Pregnant and Uninsured - How much am I in for?

[Anonymous]

Bills submitted to your insurance are often less than what would be charged to an uninsured person. The insurance companies have negotiated rates for services, so they pay less. When you are uninsured you don't get the negotiated rate.

Quest for some reason didn't submit my genetic/first trimester blood tests to my insurance and sent me the bill direct. It was over $4000, which is considerably more than what my insurance actually paid.

There is some good info here on what your options are http://www.americanpregnancy.org/planningandpreparing/affordablehealthcare.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bills submitted to your insurance are often less than what would be charged to an uninsured person. The insurance companies have negotiated rates for services, so they pay less. When you are uninsured you don't get the negotiated rate.

Quest for some reason didn't submit my genetic/first trimester blood tests to my insurance and sent me the bill direct. It was over $4000, which is considerably more than what my insurance actually paid.

There is some good info here on what your options are http://www.americanpregnancy.org/planningandpreparing/affordablehealthcare.html

correction: bills submitted to insurance are what everyone is charged. what the insurance company pays is the negotiated rate. i still see the billed rate on my eob. the provider is simply not paid that much, which is also reflected on my eob.

[Anonymous]

Also, as an uninsured patient, you can ask for a discount since the doc won't have to go through the insurance company.

[Anonymous]

Go give birth in Canada or Mexico
Or hop on a plane and have it in England. The NHS is free

[Anonymous]

You most likely qualify for the medicaid in your state as most have mentioned. You should really do some research in regards to this...

[Anonymous]

Apply for public assistance. Your baby will need Medicaid as well, so get yourself in the system now.

[Anonymous]

Most counties have safety net programs for uninsured pregnant mothers and children. Start looking into that.

[Anonymous]

[/i]

Anonymous wrote:I just found out I'm pregnant with my second - a huge surprise. I've been laid off and am uninsured. Not the most choice situation. Has anyone gone thru pregnancy uninsured? And if so, how much did you have to pay for care and delivery?

Unless this is the Second Coming then there is a human male who impregnated you. Where is he? Is he employed, let us hope so, and can he get you on his insurance plan? If not, then he bears financial responsibility so start talking to him about how much he is going to pay, not how much he [i]might[i] pay. He should be giving you $1,000 per month because this is also his child. Good luck to you and your child. Snarky or not, after child is born use two or three forms of birth control simultaneously.

[Anonymous]

Look into BirthCare in Alexandria. They are highly trained, certified, and will work with you on a payment plan. Total cost will be a fraction of what an OB/hospital would be. But they always have a waiting list, so you need to call right away if you are interested in that option.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:[/i]

Anonymous wrote:I just found out I'm pregnant with my second - a huge surprise. I've been laid off and am uninsured. Not the most choice situation. Has anyone gone thru pregnancy uninsured? And if so, how much did you have to pay for care and delivery?

Unless this is the Second Coming then there is a human male who impregnated you. Where is he? Is he employed, let us hope so, and can he get you on his insurance plan? If not, then he bears financial responsibility so start talking to him about how much he is going to pay, not how much he [i]might[i] pay. He should be giving you $1,000 per month because this is also his child. Good luck to you and your child. Snarky or not, after child is born use two or three forms of birth control simultaneously.

Op, other is not required to pay until kid is born. Go get aid. Lawd knows I pay enough in taxes that all the PPs on here and I should have free delivers etc!
I think there is program called WIC or something that deals with nutrition too.
Good luck, prayers & hugs

[Anonymous]

Sibley hospital has a fund that you can apply for to have most of the costs covered. Maybe other hospitals have this as well?

[Anonymous]

I don't know your medical history obviously, but if you are low risk, Birthcare might be a superb option, and their care is fantastic. There's also a birth center in DC that I assume would be comparable financially.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:[/i]

Anonymous wrote:I just found out I'm pregnant with my second - a huge surprise. I've been laid off and am uninsured. Not the most choice situation. Has anyone gone thru pregnancy uninsured? And if so, how much did you have to pay for care and delivery?

Unless this is the Second Coming then there is a human male who impregnated you. Where is he? Is he employed, let us hope so, and can he get you on his insurance plan? If not, then he bears financial responsibility so start talking to him about how much he is going to pay, not how much he [i]might[i] pay. He should be giving you $1,000 per month because this is also his child. Good luck to you and your child. Snarky or not, after child is born use two or three forms of birth control simultaneously.

Not everyone is able to add a spouse to an insurance plan. My company does not let me add anyone to my plan - they're just really cheap. I won't even be able to add the baby. Fortunately, we can afford to purchase an individual plan for my husband, which we will then be able to add the baby to. I'm sure this thought has already crossed OP's mind.

[Anonymous]

Get a midwife and give birth at home. If your first delivery wasn't eventful and you had to health scares then that is the cheapest route. Cost about $3000

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just found out I'm pregnant with my second - a huge surprise. I've been laid off and am uninsured. Not the most choice situation. Has anyone gone thru pregnancy uninsured? And if so, how much did you have to pay for care and delivery?

I used Birthcare in Alexandria, and the entire bill for pregnancy, birth, and post partum was $3900. They are absolutely wonderful. There are other great midwifery options in the area who might charge less or be willing to arrange an extended payment plan. Good luck.

Totally agree with this^^^. With my first, we birthed with the Family Health and Birth Center in DC -- it's a similar model to Birthcare, though the center has a more urban feel as it's in the middle of NE DC. We had insurance, but went over all the costs w/ the billing department before the birth b/c that's their protocol, and the cost was somewhere between $3500 and 4000. They have excellent midwives there, and all the support staff was wonderful, too. I would recommend checking them out if you're open to a midwife-assisted birth (at a much lower cost). GL.