Kaiser Federal Plan but Delivering with Midwives at WHC

[Anonymous]

Has anyone done this recently? Can you share how they billed you? I'm due March 2021 and since it's open season I'm trying to get a sense for how it's handled. I've been told some conflicting things by Kaiser Member services on whether they cover deliveries with the Midwives using nitrous oxide. I don't want to be hit with a surprise bill.

Would I ask Medstar for an estimated bill for delivery (anything specific I should ask to be included?) and then send to Kaiser Member services and ask how they would process it?

Any tips appreciated!

[Anonymous]

I'm in the same situation- will be delivering in January so can't offer any info on billing yet but will try to remember to post my experiences here. However I do know that nitrous oxide is not being offered at this time. The same tubes used for the nitrous oxide machine are used on ventilators, so they're all being diverted for COVID.

[Anonymous]

I'd also be really interested to hear generally about experiences, I see an OB at falls church Kaiser and had heard through the grapevine that the midwives at WHC were a possibility but can anyone explain how it works?

[Anonymous]

So I have a Kaiser HMO plan and gave birth with the Midwives at WHC in 2016 and 2019. I had my first few OB appointments at Kaiser until the referral for the midwives went through. Once I started going to the midwives, I had to show my referral several times until it stayed on there, but other than that there was never any issue with billing and I didnt have to do anything to take care of it. I am pretty sure that they are very used to working with Kaiser. All of my bloodwork and ultrasounds were still done at Kaiser. During the birth, they are very aware that you are a Kaiser patient and a Kaiser doctor actually came into stitch me up. Afterward all billing comes from Kaiser (it is not much) and a Kaiser pediatrician sees the baby in the hospital.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd also be really interested to hear generally about experiences, I see an OB at falls church Kaiser and had heard through the grapevine that the midwives at WHC were a possibility but can anyone explain how it works?

Just ask your Kaiser OB for a referral. Mine conveyed that as long as the mom isn't high-risk, it's usually no problem to transfer your care to the Midwives.

[Anonymous]

I'm a fed with Kasier and delivered with Midwives in 2018. My doctor wouldn't transfer me till around 30 weeks since all ultrasounds and tests still have to be done with Kaiser, and the first time she requested the transfer it was denied, but I asked her to request again and it was approved. I used nitrous oxide but don't think there was any additional charge for that. My bill for delivery was I think $500, but I'm pretty sure the plan was amended in 2019 onward and now is $0 for a hospital delivery (a friend delivered with Kaiser in 2019 and that was her experience, although not with the midwives).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a fed with Kasier and delivered with Midwives in 2018. My doctor wouldn't transfer me till around 30 weeks since all ultrasounds and tests still have to be done with Kaiser, and the first time she requested the transfer it was denied, but I asked her to request again and it was approved. I used nitrous oxide but don't think there was any additional charge for that. My bill for delivery was I think $500, but I'm pretty sure the plan was amended in 2019 onward and now is $0 for a hospital delivery (a friend delivered with Kaiser in 2019 and that was her experience, although not with the midwives).

Thanks so much, that's very helpful!