Hellobee Boards

When I was in a very-minor car accident and went to the hospital for LO1 at 28 weeks, they required 4 hours of monitoring (on the machine, meaning, any time doing ultrasounds or bathroom breaks etc didn't count); urine checks, bloodwork, and an ultrasound. The total bill was about $800, on a HDHP.

I didn't push it because it was similar to an ER bill amount I had gotten a year before, for similar services with our miscarriage. I had tried to protest and lower the miscarriage bill but no luck - I was serviced by an out-of-network OB at the in-network hospital, so there was an extra $600 charge for her in addition to the hospital bill of about $800.

The only success I have with lowering hospital bills was by resisting the bill for awhile / questioning it / asking for an itemized list and specific codes on the list, and then asking for a cash discount because I just couldn't accept a $2000 bill for 8 hours in the ER for dehydration.

I'd start with requesting an itemized bill then, with the medical billing codes clearly listed.

However, I imagine your insurance would be inclined to not cover it under standard prenatal care, since it was a special circumstance and not "standard"

I went in for monitoring and also had a similar bill. It was not included in my prenatal care or under the related complications clause. I'm honestly not sure if they will ever bill something like that under prenatal care as it wasn't a complication with the baby, but caused by a fall. Not sure if that makes sense.

Anyway, I don't know all the details of your insurance but just because they 'cover' something doesn't mean they are going to pay anything for it. They may have a discount with the provider, but it just 'goes towards your deductible' in my experience.