https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 08 Apr 2026 15:43:06 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hospital-co-pay#post-2723238 Wed, 12 Apr 2017 08:46:45 +0000 ElbieKay 2723238@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: I did a ton of research and sat down with someone at their office to understand the costs up front and review what would be covered by my insurance. They are making a bunch of money from providing this service to me; the least they can do is make a few notes regarding my case and not rudely demand payment for a service that I told them I may not even use. They also could have been much more polite about it.</p> <p>I gave my doctor -- who coincidentally is leaving the clinic -- this feedback too. He did not seem surprised and said that the decline in administration at the clinic contributed to his decision to move on. The clinic is associated with the best university in my city, and he's been doing research there for 23 years, so I'm sure it was a big deal for him to leave his professorship and move on. So, I don't think it's just me! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hospital-co-pay#post-2723219 Wed, 12 Apr 2017 08:29:26 +0000 looch 2723219@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ElbieKay: My feeling is that the providers have to treat everyone as though they're not going to pay and that the insurance isn't going to pay either. It makes me feel terrible, but I understand their position.</p> <p>As an example, we have a high deductible plan this year and my son needs surgery. I called the surgery center to ask what they process for payment is, and they basically said that they require it at time of service. So, the last thing I want to do, on an already stressful morning, is have a surprise when we have to pay nearly $3000 for the use of the center! But I suspect that a lot of people don't research up front and then get surprised by bills. I wish it were different. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hospital-co-pay#post-2723215 Wed, 12 Apr 2017 08:25:13 +0000 Mrs. Pickle 2723215@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My hospital wanted me to pay the "standard amount a vaginal birth costs" when I registered. I refused. They told me it was the general amount people owed after their insurance paid. I still refused and asked that my insurance be billed first. I didn't want to overpay then have to deal with a ton of phone calls when I had a newborn. I ended up paying less than I was quoted. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hospital-co-pay#post-2723211 Wed, 12 Apr 2017 08:21:11 +0000 bubblegum 2723211@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ElbieKay: That's horrible!! And that's what I mean...don't make it seem like I wouldn't pay. It's not like this a small amount of money here. I am so sorry you had to deal with this. Congrats on the baby and I pray it's a sticky one! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hospital-co-pay#post-2723206 Wed, 12 Apr 2017 08:16:10 +0000 ElbieKay 2723206@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't have any experiences like this concerning my son's delivery, but I did not have a c-section.</p> <p>I had a very frustrating experience with my RE's office recently, though. Basically I received a lot of hostile calls berating me that I needed to pay in advance for an IUI. But you can't control IUI scheduling. It depends on when you ovulate. So I did not want to pay in advance for something that I could not 100% commit to doing. The first round wound up being on a Sunday, and I tried to pay upon arrival but the billing office was closed because it was the weekend. Then they never sent me a bill. When they called to harass me about the second cycle, I explained that I was undecided about doing the IUI. Then I asked about the previous cycle because after all their harassment about prepayment they never actually sent me a bill. They told me to pay via their portal, but the invoice was stuck in the insurance step so I had to bug them to update it. At that point I complained to the office manager.</p> <p>Then I wound up skipping my next IUI (because it would have required me to cancel my son's third birthday party). They STILL called me after the date passed to harass me about paying in advance even though the last time I spoke with them I explained that I was not 100% committed to doing it.</p> <p>I wound up getting pregnant anyway. Hopefully this is a sticky pregnancy and I don't have to consider another round of IUI. But if I do, I am going to seriously consider changing clinics because this is ridiculous.</p> <p>I should add that the payment was $730. I get that is a nontrivial amount of money, but it's not like we're talking about a round of IVF. And I have perfectly good credit and always pay my bills on time. I have never been harassed so obnoxiously over a bill before. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hospital-co-pay#post-2723205 Wed, 12 Apr 2017 08:16:06 +0000 bubblegum 2723205@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks everyone for your input! I got another call from the hospital this morning letting me know the policy for maternity is different and the department that called has been addressed about their error. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hospital-co-pay#post-2723164 Wed, 12 Apr 2017 06:07:49 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2723164@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Interesting. I don't recall being notified by the hospital of what the copay would be. I did call my insurance company to find out. During the hospital birth class I think they covered when a billing person would visit us. Now, I can't remember if we saw her in the OR prep room or later in the recovery room. Either way I figured we would pay all known associated medical/ hospital costs while at the hospital. </p> <p>I am happy that you had the option to get billed since the copay would have been a hardship for you at birth. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hospital-co-pay#post-2723130 Tue, 11 Apr 2017 21:42:52 +0000 sunny 2723130@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Amorini: oh and I just remembered--I was in the hospital for 21 days before delivering on hospital bedrest. They had PLENTY of time to get my signature for whatever they needed from me! And when I wasn't drugged up! 🙄 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hospital-co-pay#post-2723117 Tue, 11 Apr 2017 20:58:33 +0000 autumnleaves 2723117@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@snowjewelz: me too! They asked me what I was comfortable paying the second time around. I wasn't happy to pay then but it's a better experience than what the OP is going through. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hospital-co-pay#post-2723113 Tue, 11 Apr 2017 20:45:43 +0000 Amorini 2723113@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sunny: ridiculous! :shocked: </p> <p>@caterw: how humane and normal! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hospital-co-pay#post-2723061 Tue, 11 Apr 2017 18:34:05 +0000 caterw 2723061@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My hospital does this also for scheduled c- sections (DD's best buddy was born there and her mom told me about it). They told her what the cost would be at her VERY FIRST APPOINTMENT and let her set up a payment plan with them in advance. Plenty of people that budget for baby related medical bills don't have the entire amount the day they are scheduled for delivery. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hospital-co-pay#post-2723037 Tue, 11 Apr 2017 17:04:34 +0000 azjax 2723037@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our hospital didn't require us to pre-pay, but they did bill every night twice!!!! Once for me, and once for the baby. To me, that's like double charging for the same room, and it really pissed me off. When it got down to brass tacks, we found out that the hospital does that with the high-copay plan we have because they feel the plan underpays (compared to other plans) the hospital overall, so they make up some of the diference on L&amp;D patients. Talk about bullsh!t!!! We ended up paying our OOP max for both DS and I which was literally double what our insurance told us the section would cost. Still makes me mad a year and a half later, so I feel you on shady hospital billing departments. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hospital-co-pay#post-2723027 Tue, 11 Apr 2017 16:37:52 +0000 sunny 2723027@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Amorini: A lady from hospital administration came to my recovery room and asked me to sign a bunch of forms. I had just been released from the ICU and was extremely drugged up and I think I was also trying to pump (so not 100% covered up). I managed to refuse and in a less than polite way asked them to come back later. I was PISSED. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hospital-co-pay#post-2723025 Tue, 11 Apr 2017 16:30:53 +0000 Littlebit7 2723025@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had to pay my deductible before a D&amp;C. Had to learn the hard way there was a max charge ($1000) on our HSA debit card. Phone calls to the HSA bank, trying to figure out why the $4000 wouldn't go through. In the waiting room of the outpatient surgery center. That was awesome. Literally 5 min before my scheduled D&amp;C. :shocked: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hospital-co-pay#post-2722970 Tue, 11 Apr 2017 13:42:36 +0000 Amorini 2722970@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>After my emergency c-section following a failed 30-some hour induction (aka, two plus full days of being at the hospital), the accounting person came to my room asking for me $100 copay... within an hour of being released from recovery. DH was out for a few minutes getting food and I was drugged and alone with my newborn. I had no idea where my clothes were, let alone my wallet. She didn't even look like official hospital staff and, in my hazy state, I thought it was a scam. But for a measly $100...they can have a little more grace about collecting a copay, don't you think? I can't even believe she insisted when I said I didn't know where my wallet was. Finally she got a clue and said she would come back. DH gave them a 5-minute eye roll when they processed the payment on their next visit to my room (like 4 hours later!).</p> <p>[edited for clarity, typos] </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hospital-co-pay#post-2722958 Tue, 11 Apr 2017 13:26:58 +0000 alphagam84 2722958@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Generally, copays are required at the time of service. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hospital-co-pay#post-2722835 Tue, 11 Apr 2017 10:24:19 +0000 2PeasinaPod 2722835@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: Totally understand. When you have a high deductible health plan, it's hard, because you will be responsible for the entire bill anyway. Since they already know the insurance company won't have a payment over to you (it will all count towards your deductible), they want to be sure they're being paid upfront. Negotiating a payment plan with them now might help ease the tensions so that you don't have a surprise bill later. Hoping things go ok for your son :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hospital-co-pay#post-2722832 Tue, 11 Apr 2017 10:20:39 +0000 looch 2722832@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@2PeasinaPod: Ok, that makes total sense. Thank you for taking the time to explain.</p> <p>The center is in network, but we have a high deductible. We'll be responsible for the full amount no matter what, as I just found out from the kind woman in the billing department. My main concern is avoiding the surprise the morning of, tensions are already going to be high, I don't want to be surprised. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hospital-co-pay#post-2722823 Tue, 11 Apr 2017 10:07:25 +0000 2PeasinaPod 2722823@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: While a provider can certainly ask for an upfront payment, you are not legally bound to pay it if the provider is in-network with your insurance company. The contract that the provider has with your insurance company states that they will bill according to the terms of your insurance policy once the service is performed. If there is no service performed, they cannot force payment. It's why you also sign a waiver prior to having any service done stating that if your insurance company doesn't pay, you could be responsible for the full bill. They want to make sure they have recourse if you end up not paying for something that the insurance company denies for whatever reason.</p> <p>But...they cannot force you to pay for a service that has not yet been performed unless they are an out of network provider with your insurance plan. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hospital-co-pay#post-2722815 Tue, 11 Apr 2017 09:53:27 +0000 bubblegum 2722815@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@avivoca: It's so sad. I totally understand that they want to be paid but when injured or needing surgery, payment is the last thing on our minds lol </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hospital-co-pay#post-2722807 Tue, 11 Apr 2017 09:48:48 +0000 avivoca 2722807@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bubblegum: Seriously. I went to the ER with my daughter and the woman came around telling us that we needed to pay 10% right then and there. It was only $100, but still! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hospital-co-pay#post-2722803 Tue, 11 Apr 2017 09:45:41 +0000 bubblegum 2722803@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@avivoca: That's insane! Because let's say you were to go to the ER and told right then and there you had to have surgery, they couldn't expect you to have that amount of money. YES the timing couldn't have been worst. I was aware of the amount but because I was billed for DS I figured they would be bill me again. Given, if they wanted to ask just to see that's fine but to try and get me to pay this or that rather than billing like I know they can was annoying. </p> <p>Jeez!!! 6 months! That's a long time </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hospital-co-pay#post-2722801 Tue, 11 Apr 2017 09:45:30 +0000 looch 2722801@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@2PeasinaPod: Can you tell me more about this? I just got off the phone with my insurance company regarding a procedure for my son. The agent said that the surgery center could absolutely deny us service if we refuse to pay upfront on the day of the procedure, so I am not sure what our rights are. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hospital-co-pay#post-2722796 Tue, 11 Apr 2017 09:42:33 +0000 avivoca 2722796@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For my husband's hand surgery in 2013, we did have to pay $1k up front before they would even take him back (basically to max out our deductible), so I'm not surprised that they want your co-pay before your planned c-section. It's crappy that they waited until a week before the procedure to let you know though, not everyone has hundreds/thousands of dollars laying around at a moments notice to pay a co-pay.</p> <p>Not the same at all, but I am still waiting on the refund from my midwife practice because I overpaid before I had my youngest. It's been six months and they are dragging their feet getting me my check, but that's money that can go toward paying off her medical bills. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hospital-co-pay#post-2722793 Tue, 11 Apr 2017 09:36:09 +0000 bubblegum 2722793@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LBee: @snowjewelz: @SugarMaple: I know it can be asked but they cannot refuse you service and have to perform your surgery with or without payment. It's the law. If you cannot afford it, you have to be billed. </p> <p>@gotkimchi: @2PeasinaPod: It makes me so sad to think about the amount of people who are backed into a corner and think they have no other choice but to pay, even if they cannot afford it.</p> <p>I spoke to the head of the maternity department and she told me that the department that called me last night had no right to ask me that and that I can absolutely be billed and there should not have been any back and forth. She was sweet as pie and given she could have still been cursing my name but I'm happy she understood why I was upset and was so kind. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hospital-co-pay#post-2722789 Tue, 11 Apr 2017 09:28:40 +0000 SugarMaple 2722789@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I thought it was common to have to pay a co-pay before a planned procedure. I agree it would be nice to not have to though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hospital-co-pay#post-2722788 Tue, 11 Apr 2017 09:25:07 +0000 2PeasinaPod 2722788@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it's a ridiculous hospital billing tactic, and while they can legally request that you make payment upfront, they can't legally force you to make payment until the service is performed. You can throw that piece of information back into the supervisor's court to explain away. It's ridiculous that they try to back people into a corner to ensure they get paid. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hospital-co-pay#post-2722787 Tue, 11 Apr 2017 09:24:15 +0000 snowjewelz 2722787@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Between my two births (2 years apart), my hospital changed policy too. Last time I didn't have to pay anything and got bills after; this time I had to pay co-pay before I left the hospital. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hospital-co-pay#post-2722785 Tue, 11 Apr 2017 09:22:49 +0000 LBee 2722785@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had a scheduled c-section and right before I was going to be wheeled off the billing woman stopped the gurney thing and said that I still needed to pay my hospital co-pay ($1,500) before my surgery could occur. I paid it (I probably would have paid anything to not be pregnant anymore :silly: ), but I was super annoyed. I expressed that I didn't appear to be carrying my debit card in my gown and that my husband was off getting "suited-up." They asked where my personal effects were and offered to get my wallet. It was all really awkward and I agree that billing is a much more logical option. </p> <p>I would recommend getting in writing that you are being billed and that payment is not required prior to your c-section (or while in the hospital). I would hate for you to be in my situation. They legitimately said I could not get my c-section without paying at that time.</p> <p>ETA: I potentially could have pushed it off, but I'm pretty sure they would have refused to discharge me until I paid once the services were rendered. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hospital-co-pay#post-2722776 Tue, 11 Apr 2017 09:09:41 +0000 gotkimchi 2722776@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My c-section that was scheduled said I had to pay $500 upfront. I was not going to pay because I thought that was stupid. As it turns out I went into labor early both times so it never came up and I ended up being billed for whatever was left after insurance. So personally I would just ignore this! It's super annoying though :/ </p>