Insurance question

[RachelP519]

If this question should be posted elsewhere, let me know :thumbsup:.

My insurance company doesn't cover homebirths :banghead: . They'll cover midwife-assisted births if the midwife is under supervision by a doctor. (I think this is what they told me...it's been a while since I talked to them.) Have any of you gotten your ins. co. to pay for a homebirth when they originally said they wouldn't?

I'm working on a letter to try to convince them to reimburse me (may be wasting my time :headscratch: ). They sent me a "welcome package" to their Special Beginnings program and one of the things in it was an issue of Lamaze magazine. Ann Grauer makes the following statement in “Shopping for Care” on page 6, “Conventional wisdom says that childbirth should happen in a hospital with a doctor, but if you’re healthy and have a low risk of complications, giving birth at home or in a birth center is just as safe as (and sometimes even safer than) a hospital.” She goes on to say “When you go into labor and walk through the hospital doors, the staff may think of you as a sick person. Often, medication and technology are used to treat problems that may never arise. Studies published in The Cochrane Library have shown that this may actually increase your risk for complications.” Later Grauer, in discussing provider options, points out “Studies show that midwifery care is not just safe but is very appropriate for healthy, low-risk women.”

I've included this in the letter I'm composing. Any thoughts or suggestions?

[Heather81]

Im facing the same challenge right now. I know they CAN cover it but they will give you a hard time about it. Im not giving up though and you shouldn't either.

We have a RIGHT to birth where we want to. What I don't understand is why they put up such a fight. Especially when it costs THOUSANDS less to birth at home. I think a lot of it has to do with the pressure the AMA and ACOG has been putting on these companies. Who knows.

Dont give up. If you are persistant, they may just crack.

A couple things you can try are:

Doing an out of network refferal

Speaking with a Case manager for your insurance company (this is the person who deal with insurance issues that are out of the norm for them).


Good luck hun! It's a headache to say the least but it's worth the effort!

[RachelP519]

I talked with someone at my insurance company today. They said I could file a claim and then appeal it to try to get in-network coverage. So, I'm waiting on a claim form. We'll see what happens! :thumbsup:

[rachaeljohnson]

I talked with someone at my insurance company today. They said I could file a claim and then appeal it to try to get in-network coverage. So, I'm waiting on a claim form. We'll see what happens! :thumbsup:

i told my insurance company if they don't cover it, i will check myself into the hospital afterwards and get every test i can just to pee in their wheaties...lol...i am hoping for coverage as well, but getting a tiny job to help save for it. One day a month or so...:)

[Lyttlewon]

No but I didn't try. My insurance was provided by my company and the insurance commissioner said that made them a "private" insurer and they could not be forced to pay for my HB. Call your insurance commissioner and see if they can be forced to pay.

I have heard of women, on Mothering, that had their MW submit the bill and it was paid or a portion was paid. I wasn't going to stress over it.

I paid for it out of pocket and it was the best money I ever spent. Never regretted a penny of it.

[kindchen]

Some ins. companies technically won't pay for the actual birth, but the mw can bill them most of the total amount for pre- and post-partum care to get around that.

[RachelP519]

I paid for it out of pocket and it was the best money I ever spent. Never regretted a penny of it.

I agree, but if my insurance co. will pay I'll gladly let them. That would put a few thousand dollars back in the bank. If they don't, that's ok. I wouldn't have done things differently.