Friday, October 15, 2010
I Have a Headache
I got this ridiculous quote in the mail from my OB office today saying what it will cost for my routine monthly OB care. It doesn't include ultrasound, lab work, routine tests, delivery, or any additional OB visits amoung other things (there was a list of like 10 things). There is no way it can be correct. And if it is Craig and I are screwed! Let's not mention that I have to see him every 2 wks already, have to have ultrasounds every 6 wks, blood work every month, and had 1 echo with another one scheduled in 3 wks. UGH!!!! I know having a baby is expensive but this is a little ridiculous. Now everyone just hope that when I call on monday they say they added an extra zero and if not I'll be taking donations shortly.
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2 comments:
Can you talk to your insurance company too?
Usually routine OB care is covered under what they call a "global" fee. They don't charge you for the routine visits until after you have the baby. Different insurances cover it in different ways. With Noah, I had BCBS, and I had to pay $15 copay for each of those visists, which was still under $300...so not too bad. With Jonah I switched to Aetna, so it was 100% covered.
Delivery is usually considered a hospital admittance, so whatever your hospital copay is, should be all you have to pay...whether you have natural, induced, or C.
The extras are where they get you though. With Jonah I was high risk, so I had weekly NSTs and U/Ss. If I had them done at the hospital, it would have been %0 extra. But since I had to have them done at my doctors office, my insurance charged me the specialist copay $25 each time, which was $50 a week since they wouldn't do the NSTs and U/Ss on the same day. It still was $350, which isn't too bad, especially since I didn't have a global fee with him.
My advice would be talk to your insurance and explain to them that you're high risk. Sometimes, some of that information gets lost in translation if the billing people at your doctor's office call and talk to them.
And worst case scenario, legally, you can pay as littls as $25 a month to pay off hospital bills!
Can you tell I've been through this, three times with three different insurance agencies?
Also, shoot Cat an email, she worked at an insurance company for a while, and she knows all the ins and outs and tricks!
Thanks AJ. I have Aetna but mine covers 70% with normal OB. For some reason though when you see a specialist it is different and a $50 co-pay per visit. And crazy confusing. Such a pain.
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