Seeking Advise on Obtaining Prenatal Health Coverage

Just read your question about prenatal health coverage and although a program I am aware of is NOT insurance it actually is a network which gives physician and hospital discounts.

Let me know if you have any interest in it.

I am not selling this program but it is a progarm that allows people to buy in and get cheaper medical, dental and prescritpion prices.

Hope this helps and you are truly blessed to be able to stay and home with you babies.

You can write me at ____@____.com or call me on ###-###-#### if you need more information.

Thanks.

E.

We are on Unicare too. I was in the same boat as you with my second, and could not believe that individual insurance does not cover maternity! There are a few amternity reiders available with some companies, but as someone already mentioned, they do not cover much and are not worth the cost. We ended up using a nurse midwife and delivering at the Allen Birthing Center. www.allenbirthingcenter.com We were kind of interested in that option anyway, so the lack of insurance gave us the push we needed to do it, and it was a fabulous experience (and much cheaper than a hospital). But if that is not for you, as the other girls mentioned, mst hospitals and docttors will let you prepay for about 1/2 or less the cost. My girlfriend did that at the Lewisville Medical Center.

A.,
I had the same experience as Heather. I prepaid my Dr. Since I was self pay she cut me a deal (around $1700) and let me pay it out over the 9 months. I talked to the hospital (Medical Center of Lewisville) and they cut me a deal as long as I paid before delivery. I paid it out over the 9 months as well and it cost me $3450. I didn't check with anesthesia in advance but I should have. They will cut a deal as well. But once I received the bill from them - I called them and told them that I would pay cash in full if they would cut me a deal. We "haggled" a bit but finally got a $2000 bill down to $900.
Just make sure to check around and tell them you'll pay before delivery and most places will cut you a great deal.
I had my first child under group coverage (I was still working) and once I finished with my second child (I paid for out of pocket) I realized that I paid less for my second child than my first because I got such great deals!
Good luck!
D.

I will be in the same boat without maternity insurance. Look into Trinity Medical Center in Carrollton. It had the best price I found. Also check out www.maternitycard.com I haven't used them yet, but I do know one person who is using it and thinks it is worth it so far.

My husband and I are both self-employed and had health insurance through NASE (National Association of Self-Employed). Unfortunately, we were unable to obtain maternity insurance unless we planned the pregnancy 2 years in advance. When we found out I was pregnant through an at home pregnancy test, we purchased insurance from Assurant Health through our Nationwide Insurance, then "found out" a month later. It turns out that our deductible is $10k, so I don't think this will even save us any money in the long run, but this is my first experience with pregnancy and maternity insurance so I could be wrong about the hospital expenses. My doctor told me that cash prenatal visits and labor/deliver would cost $2,900 (excluding hospital stay). I hope this helps, at least so you know you are not alone.

Hi A.,

We also use unicare for our insurance. When I was pregnant with my son a couple of years ago, I started looking into prenatal/delivery insurance. The bottom line: If you are pregnant now, it's not worth it to buy it because it covers so little.

What we did: I met with the hospital and Dr and arranged to pre-pay for everything in cash. When you pre-pay with cash, you will get a tremendous discount. For instance, the hospital told me that if I wait until after the delivery and they billed me, it would cost between $8000 & $10,000. If I pre-paid in cash by the end of my seventh month, the cost was around $3000. The same with the Dr...I prepaid their office and it was around $3000. So, my total out of pocket was around $6000.

Now, I know that's still alot of money, but honestly, if you look into prenatal insurance coverage, you will probably still be paying at least that much out of pocket for premiums & deductible. After your baby is born, it will be covered thru your unicare plan.

So, unless things have drastically changed in the last couple of years (which is always possible!!), this was the experience that we had!

Good Luck!

:-) H.

I can't answer specifically about prenatal coverage, but Walter at www.insurancemakesmesick.com has been extremely helpful to me in locating insurance for the self-employed. Go to their website and contact him.

Also, Dave Ramsey is a financial guy on KLIF 570 AM, M-F, 1-4pm. He advises that you save some cash and then go to 2 or 3 hospitals and tell them you are looking for the best place to have your baby. He says they will compete for your business if you are paying cash, and you'll be able to cut a really, really good deal. Good luck!

Hi A.,
Been there done that- with 3 of my 4 kiddos! I went to Doctor's Hospital over in near White Rock Lake. I prepaid for half and the rest was due before my discharge. I think the hospital itself (delivery and 2 day stay for me and baby) was $1700. My OB was $2200 and he let me do payments even after baby, The Pedi was $300 and anesthesia was $500. ( this was all in May '04).

I know that Medical City was twice as much and they refused to even work with me.

Another good option is using a Nurse Midwife and delivering at a birthing Center.

Presbyterian Hospital also has a program for uninsured... there is a financial qual thing but I am not sure how that work- just call them.

The good news is that you get to write all of the expenses off on your taxes :-)

Good Luck and congratulations!
D.