So now it's a week later, and it's time to see the doctor to discuss the sonogram. Before the visit though, I received a call from the billing department. I was told that since I didn't have maternity coverage, that when I came in for the next visit, they would set up a payment plan with me. I was asked what kind of delivery I thought I was going to have. Since this was baby number six, and since I have had two c-sections already, I said c-section. I was given the price...$4000 for a c-section. This includes all pre-natal visits, hospital visits by the doctor, the surgery itself, and my post natal care. I was curious and asked what a normal vaginal delivery cost. The price was $3500.
Hubby and I arrived for the third visit and met with the billing specialist. She had been my OB nurse years before and greeted us warmly. She showed us a very simple contract and explained what she had over the phone. The quoted cost did not include lab work, sonograms, or my hospital stay. She also let us know that our doctor was required by law, to have another doctor assist him during the surgery. We would need to budget for that separately and it would probably be around $500 for the assisting doctor. She also let us know that we would need to pay my doctor his full amount by my 20th week of the pregnancy. She then politely asked us how much we would like to pay today, and then in what increments.
My husband said that we could pay $1000 today. She said great and starting figuring out a payment plan for us. Then my husband asked if we could get a discount if we paid the whole amount ($4000) today. The billing specialist said that she wasn't sure, but that she would go check. She actually went and checked with the doctor!She came back and said that we could pay the discounted price of $3600 if we paid it all today. That's a $400 discount!! I quickly pulled out my Health Savings Account debit card and paid the full amount.
So the lesson learned here is...don't ever be afraid to ask for a discount!
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