Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I say yay for the system teaching parents what's better for the baby

I had heavy blood loss and other complications , thanks for your kind words nonetheless.

Where was DH? And you said "as needed". Did you change your mind?

I had to take a few bags of blood after birth and I could not hold my baby for 2 days after birth because I was so weak and dizzy. DH put DC to my breast to nurse. My baby didn't go to the nursery.

You are a judgemental jerk. Why are you comparing your birth story to someone else's? Is that really what you need to feel better about yourself?

Op, the unexpected costs can be tough. I hope you have some savings so you don't have to struggle to pay them. Congratulations in your new LO!!

+1
Agree with PP. People should stop judging everyone else's situation by their own experience. We have no idea why this baby went to the nursery, but even if it was to give the new parents a break--so what? Get off your cross sanctimommy and extend some empathy.

I work at a hospital and have worked for insurance companies. There is a lot of solid advice on this thread. If none of it works, you might want to call the hospital to see if they have an advocate who can help sort it out, or as a last resort write to the CEO of the hospital. Hope you get this resolved soon.

I had to take a few bags of blood after birth and I could not hold my baby for 2 days after birth because I was so weak and dizzy. DH put DC to my breast to nurse. My baby didn't go to the nursery.

Did you get a trophy or just a medal?

My friend had a totally natural childbirth at Inova Fairfax and spent six months arguing over the bill--they charged her for all sorts of things she didn't get, including an epidural, pitocin, sutures (she didn't get stitches!). It was crazy. The billing person told her she had to prove she didn't have an epidural!!! She said it seemed like they had an automatic list of things billed for each labor.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For the first 30 hours after my last birth, I was confined to the bed on heavy drugs. I couldn't see my babies. It was not my choice. In fact, I was so upset I pulled my IV out because I wanted to go hold them. LOL. So, don't be so quick to judge Op.

I call BS again.

My nursed wheeled my bed I to the NICU to see my baby. What idiot pulls their IV out?

My child was in the NICU at Inova Ffx. There is no way a bed could be wheeled in there. There is no extra space. Sometimes, chairs for the parents didn't even fit.

I call bs on you being at a good hospital with a high level NICU.

I recall receiving a bill for anesthesia even though I thought it was covered. I called either insurance or hospital billing and found out it was issued in error and insurance would take care of it. Hopefully at least some of the bills you mentioned will get resolved through insurance.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For the first 30 hours after my last birth, I was confined to the bed on heavy drugs. I couldn't see my babies. It was not my choice. In fact, I was so upset I pulled my IV out because I wanted to go hold them. LOL. So, don't be so quick to judge Op.

I call BS again.

My nursed wheeled my bed I to the NICU to see my baby. What idiot pulls their IV out?

What idiot has one birth and assumes all births are just like hers? I had a c-section at VHC, and since the NICU is pretty far away, no one wheels your bed down there. You're just mean and petty.

Anonymous wrote:Inova Fairfax billed me for the nursery even on those days I didn't use it during my 4 day stay after a C section surgery. My portion was about 10% of the overall bill. I paid over $3,000 for it (anesthesiologist, ped, OBGYN, assistant doctor to the OBGYN etc).

Yeah, I'm now worried when they took for baby at 2am each night to the nursery for bloodwork, jaundice test, weighing, etc. I'm going to get some assinine bill!

Anonymous wrote:lesson to those who haven't had their babies yet: don't put your baby in the nursery if you can avoid it. It is better for you and the baby in many ways - your health, baby's health, bonding and also financially.

And drink the kool-aid, gallons of it.

Inova Fairfax billed me for the nursery even on those days I didn't use it during my 4 day stay after a C section surgery. My portion was about 10% of the overall bill. I paid over $3,000 for it (anesthesiologist, ped, OBGYN, assistant doctor to the OBGYN etc).

Anonymous wrote:For the first 30 hours after my last birth, I was confined to the bed on heavy drugs. I couldn't see my babies. It was not my choice. In fact, I was so upset I pulled my IV out because I wanted to go hold them. LOL. So, don't be so quick to judge Op.

I call BS again.

My nursed wheeled my bed I to the NICU to see my baby. What idiot pulls their IV out?

I hate the insurance system in this country. It is absolutely mind blowing to me that we can pay high premiums for healthcare specifically to cover something as routine and normal as CHILDBIRTH and then have to fret as we are in the hospital if sending our baby to the nursery is going to bankrupt us when we get home.

Anonymous wrote:Could've saved $1000 if you had gone unmedicated.

I don't think you need to involve a lawyer yet. Call the hospital and make sure the final payments have come through. Regardless of whether they have or not, ask the hospital to rebill insurance. Tell them you think your insurance should have covered this cost, and you're looking into it (so they won't bill late fees or send you to collection agency). Also, call your insurance company and take it up with them. Could be a simple as a clerical error, or the insurance rep could bill it differently. You might also need a letter from your doctor saying the nursery time was medically necessary, whether for you or for the baby (did they take the baby there for the heel prick?). Hospital staff probably have no clue that you would be billed for it, so they probably think nothing of it.

I've always had good luck with fixing these situations. MOST insurance reps and hospital billing employees are happy to help and may be just as exasperated by the system as you are.

Good luck!

First check over your policy with a magnifying glass. I know that sounds impossible when you are home with a newborn. Maybe DH or a relative can help. Then get a friend who is a lawyer to help you draft a letter to your insurance company. The right language can make all the difference. I have a friend who had shitty insurance and ended up paying over $5000 for her hospital birth. We only paid $100 for the whole thing (we also did a shared room which I heartily regret) but we had a premium policy. I'll bet the insurance company or the hospital can be "estopped" from laying the extra charges on you guys.