https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 21 May 2026 03:18:45 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/paying-for-the-birth-before-the-birth#post-199817 Fri, 22 Jun 2012 20:12:10 +0000 photojane 199817@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@BlueWolverine: me too! i didn't even consider the whole insurance/new deductible year thing when we decided to pull the goalie. i'll be delivering in the beginning of february, so we certainly won't be anywhere close to our deductible! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/paying-for-the-birth-before-the-birth#post-199816 Fri, 22 Jun 2012 20:06:41 +0000 BlueWolverine 199816@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our OB and hospital charges are separate. I have a $350 deductible, and then insurance picks up 80%. So, for my care with the doc, we owe about $690, and we have to pay that at the next appt, which is around 13 weeks. Have no idea what the hospital is going to cost, but because I'm delivering in a different year, I have to pay the deductible AGAIN for the hospital. Grrr. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/paying-for-the-birth-before-the-birth#post-199814 Fri, 22 Jun 2012 20:02:53 +0000 photojane 199814@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>i'm interested that so many of you had to prepay also. we've never even heard of it. around here. maybe it's a location thing?</p> <p>i just can't imagine paying so much up front with no guarantees! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/paying-for-the-birth-before-the-birth#post-199812 Fri, 22 Jun 2012 20:01:27 +0000 MamaG 199812@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yup, we had to do this. It's normal around here. We were giving a breakdown of the billed cost less insurance and our remaining amount due. It was due by the time I was 20 weeks and we could pay in installments. They were fairly flexible once they realized we actually were making efforts to make payments and keeping appointments. Relationship building went a long way with the office. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/paying-for-the-birth-before-the-birth#post-199809 Fri, 22 Jun 2012 19:57:04 +0000 mediagirl 199809@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We were given paperwork at our first visit that told us how much the OB would be charging. It was just under $3000. We were told we would need to pay our bill off by my 6th month. I ended up paying ~$300 of that and paid it over three payments. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/paying-for-the-birth-before-the-birth#post-199720 Fri, 22 Jun 2012 18:21:49 +0000 eeh 199720@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Umm I would demand something in writing. I don't pay people any money, especially large sums, just because they call and tell me I owe them. They need to send a bill like anybody else and on that bill it needs to have a due date and I will pay them by that due date. You need something in writing proving what you are paying for and have documentation that you paid. I would demand to know exactly what that payment is covering, like to a t so you ensure you are getting the services that you paid for and not getting screwed. I would also demand to know their refund policy should something happen and you not end up delivering with them. Maybe you have an unpredicted move in the next however many months. Or maybe you decided you hate your doctor and want to deliver elsewhere. Or, maybe you'll be out of town and go into labor early and have to deliver there...what happens to your money then? Get it in writing! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/paying-for-the-birth-before-the-birth#post-199686 Fri, 22 Jun 2012 17:53:31 +0000 kayakgirl73 199686@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have to prepay as well. I need to call my insurance to find out how much. Mine will be complicated by the fact that my due date as a week after the plan year ends and I've already met my 2012 deductible. I kind of hope I go a week early as it would also be a nice tax deduction. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/paying-for-the-birth-before-the-birth#post-199632 Fri, 22 Jun 2012 16:49:04 +0000 PrincessBaby 199632@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My OB did this too...It's like $300 out of pocket after insurance for my entire pregnancy and they asked me if I wanted to do installments at each visit or just pay it. I also was surprised that it wasn't just co-pays anymore, it's a percentage of total prenatal care, even though mine wasn't very much at all. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/paying-for-the-birth-before-the-birth#post-199625 Fri, 22 Jun 2012 16:38:11 +0000 MamaMoose 199625@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yup this was the norm for me and my friends too. I had to prepay for all prenatal care by week 16. But for me I had already had a lot of medical care previously so I only had $450 left on my deductible which wasn't a big deal. We will be paying the hospital separately for the birth so we'll pay that at the time of the birth (sadly my pregnancy will span to insurance plan years so I have to start my deductible all over again). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/paying-for-the-birth-before-the-birth#post-199621 Fri, 22 Jun 2012 16:25:50 +0000 regberadaisy 199621@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've heard of it too. I think it's ridiculous. I did not have to Pre-pay nor anyone I know IRL. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/paying-for-the-birth-before-the-birth#post-199581 Fri, 22 Jun 2012 15:51:33 +0000 LuLu Mom 199581@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is normal around here, we had our first appointment with the nurse and then sat down with the billing deparment, so we weren't caught offguard. We have been making smaller payments over 6 months, which is actually reall nice. I don't know if its required, but we decided it was best for us to do so. Get it out off the way before the baby comes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/paying-for-the-birth-before-the-birth#post-199574 Fri, 22 Jun 2012 15:48:24 +0000 ladyfingers 199574@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is how ours works, as well. They have a contracted rate with the insurance company of roughly $4,000 for all your prenatals, the doctor at your birth, and two postnatals. My deductible for prenatal coverage and L&amp;D is $1,000 and I have a separate deductible of $1,000 for the hospital itself. My OB office requires I pay the $1,000 deductible by my 24th week so we're paying $200/month until it's paid. But everything counts toward my deductible -- labwork, ultrasounds, etc. -- so I'll likely meet it quite quickly.</p> <p>I was actually pleased, it was a lot more reasonable than what I thought it would cost to have a baby, given all the horror stories I've heard. I did have the thought of, "What if something happens god forbid and I don't end up having a baby." In that case, I'm not sure. I think whatever you paid just goes toward your $1,000 prenatal deductible. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/paying-for-the-birth-before-the-birth#post-199569 Fri, 22 Jun 2012 15:42:15 +0000 Mrs. Pen 199569@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>ugh that stinks, that is so early too! I mean, you don't usually save for the hospital bill BEFORE you get pregnant, you know?!</p> <p>At my birth center we were given the option of paying $5000 by week 35, and then they would cap all charges at $6500, no matter what insurance did/didn't cover. Typically a birth center birth, they said, was about 12k. So it was 50% off if you pre-pay. And they recommend doing the 5k in installments.</p> <p>BUT then I got transferred last minute to a hospital, I'm not sure how the hospital would NORMALLY do it, but obviously since I was a last minute patient, I was billed after and we paid within the first month. </p> <p>I don't see how people could just not pay their bill. They have your social security #, name, address etc... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/paying-for-the-birth-before-the-birth#post-199560 Fri, 22 Jun 2012 15:32:47 +0000 HabesBabe 199560@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ugh, that really sucks! Luckily my insurance is good and I only paid $10 co-pay for my first pre-natal visit, then then $250 co-pay for the hospital when I deliver. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/paying-for-the-birth-before-the-birth#post-199534 Fri, 22 Jun 2012 15:10:20 +0000 lilteacherbee 199534@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I switched OB offices for similar reasons. It sucked because I really liked my first OB, but I really think its worth it (and I'm excited about my new OB too).</p> <p>I hope your new appointment isn't too far away!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/paying-for-the-birth-before-the-birth#post-199517 Fri, 22 Jun 2012 14:51:32 +0000 matador84 199517@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My doctor sent us a letter before our first appointment explaining their billing procedures. We had to pay 1500 by the 27th week (in this case that is 1/2 our deductible) and could pay however we wanted...I paid around 300 at each visit and just paid the final amount this past week. Ultrasounds, doctors visits, all other things are billed through insurance and then they send us a claim if we owe.</p> <p>The rest is billed after L +D since doctors/hospitals can't bill for what hasn't happened yet. We are expecting to pay another 1500 out of pocket to meet our deductible, and the rest is covered 100% per our insurance. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/paying-for-the-birth-before-the-birth#post-199516 Fri, 22 Jun 2012 14:51:21 +0000 mamabolt 199516@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My midwives office hasn't charged me anything for my care to this point (and I was due yesterday). I have gotten bills from the hospital/lab/perinatal practice for labwork and ultrasounds though. I assume they are going to bill me after the birth...I keep meaning to ask but forget when I'm actually at the office! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/paying-for-the-birth-before-the-birth#post-199512 Fri, 22 Jun 2012 14:46:57 +0000 photojane 199512@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JessLC: nope. we can opt to set up a payment plan before the birth to help us stretch the payments, but it's definitely not required. i was the first of my friends and family to go with that particular practice. because it was affiliated with a new hospital i wanted to try. no one i know has been required to prepay. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/paying-for-the-birth-before-the-birth#post-199493 Fri, 22 Jun 2012 14:33:59 +0000 SleepyMonkey 199493@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@photojane: oh man, sorry to hear that they are so inflexible! Usually they try to work with you so you can be able to pay it! Does your new practice not require an upfront payment at all? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/paying-for-the-birth-before-the-birth#post-199490 Fri, 22 Jun 2012 14:29:54 +0000 photojane 199490@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JessLC: there's no leniency on the three payments. if the payments where spread out, it might make more sense for us, but we're can't afford $1500/month for the next three months. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/paying-for-the-birth-before-the-birth#post-199488 Fri, 22 Jun 2012 14:28:23 +0000 photojane 199488@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>all of my labs and office visits are covered under my insurance, but ultrasounds and the actual birth are counted towards my deductible. i thought i'd be paying a co-pay at the office, and then billed for my ultrasound in a couple weeks... imagine my surprise when i suddenly owe over $1000!</p> <p>this is definitely not the norm around here! i asked several of my mommy friends, and none have had to prepay (or even heard of it). i called around to different ob offices, and none of the other offices require prepayment. my new practice offers prepayment, but it would be up to me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/paying-for-the-birth-before-the-birth#post-199483 Fri, 22 Jun 2012 14:24:39 +0000 SleepyMonkey 199483@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes, this is how our doctor's office does it too. They have had so many problems with people having babies and just skipping out on the bill after delivery that this helps to ensure that they get paid. You will meet the deductible anyway, its just that the timing of payment is pushed up front. They usually have payment plan options that they can walk you through, so I would ask about that before your appointment and get everything straightened out so you can actually go and enjoy your appt. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/paying-for-the-birth-before-the-birth#post-199475 Fri, 22 Jun 2012 14:19:16 +0000 lovehoneybee 199475@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>That would give me a heart attack!</p> <p>All of my prenatal care (labs, office visits, ultrasounds, etc) is fully covered by my insurance, so I don't pay anything out of pocket. Unfortunately the birth itself is not covered until I meet my deductible, which I haven't been chipping away at by paying for my visits....so that means I will have to pay about $2500 after the birth before my insurance will kick in and cover the rest. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/paying-for-the-birth-before-the-birth#post-199474 Fri, 22 Jun 2012 14:18:56 +0000 wheres_c 199474@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Mine requires pre-payment - but by week 26.<br /> They advised I am welcome to start paying now in installments but otherwise the full amount would be due week 26. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/paying-for-the-birth-before-the-birth#post-199470 Fri, 22 Jun 2012 14:15:53 +0000 DillonLion 199470@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is normal. We are on a payment plan with our OB as well. After our insurance we are paying around $875, in 5 installments. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/paying-for-the-birth-before-the-birth#post-199467 Fri, 22 Jun 2012 14:14:43 +0000 photojane 199467@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>so, i'm so surprised/confused/mad/disappointed.</p> <p>next tuesday was supposed to be our first ultrasound. we have been so excited, and anxiously awaiting seeing our little peanut. well, this afternoon i received a call from the billing office of my practice, and was told i need to bring over $1000 on tuesday for our first payment. i was like, "uh.. payment.. what?" the lady went on to inform me that my deductible hasn't been met, so we owe $4000 for the delivery and 2 ultrasounds (8 months before the birth!). she gave me the option of paying in 3 payments (June/July/August), which means we'll owe over $1000 at our first appointment! thanks lady for that nice reminder that i'll need $1000 four days before my appointment. WHAT?</p> <p>has anyone heard of this insanity? i've never heard of mandatory prepaying. what if something happens or changes between now and then? we promptly switched ob practices. </p>