https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 22 Jun 2026 02:45:07 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-prefer/page/2#post-817121 Thu, 30 May 2013 08:44:43 +0000 photojane 817121@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Lots of American women pay very little for their labor &amp; delivery, but I'm not one of them. We have a $5000 deductible, which means we have to fork over $5000 before the insurance company will help by paying 90%. We are up to our eyeballs in medical bills, but we are on interest free payment plans. I'd gladly pay $5000+ again for my birth experience. I enjoyed having my own room &amp; my own doctor. I needed my husband there. And we stocked up on mama &amp; baby supplies before we left! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-prefer/page/2#post-817099 Thu, 30 May 2013 08:35:26 +0000 SouthPaw 817099@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I selected a bill... I would want my husband there with me the entire time. Although I am the one carrying and birthing the baby, this is our experience together. It is important to me that as we start our family we are together to support one another through the entire process! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-prefer/page/2#post-815616 Wed, 29 May 2013 13:42:23 +0000 Vegmama 815616@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I said "other" ... I want a personalized experience at home with a midwife. I don't really care how much it would cost (because I would literally have to be paid to birth in a hospital), but we did choose our insurance provider based on their coverage for home birth. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-prefer/page/2#post-815152 Wed, 29 May 2013 11:06:01 +0000 Mrs Hedgehog 815152@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Where is this steak dinner and free clothes hospital at?!?! I want to go there! We wont get that. We will get a private room and Mr. Hedgie will stay the entire time. We will also get slapped with a bill. </p> <p>I wouldn't want the UK experience. Even if there isn't a bill attached. The private time with my baby and husband it too important to me. Also, the individualized care. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-prefer/page/2#post-815075 Wed, 29 May 2013 10:38:02 +0000 Mrs. WinterWheat 815075@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am with Grace.<br /> In Canada I have got the middle of the road. Nothing too fancy but it is publicly funded. I have my own midwife (paid through the same system) and a private room for both labour and postpartum. No fancy meals but the are still quite good. I have only had great nurses so no complaints there either. Also DH was allowed to stay with me the entire time.<br /> I think the no bill at the end was nice, I don't mind paying taxed because I know it goes to great programs and developments (healthcare, roads, schools etc) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-prefer/page/2#post-813541 Tue, 28 May 2013 14:37:36 +0000 swurlygurl 813541@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm a big big cheapie, so I'd much prefer the lack of hospital bill </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-prefer/page/2#post-813374 Tue, 28 May 2013 13:39:31 +0000 Adira 813374@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@zippylef: Are you sure next year?? I'm pretty sure my insurance covered my entire hospital stay/birth/etc. - though it didn't 100% cover Xander - he was at their normal 80% coverage. Though maybe my insurance is just awesome? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-prefer/page/2#post-813363 Tue, 28 May 2013 13:35:31 +0000 loveisstrange 813363@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Adira: I was under the impression that, yes, Obamacare is requiring insurance companies to cover maternity and newborn care. Not sure if that is 100% true or still going to happen though. From what I read, thats supposed to start next year. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-prefer/page/2#post-813358 Tue, 28 May 2013 13:32:47 +0000 Arden 813358@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm voting other since I'd have an NHS midwife at home! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-prefer/page/2#post-813355 Tue, 28 May 2013 13:31:10 +0000 Adira 813355@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was under the impression that as of 2014 via Obamacare, most (if not all?) of the maternity care has to be covered by your insurance (after deductible maybe?). Can anyone confirm this? I know for me, everything for me was free and we basically just had to pay for the baby, which insurance covered most of, so our total bill was relatively cheap.</p> <p>We had a large private room, there was a pull-out couch that Hubs could sleep on, room service for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and immediately after birth, they wheeled in a cart FULL of food. No steak or champagne though. And visitors could come anytime! I definitely wouldn't trade any of that! It was a great experience (besides the pain of actual child birth, haha)! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-prefer/page/2#post-813350 Tue, 28 May 2013 13:29:21 +0000 Foodnerd81 813350@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: I have a general idea how much it will be, and I just sort of added 20% to that and figure it should be about right? We have money earmarked for it, so it's not so much the total cost as the trying to keep on top of what's what! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-prefer/page/2#post-813331 Tue, 28 May 2013 13:24:47 +0000 Cherrybee 813331@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: Now that would drive me crazy, getting bills left right and centre. And being confused about how much you will end up paying - that is so, so scary. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-prefer/page/2#post-813215 Tue, 28 May 2013 12:51:26 +0000 Foodnerd81 813215@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I really don't know which I would prefer! I've only ever lived in the US, so the idea of not having as many choices in the matter or the option of privacy sounds sort of terrible, but at the same time, 1) I have good insurance, and 2) I'm still totally confused about what I will be paying at the end of the day! I just keep getting bills for small amounts, I wish it was at least just a flat rate or a big bill at the end! I don't care about the bells and whistles, but having DH stay with me is pretty important. </p> <p>It sounds to me, from this thread and others that I've read, that Canada has a really nice policy in general! But since I live in the US and that's not changing any time soon, I'm just thankful that I have good insurance. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-prefer/page/2#post-812969 Tue, 28 May 2013 11:40:52 +0000 lovehoneybee 812969@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>That's hard to say. I ended up paying just over $3200 out of pocket (a $2400 deductible + another $800 after insurance). We didn't have steak dinners or champagne and DH was given one free meal while we were there. We did get diapers, a few kimono onesies and blankets, and post-partum health things like a sitz bath and Tucks wipes. I don't think I would have been okay with DH not being able to be there all the time, though, especially not the first night when I still had to be carried to the bathroom. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-prefer/page/2#post-812951 Tue, 28 May 2013 11:35:15 +0000 tequiero21 812951@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ValentineMommy: haha, me too. I don't think I had any bills since my hubby worked at the hospital,everything was free. Although, I voted that I'd rather have privacy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-prefer/page/2#post-812751 Tue, 28 May 2013 10:40:23 +0000 sarac 812751@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd much prefer no privacy over the $7000 in bills we had to deal with. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-prefer/page/2#post-812744 Tue, 28 May 2013 10:38:29 +0000 hellobeeboston 812744@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>great question cherrybee!</p> <p>it's hard for me to say. I had a $500 flat fee for my entire pregnancy/birth experience - which I think is pretty great. (I had recently changed jobs when I got pregnant and my previous insurance was better, would have only paid $200). I felt I got excellent care and would have paid more if I needed to though. We knew the expense was coming, and my work offered an option to put health-related $ aside tax free, so we did that....</p> <p>I'm not sure I would trade the experience I had to pay less. We had private rooms, my husband had a cot next to my bed to sleep in, and we could have as many visitors as we liked. I can't imagine sharing a room at that time in my life, but I'm sure it would have been just as wonderful. The new baby would surely drown out other people, and you're only there for a couple of days then you go home. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-prefer/page/2#post-812678 Tue, 28 May 2013 10:19:06 +0000 tysonja 812678@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>i didn't get a chance to read previous posts, but i vote for what we have! no bill (already paid in taxes!), but still get a private room and dh gets to stay with me the whole time. no extra frills though (special food, baby items, clothing, etc!) i don't mind bringing my own clothing for the baby and some extra diapers! and i definitely don't mind having my friends/family bring me take-out etc while i'm in the hospital :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-prefer/page/2#post-812675 Tue, 28 May 2013 10:18:23 +0000 Mrsbells 812675@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: I lived in england for several years and I prefer the system you have over there. I like the NHS and think its more natural and less medicated than here </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-prefer/page/2#post-812660 Tue, 28 May 2013 10:13:27 +0000 Anagram 812660@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: This one is hard for me. Generally speaking, I'm all for a Universal healthcare system--and that's because I've seen first hand how working, educated people WITH health insurance in the US can be screwed over by our healthcare system.</p> <p>One example is that my brother had colon cancer (the intial discovery and treatments, then a reoccurance two years later, with more surgeries and treatments--then two more follow-up surgeries for hernia repairs due to the colon surgeries). He was a teacher with health insurance and a decent savings.</p> <p>He got sick at a period that overlapped two different years--so he had to pay his deductible twice in a 4 month period, and his Out-of-pocket max was $6,000 a year. That kind of out-of-max is VERY standard in Texas, where I used to live, for a teacher. I was also a teacher there, and MY insurance was even worse---it was a $7000 out of pocket max each year.</p> <p>So basically, my brother, who was probably making $48,000 a year BEFORE taxes, had to pay $12,000 cash in a period of about 4 months for his care. Then, less than 2 years later, he had to pay another $6,000, then another $6000 the year after that.</p> <p>For a person making maybe 31,000 after taxes, that kind of cost is completely exorbitant. LUCKILY, he did not have children and he had some savings. So he was able to cover the first $12,000 himself. And again, luckily, my mother was financially able to kick in his next year's $6000. Then, by his last year, he'd had time to save up another $6000. </p> <p>Had he had a child with day care costs, or had his car broken down, or had he not had a parent that could pitch in financially--he would have defaulted on his medical bills (which happens every single day in the US, which drives up the cost of our health care), and his credit would have been ruined.</p> <p>Having said all of that-----birthing is already so scary that I would very well pay extra (depending on how much $$ we are talking about) to get a private room. In NYC, it's very common to have to pay extra to get a private room (if there's even one available), and it can be up to $1000. I would have paid that willingly if I were in the city (I would have saved up ahead of time).</p> <p>So....although I favor a universal system, I would also like the option to add on private care if a person chooses. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-prefer/page/2#post-812532 Tue, 28 May 2013 09:33:11 +0000 Weagle 812532@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have excellent insurance and paid about $100 for my entire pregnancy and delivery care. My hospital wasn't extravagant, but it was nice. I would much prefer my experience over the experience you described. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-prefer/page/2#post-812455 Tue, 28 May 2013 09:10:05 +0000 oliviaoblivia 812455@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm American but had DD in Canada. I will have all of my children here. My care was exceptional. We had a private room when I needed it and shared a room with another mom when we didn't need privacy. My nurse stayed with me throughout my labor and my OB was the one to deliver. All of our postpartum care was excellent and we had lactation consultants on call 24/7. My parents are both doctors in the states and were both impressed with my hospital experience here.</p> <p>tl:dr no bill for me! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-prefer/page/2#post-812450 Tue, 28 May 2013 09:09:06 +0000 MamaMoose 812450@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I could easily do without the material perks (food, diapers, pacis, etc). But I would have happily paid a LOT of money to have my husband stay in the room with me. If it weren't for him being there I think I would have been very depressed those first couple of nights. I also think there is a good chance breastfeeding would not have worked out for me if I didn't have him right there to support me in the very beginning. Luckily I have excellent insurance and I didn't have to pay a huge sum of money, but I would have. I am happy to pay for a good standard of care. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-prefer/page/2#post-812430 Tue, 28 May 2013 09:03:37 +0000 LuLu Mom 812430@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would want the bells and whistles, knowing my birthing experience I would have been a wreck without my DH with me and by my side. Baby was in NICU, i had c-section, I needed my support system there. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-prefer/page/2#post-812424 Tue, 28 May 2013 09:02:36 +0000 runsyellowlites 812424@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Other - we pay out of pocket &amp; birth at home! At this point in my "baby making career" you'd have to pay ME to willing birth in a hospital again! Lol </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-prefer#post-812420 Tue, 28 May 2013 09:01:36 +0000 Mrs. Pen 812420@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mediagirl: I was going to say the same thing. Many plans are awesome and cover the majority of maternity care.</p> <p>If I got maternity care through my work (a clinic) and delivered at our affiliate hospital, I would be paying less than $500 for the entire 9 months.</p> <p>But I'm not sure I want to do that since I still love my birth center/midwife experience and would pay for that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-prefer#post-812417 Tue, 28 May 2013 09:01:05 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 812417@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Based solely on this either or descriptor I want the bells and whistles with a bill. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-prefer#post-812404 Tue, 28 May 2013 08:56:55 +0000 Mrs. Pen 812404@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I couldn't have done it without DH. And my privacy was so fundamental for me! The food wasn't great, but we brought in our own and could eat anytime. I had excellent post Partum care and DH stayed with us the entire time. I definitely would pay again for the experience and privacy . </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-prefer#post-812388 Tue, 28 May 2013 08:51:34 +0000 Cherrybee 812388@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Jacks: I agree with you wholeheartedly! If the question was "what would you rather - healthcare for all or a steak dinner?" I wouldn't even have to think about it!! And I love steak!! Fortunately, in my country at present, I don't have to make that decision. We look after our vulnerable people.... although the current government seems hell-bent on changing all that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-prefer#post-812373 Tue, 28 May 2013 08:45:59 +0000 Cherrybee 812373@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@zippylef: It's fine if you like luke warm airplane food.... but who likes airplane food?!! lol. </p>