Paying For Medical Bills

What are my options to pay my medical bills if I don't choose adoption?

Private insurance

Private insurance is only available if you had insurance coverage before you were pregnant.

In other words, if you are pregnant and don’t have private insurance, you will not be able to obtain private insurance that will cover your pregnancy.

The private insurance has a provision that excludes pre-existing conditions. Private insurance companies will consider being pregnant a pre-existing condition.

What if already have private insurance?

It is important to understand that private insurance coverage varies. It is important for you to determine what your insurance company covers for the mother’s medical costs as well as the baby’s cost.

Unless it is an emergency, it is smart to determine your coverage before setting up an appointment so you are prepared for the costs.

Federal law states that if you work for a company who employees more than 15 staff members then your company’s insurance must include pregnancy coverage.

Federal law however does not regulate the quality of your insurance coverage.

It is also important to make sure you maintain your monthly payments to your insurance company because lapses in coverage can void their coverage of your pregnancy related expenses.

Here are some questions and thoughts to consider regarding your private insurance coverage:

1. Determine if you need prior authorization for any prenatal, maternity care, or baby coverage.

2. Does my insurance plan cover prenatal, maternity care, and baby bills?

3. Does your insurance company have different coverage for doctors or hospitals in your insurance company’s network?

4. Do you pay more if a doctor or hospital is outside of your insurance company’s network? If yes, then you will want to determine if your providers are out of your insurance company’s network.

5. Are you required to contact your health insurance company upon admission to the hospital? Are there other rules that you must contact your insurance company? It is important to note the above procedures because failure to do so could lead to financial penalties.

6. Does your insurance company require you to obtain a referral from your primary health care provider? This is very important because if this is required and you fail to obtain a referral they can deny or limit amount of payment.

7. Are there coverage limits to your plan such as limited number of days you can stay in the hospital or limited number of ultrasounds your plan covers?

8. What are your co pays or deductibles?

9. Does your health insurance cover all prenatal tests such as ultrasounds? Unless it is an emergency it is best to ask your doctor to determine your coverage before performing the tests?

10. If you are planning on using a mid-wife, then you should determine if your insurance plan covers any charges?

11. Is there a time frame that I must meet to enroll my child on my insurance plan? Some plans only give you 30 days to enroll your baby otherwise the baby bills will be your entire responsibility.

12. How do you add your baby to your insurance plan once he/she is born?

13. What will your insurance cover when your baby is in the hospital? What procedures does your insurance not cover?

14. Is there a limit as to how many days of nursery care your insurance will cover?

15. Is your pediatrician in your insurance company’s network?

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