrives. Will you have access to a pediatrician? Babies go for very frequent checkups the first year.

 

[Tiffany_PartyOf7]

I personally would avoid the Indian Clinic thing - the last thing you want while in labor is bad bedside manner after an hour and half drive. LOL.

Paying OOP could be easy or not even possible depending on how you birth and if any complications arise during the pregnancy or delivery or even shortly afterwards.... and in many hospitals, the chances of a c-section are pretty high.

My first birth in 2003 was billed to us for $20,000 - uneventful, did receive an epidural, baby roomed in with me, stayed 2 nights and was released..... Insurance paid.

My second birth in 2005 I was induced after PROM. She was born at 35w and was in the NICU for a week. Our bill was near $100,000!!!!! Insane! Thank God for insurance!!!

Our third was in 2006 with a midwife in our home. $3500. Insurance paid.

Our fourth was in 2008 without a midwife at home. $40 for the birth supplies HAHA

Our fifth was due 4 days ago..... with a midwife at home and $3600 or so? But insurance is picking it up.


So I think the best option is to get insurance. With birthing in any hospital setting, your costs are going to be outrageous! If there are complications, that makes it a million times more expensive.

Good luck with your decisions.

 

[Zeebs]

You could move to the UK it is free. Sorry not that helpful I know, I am glad I don't have to make those kinds of decisions.

I certainly wouldn't want to be driving 1.5 hours to get to hospital in labour. No way no how, the 20 mins I do is quite enough thanks.

Good luck.

Kirsten

 

[RMulieri]

As a nurse I can tell you pretty much what everyone else has said.Paying OOP is only feasible if you have a textbook simple delivery, and then you are looking at about $20-30,000. If there are any complications, even a fever during labor, can significantly jack up those costs. The problem is , is that NO ONE can tell you your labor and delivery will be complication free.I would go with the Indian hospital

 

[Heidict]

DH and I want to TTC next year. We have 3 options on how to pay for the prenatal care and birth.

1. Go through Indian clinic for prenatal care which is in my same city and Indian hospital for the birth which is 1 1/2 hours away scared1. This would be free. The doctors at the Indian clinic have bad bedside manner (according to a coworker) and I'm not sure how the Indian hospital operates.

2. Go to Indian clinic for prenatal care, then pay for birth out of pocket at fantastic hospital less than 5 minutes away. I have no idea how this would work as far as who would be my Dr., etc. but it was something my DH thought of. Has anyone ever done something like this?

3. In a few months, get on an insurance that would pay 80% of maternity care. It would be about $400/month and has a 365 day waiting period before any maternity care is covered. I have researched MANY insurances and this is the "best" thing I've found.

You live in Oklahoma, right? Have you applied with Insure Oklahoma? It would be up to $50 a month for full coverage, if you qualify.

Being pregnant and not having health insurance is generally an automatic pass for state insurance so you could always obtain health benefits through them.

 

[littlbugmom]

Imo, insurance is a must for a family. I'd concentrate on finding affordable insurance before getting pregnant.

$400/mnth is a lot. Is this through your employer or dh's? Would it be possible to search for a job that offers something more? I wouldn't quit my job first, of course....but I'd be looking for something that offers better insurance. I've had 2 csections following complicated high risk pregnancies, several surgeries that led to a hysterectomy, my dh has needed hernia surgery and both of my children have sinus issues that require constant meds and a few surgeries. When I think about the money we've paid out over the last 10 years just for our little 20%---wow. I can't imagine having to pay 100% for our medical expenses.


Both of my pregnancies were planned csections and we live in a suburb that is close to several hospitals, so the idea of being close to the hospital wasn't an issue. If it were, I would not be comfortable being an hour away.

I don't think a bedside manner would concern me very much. If I felt confident that my Dr knew what he/she was doing, I'd be ok with the Doc not having a great personality.


Good luck with your decision.

 

[disprincessatheart]

Just to give you an idea of current costs for prenatal care - I'm 2 days shy of 20 weeks with my first. So far my prenatal visits and ultrasounds have totaled to more than $5k. Now, I have been very nauseated so a few hundred of that is for Zofran, and I did have a 3d ultrasound that was another $1k, but even without those just the bloodwork and regular visits are expensive. I'm very grateful for the insurance i have - I think in total I've paid $200 oop so far - mostly prescriptions and a couple of co pays. Even the delivery will only cost me $150. Heck, even if I won the lottery today I think I'd keep my job thru my delivery to keep my insurance!

 

[WDWorBUST]

Which Indian hospital are you looking at using? I might be able to give you some help with that. Several of my friends have used the indian hospital as well as my niece.

 

[SageFemme]

Hi, I'm the OP.

Pixie Dust For Me: What are you confused at? My first sentence in my post was "DH and I want to TTC next year."

disprincessatheart: The second option was that we would go to the Indian clinic for prenatal care which is free. We wouldn't pay for prenatal care. $1k for a 3D u/s? You got jipped! LOL. I paid $125 for mine in 2003 and it's still the same here!

WDWorBUST: I'm not 100% sure if we are required to go to a certain hospital or if we can choose? Something else I need to find out. But I was looking at the Lawton Indian Hospital. I would appreciate any info you have on any of the hospitals!

BTW, we don't qualify for SoonerCare (Medicaid) or Insure Oklahoma. The insurance through our job is crap. We have several people at our job that have had a baby in the last few months or is pregnant and one of them said that we would have to pay $800 every 4 prenatal visits! So, you see our dilemma! Sounds like the responses are about 50% for the Indian hospital and 50% for getting the insurance and waiting a year to TTC. BTW, the insurance is BCBS of Oklahoma.

Thanks everyone! Keep the replies coming!

ETA: Someone asked what we would do for insurance after the baby is born. We would get on a BCBS family plan.