Nothing like coming home to more doctor's bills confirming you are no longer in fact pregnant... This blows my mind that they can even bill you for this. Has anyone ever challenged any of these bills to have insurance cover them? Is there even a point?
ETA: Not to mean they shouldn't be billing for this, but I guess my question is why doesn't insurance cover it? It's mostly blood work costs.
GOLD / squash / 13464 posts
The only test I needed following my miscarriage was a few blood tests to confirm hcg went to zero. Insurance covered them (and the doctor consultation) the same way they would any other blood work so I would think your insurance should cover some of the costs. But I don't think it's fair to say you shouldn't have to pay for bill associated with a miscarriage. MOST medical bills derive from some sort of bad news, doctors would never be able to stay in practice if they didn't charge in those situations.
GOLD / cantaloupe / 6581 posts
My insurance doesn't cover any thing in the case of a miscarriage. I read through it a while back... they make you retroactively pay all the co-pays that otherwise would have been covered. I think that sucks.. :hugs: sorry you had to come home to that.
bananas / 9229 posts
@MamaMoose: I edited my post a little just to clarify... I've been receiving bills for all of the blood tests. I guess I just wonder why they're not covered?
papaya / 10343 posts
@LindsayInNY: My understanding is that under law they have to cover routine office visits at 100% but they do NOT have to cover any lab work. Which is why usually blood tests and ultrasounds are not covered until you meet your deductible, even if they are routine. Long answer short: Insurance companies suck and I'm sorry you're dealing with them. F 'em.
blogger / coconut / 8306 posts
@LindsayInNY: it depends on your coverage, I'd imagine. Blood tests are 100% out of pocket until my deductible is reached then 10% out of pocket until we reach the OPP max.
How does your insurance work?
bananas / 9229 posts
@pui: It's such a kicker when you're down. As far as I know, all pregnancy costs are covered but since this isn't considered pregnancy anymore, it's not. DH doesn't even want me to go for blood work next time, if this is going to be the case. They checked for betas and chlamydia as standard procedure. Definitely no need to check chlamydia a second time!
bananas / 9229 posts
@Mae: Bleh. Good to know for the future and any future blood work or u/s. I didn't realize that was the case with u/s though!
@Mrs. Jump Rope: I think it's the deductible part of the blood work I'm paying now. I'm definitely refusing some of it next time though! I don't know if I need blood work to confirm pregnancy next time. Definitely not a chlamydia test again either!
blogger / coconut / 8306 posts
@LindsayInNY: I'd look at your insurance policy and see what's covered.
When I had Chloe, my prenatal care was covered at 100% but ultrasounds and bloodwork were not. I had to pay a deductible on those costs. Our insurance has changed in the last three years, but I still get bills for bloodwork. I "paid" for my miscarriages this summer.
honeydew / 7091 posts
My ectopic pregnancy was SO expensive, because I was getting 3 hcg + progesterone blood draws a week. And then the chemical shot was so expensive... it really sucks :'( And then I got the bills up to 2 months after the shot because their billing took forever and I got a separate bill for each blood draw.
I'm so sorry you have more reminders 
nectarine / 2134 posts
I think it depends on your coverage. I got my EOB (explanation of benefits) but so far *fingers crossed* haven't received a bill for the bloodwork because I believe my labs are covered under my insurance plan.
It's such a painful reminder and a real kick while you're down. I'm sorry
clementine / 957 posts
My insurance covered all the costs for my m/c.. I'm sorry you have to deal with this on top of everything else.
pomegranate / 3113 posts
I'm sorry you have to deal with this. I don't really know how your insurance works, so the only advice I can give is to make sure your insurance info is correct on the lab bills. I recently got a bill I wasn't expecting for some bloodwork, and it turned out that most of my info was transposed/incorrect/incomplete (no idea how it happened, I'm guessing just a glitch between my doctor and the lab). Once I fixed it, they re-submitted and the bill went away. This might not be the case for you, but it's worth verifying.
Hugs to you.
GOLD / pineapple / 12662 posts
@LindsayInNY: You need to have your claim reviewed. It could be as simple a wrong code or lack of additional information (like whether or not you have any additional coverage). I had the same insurance company throughout my pregnancy and I had to really stay on top of what they were not covering and why. Sometimes all I would have to do is submit an online inquiry and answer any questions (I had to answer the additional coverage question multiple times) before they would finally pay a claim.
bananas / 9229 posts
@Mrs. Jump Rope: Okay, good to know... I'm definitely going to look into things!
@swurlygurl: Ugh, that's insane! Part of me doesn't even want to have any of that blood work done next time!
@PurplePeony: @MsLipGloss: I'm going to look at the bills from the labs when I get home and check the diagnosis codes and everything to make sure they are accurate. I don't know if it's simply my deductible not being met or what.
persimmon / 1128 posts
I agree with @MsLipGloss. I was billed for my son's circumcision during our hospital stay. I knew it was a covered benefit, and when I called my insurance company they told me it was denied because it was billed as a procedure performed on ME and they didn't cover a circumcision for ADULT FEMALES. I didn't respond, just waited for her to get it, and sure enough she caught on and apologized. They corrected the error, but I still received bills for a couple of months after, until it was finally cleared up.
I was completely ignorant to the fact that miscarriages weren't completely covered. I'm so sorry that you have to go through this.
pomelo / 5073 posts
@LindsayInNY: when I had mine, I had to deliver. My insurance covered 90% which left me with $400 that we paid. It sucked getting that bill. However, it was done after that.
coconut / 8299 posts
I agree with @MsLipGloss too. I've had 3 bills in the past that I submitted for review and all 3 of them were resubmitted because there were errors. I once got a bill for a $900 emergency room visit, which I normally would have paid. But I decided to have it submitte for review and they reimbursed me $600! It doesn't hurt to try!
bananas / 9229 posts
@banana: I don't think I can submit them for review online. I would have to send them in with an appeal letter. =/
I just checked my policy and found this:
"Maternity Services - Mother: Includes prenatal care, delivery, postnatal care and any related complications." I feel like this should be included! Gah.
bananas / 9229 posts
@spaniellove: What annoys me the most is that the blood work is billed as "laboratory testing." Yes, it is, but it's pregnancy related testing. I think I'm going to fight my office on this next time. I don't want unnecessary testing if it's going to lead to more bills.
honeydew / 7916 posts
@LindsayInNY: Was it the beta to check that you were down to zero?
pomegranate / 3580 posts
I'm so sorry - seeing those bills really is a constant reminder. My blood test weren't covered either which was so annoying. I also wound up going to the ER because we were out of town when it happened. Even though insurance covered part of it, I've JUST finished paying off my portion (this happened in March!)- ugh. I hope yours gets sorted out and at least partially paid for!
bananas / 9229 posts
@spaniellove: Yes and no. I went twice. The first blood test on a Thursday was to confirm pregnancy. They didn't have results until Monday for some reason. I started bleeding on Sunday. I went back on Tuesday for follow-up betas but was never told what exactly they were. I assumed that meant they zeroed out since nothing was mentioned (bad assumption too I guess since I'm sitting here at CD32 and no O...).
bananas / 9229 posts
@fussygal: Oh man. Thankfully I didn't have any ER visits. I can only imagine the bills from that... It's just repeated blood work deductible amounts and luckily isn't super expensive. But still it sucks to be paying money when you have nothing to show for it. I keep telling myself that if I had let nature run its course, without going to the doctor, I wouldn't have these bills...
GOLD / pomegranate / 3938 posts
@LindsayInNY: I'm so sorry about the bill being a horrible reminder. I hope you figure it out!
pear / 1974 posts
I totally feel you on this - I just got (not a bill, but an EOB - explanation of benefits from my insurance company) and my D&C apparently cost over $7000 all together!!!! I am actually expecting a small bill from the lab work but I just don't wanna keep on being reminded! Another thing was that we elected to do optional blood genetic testing and the EOB said NONE of the $1500 was covered - I literally started sweating when I saw it, and contacted the company (Counsyl) and turns out we only owe them $99.
It's really hard to move on when these reminders keep constantly popping up, I'm so sorry!
honeydew / 7916 posts
@LindsayInNY: That sounds pretty pregnancy-related to me! The chlamydia bit sounds unnecessary but they most likely did need to do the betas to make sure you didn't have any complications later. Hugs...it's awful that they billed you but you did the right thing.
bananas / 9229 posts
@spaniellove: The EOB just says laboratory testing. I have to check the actual bills tonight to see what diagnosis code was used, in case that makes a difference. I guess chlamydia testing is standard? Not sure what for. I haven't had that checked since dating DH! I would think the betas would at least be covered though.
kiwi / 630 posts
@LindsayInNY: ugh I am so sorry - so far all of my miscarriage costs have been covered but I'm going to call so I don't get any surprises. Thanks for posting and I hope this works itself out for you - I would think this would be considered a complication and therefore you would be covered
bananas / 9229 posts
Update: I called my insurance this morning. Started with an awkward congrats, which I had to clarify was not the case any more... Oy. They said that the blood work was all billed as "general illness," not maternity. I was transferred to a different department and told that maternity including routine/normal work, not complications. That's BS to me but I didn't want to get into that with the guy... I said the first set of blood work (HCG and chlamydia) was routine/normal because nothing was wrong at that point. The second set of blood work (HCG) was post-bleeding. So if anything, the first set should be covered as maternity. He said my doctor's office would have to re-code it. So I called my doctor's office and the lady in billing said I need to talk to the medical assistant or something like that, I don't remember her title. I have to email her the bills and she'll call me to discuss. So we'll see if that helps!
pomelo / 5000 posts
@LindsayinNY: I'm so sorry you're having to deal with all of this. I remember my friend had to pay off her D & C and all the tests over a few months. Those monthly payments were a real heart breaker for her. Hope it gets all sorted out soon--good for you for sticking to it!
honeydew / 7283 posts
That's so horrible that you have to deal with this on top of everything. I never thought about these expenses not being covered. I'm sorry for your loss and I hope the Dr's office can help with the billing issues!
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