If you're on a PPO ...

[aegis2005]

Did you have to pay all estimated OB costs by week 24? I just got a bill in the mail today, and while I knew I'd have to pay 20% of costs, I was surprised that I would have to pay the bill four months before my due date. It's probably common practice, but it still surpised me when I opened the mailbox this afternoon.

[alzi]

I am on a high deductible HSA plan, and I have to pay a large sum of money by 20 weeks. They call it pre-paying though and that money goes towards next years deductible though, if what they say is true. I'm hoping...

[babybchbum]

Yes this is very common. They usually won't bill anything (unless ultrasounds) until after the delivery so they have you pay up front and then will reimburse you anything that your insurance covers.

[moonstone523]

I'm on a PPO and this wasn't the case for a birth center delivery. How much out of pocket are you ladies having to pay?

[jennifer8080]

The birth center requires payment by 36 weeks but I know it's not uncommon for OB offices to require it much sooner. The total we had to pay was around $700, plus the lst for the home birth and tub rental, so fit around $1200.

[aegis2005]

My insurance covers 80%, so my bill, for just the OB, was for $1100 - $400 of which is the deductible for 2013. It doesn't include fees for the hospital, anesthesioloigst or fees charged by Labcorp.

My health insurance company has a portal that I'm supposed to be able to look up estimated costs, so I was trying to ballpark what the hospital will charge, on top of my OB's fees, but none of the classifications look right. I might need to call, just so I know ahead of time.

I guess I wasn't expecting to pay 4 months in advance, because we won't be able to utilize FSA funds until after services are rendered - but it is what it is.

[tashaandsage]

Aug 4, 2012 8:30:34 GMT -5 aegis2005 said:

My insurance covers 80%, so my bill, for just the OB, was for $1100 - $400 of which is the deductible for 2013. It doesn't include fees for the hospital, anesthesioloigst or fees charged by Labcorp.

This was very similar to my coverage for my first pregnancy. I had to pay around $1200 to the OB ($500 being the deductible) by my 6th month. I was surprised when they first told me, but in the end I was actually glad to have it already taken care of. I think I paid out another $800 or $1000 in various hospital charges, so it was nice not having to worry about the OB. Plus my office broke up the charges over 3 or 4 months, so that at each office visit I paid a portion along with my co-pay, which made it sting a little less than paying all at once.

[tashaandsage]

Aug 4, 2012 9:04:34 GMT -5 tashaandsage said:

Aug 4, 2012 8:30:34 GMT -5 aegis2005 said:

My insurance covers 80%, so my bill, for just the OB, was for $1100 - $400 of which is the deductible for 2013. It doesn't include fees for the hospital, anesthesioloigst or fees charged by Labcorp.

This was very similar to my coverage for my first pregnancy. I had to pay around $1200 to the OB ($500 being the deductible) by my 6th month. I was surprised when they first told me, but in the end I was actually glad to have it already taken care of. I think I paid out another $800 or $1000 in various hospital charges, so it was nice not having to worry about the OB. Plus my office broke up the charges over 3 or 4 months, so that at each office visit I paid a portion along with my co-pay, which made it sting a little less than paying all at once.

Actually now that I think about it, the hospital charges were less than that. I believe (this was 4 1/2 years ago, so hard to remember) when it was all said and done we paid about $2000 out of pocket for the OB, hospital charges and co-pays.

[may07wedding]

Yes, my payment is $600 and they're requiring that by week 24. Although, when I was pregnant in December before I lost the baby it was only $250, I think because I had already met my deductible.

[jennifer8080]

An average uncomplicated vaginal birth runs around $3-4k and a c-section runs closer to $6-7k. Or at least that used to be the average a few years ago when I worked in hospital finance.

[alzi]

Damn. I'm paying a little under $3 grand. Just for dr. I'll get billed from hospital after birth, though hopefully I'll be very close to meeting deductible by that point, and then they cover 90%

[babybchbum]

I paid 1200.00 at my oh and then whatever the hospital billed. I met my ded early in the year so got almost everything back. My in was paying 100%. Sept - dec

[melis74]

Yes, that is how mine was as well. They had me make monthly payments when I came in for my appts.

[mrsjenrn]

Aug 4, 2012 13:22:08 GMT -5 jennifer8080 said:

An average uncomplicated vaginal birth runs around $3-4k and a c-section runs closer to $6-7k. Or at least that used to be the average a few years ago when I worked in hospital finance.

I feel so fortunate that I only paid $150 for my hospital stay, plus a one time copay ($20 maybe?) at my ob/gyn. $6-7k??? Holy crap!