Here is something I have been thinking a lot about. As a pregnant woman, I do not have to have every test created for pregnant women. Since I am paying the bill, I only want to pay for tests that I think are needed.
When I had full coverage insurance I didn't care what the tests were or what they cost. I now ask the nurse or doctor questions.What is the purpose of the test? Is it required by the state? Do you recommend it for me? I have refused the cysystic fibrosis and HIV Test (because I have already been tested with each of the other pregnancies, am not a drug user, and am faithful to my husband).
I also am not interested in having any blood work to detect chromosomal abnormalities or having an amniocentesis. I will not be aborting my baby, therefore these tests are not needed. I am interested in paying for sonograms to check on my baby's developmental progress, to look for anything unusual, and to find out the sex of the baby. So to me, these are worth the cost.
So be a savvy shopper! Do your homework and don't pay for tests you don't want or need.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Lab Bill #1
My first lab bill arrived today. It was from my first prenatal visit, when I had blood work done to confirm my pregnancy. It is called the HCG test. The charge on the bill was $110. My insurance discount on the bill was $91.25. So I only owed $18.75! Not bad, considering I have no maternity coverage!! I expected to pay around $120. I am a happy camper!
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Third Prenatal Visit- Paying for the Doctor
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!
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!
Second Prenatal Visit- First Sonogram
I scheduled my first sonogram. A few days later, I received a call from the doctor's office letting me know that the cost would be $115, and that I needed to pay it in full the day of the sonogram. I had no problem with that and actually expected it to be higher. I had spent at least $200 at an outside lab for a basic sonogram in the past, and this one was done in my doctor's office!
The day arrived. We paid the money and had the sonogram. The baby was moving all around and looked great. We could see both arms at legs and I was only 9wks 4 days! It was amazing! We got some little pictures to show our dear children, and then went out to lunch to celebrate this new life. Another precious gift from God!
The day arrived. We paid the money and had the sonogram. The baby was moving all around and looked great. We could see both arms at legs and I was only 9wks 4 days! It was amazing! We got some little pictures to show our dear children, and then went out to lunch to celebrate this new life. Another precious gift from God!
My First Prenatal Visit
There was no question about which doctor in Orlando I was going to see. He had delivered three of our other children and had done an excellent job. He explained things well, had a great bedside manner, is well respected at the hospitals in town, and was there for us when I almost lost a baby.
So I scheduled my first office visit. I was told by the receptionist that the cost would be $175 for the visit. This was called the pregnancy confirmation visit. I was weighed, had my blood pressure taken, had a in office pregnancy test, and was examined by the doctor. He was glad to see me and heartily congratulated me on being pregnant again. He asked how my husband was doing and how the kids were. It was good to see him, and to know that we would be spending our money wisely, by hiring a doctor that cared about us. He said he wanted me to come back next week for my first sonogram, for dating and measurement purposes.
We shook hands and then I went to see the nurse. She drew my blood for the routine blood work that is done at the beginning of a pregnancy. I happily paid a blood draw fee $10 to have my blood drawn in the office, versus having to drive across town and wait in line at a lab.
So I scheduled my first office visit. I was told by the receptionist that the cost would be $175 for the visit. This was called the pregnancy confirmation visit. I was weighed, had my blood pressure taken, had a in office pregnancy test, and was examined by the doctor. He was glad to see me and heartily congratulated me on being pregnant again. He asked how my husband was doing and how the kids were. It was good to see him, and to know that we would be spending our money wisely, by hiring a doctor that cared about us. He said he wanted me to come back next week for my first sonogram, for dating and measurement purposes.
We shook hands and then I went to see the nurse. She drew my blood for the routine blood work that is done at the beginning of a pregnancy. I happily paid a blood draw fee $10 to have my blood drawn in the office, versus having to drive across town and wait in line at a lab.
Saturday, April 30, 2011
The Murky Waters of Insurance
My husband is self employed, so it was up to us to find the right insurance for our family. We have a large family, two adults and five kids, and have no major health problems. We go to the doctor only when necessary, but wanted to make sure that our family had insurance coverage in the event of an emergency. We discussed our insurance options and decided that it didn't make sense financially to pay for a full coverage policy costing us over $1000 a month for our family of seven. We saw it as throwing money down the drain. Instead, with our frugal and conservative leanings, we looked at Health Savings Account options.
I took the plunge and delved into the murky waters of the insurance world. I searched the internet for days, comparing policies, looking at fine print, and trying to figure out what exactly we needed for our family. I liked the HSA policies that I saw, and especially the price flexibility that accompanied them! My only concern was that none covered maternity expenses. I am thirty-four and still have some child bearing years left. My husband and I see children as a blessing and would gladly welcome more children to our family.
We talked it over and decided that we could manage with an HSA if I got pregnant, that we would probably even save money paying out of pocket, versus paying for full maternity coverage. We are frugal and can ask questions. We can save money for pregnancy expenses, without having to just give all that money to an insurance company each month. So we did it! We signed up for a high deductible policy with an HSA for a mere $391 a month! Not bad for a family of seven.
So here we are a year later and I am pregnant. The journey begins.
I took the plunge and delved into the murky waters of the insurance world. I searched the internet for days, comparing policies, looking at fine print, and trying to figure out what exactly we needed for our family. I liked the HSA policies that I saw, and especially the price flexibility that accompanied them! My only concern was that none covered maternity expenses. I am thirty-four and still have some child bearing years left. My husband and I see children as a blessing and would gladly welcome more children to our family.
We talked it over and decided that we could manage with an HSA if I got pregnant, that we would probably even save money paying out of pocket, versus paying for full maternity coverage. We are frugal and can ask questions. We can save money for pregnancy expenses, without having to just give all that money to an insurance company each month. So we did it! We signed up for a high deductible policy with an HSA for a mere $391 a month! Not bad for a family of seven.
So here we are a year later and I am pregnant. The journey begins.
Welcome
Welcome! I have decided to write this blog, because there seems to be a lack of information out there about what it is really like to go through a pregnancy without traditional maternity coverage. I have a high deductible insurance plan with an HSA (Health Savings Account) instead.
I have searched the internet and have yet to find anyone writing about what it is like to use an HSA to pay for their pregnancy. What does it cost to have a baby with an HSA (high deductible plan) instead of traditional maternity coverage? We will unearth this together! Consider me your guinea pig. Just kidding. I am not a writer, or an insurance agent. Just a mom, who wants to share her experience, in hope that it will help and encourage others. Health Savings Account. Unearthing the truth through personal experience.
I have searched the internet and have yet to find anyone writing about what it is like to use an HSA to pay for their pregnancy. What does it cost to have a baby with an HSA (high deductible plan) instead of traditional maternity coverage? We will unearth this together! Consider me your guinea pig. Just kidding. I am not a writer, or an insurance agent. Just a mom, who wants to share her experience, in hope that it will help and encourage others. Health Savings Account. Unearthing the truth through personal experience.
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