Paying for childbirth before childbirth

[foggierbard9]

I got a letter today from the OB office. It says that I need to pay them my portion of the fees for childbirth before I ever even have my baby. I am 6 weeks pregnant. They want the portion that I will be responsible for after insurance paid now. This amount doesn't include c-section, circ, any complications, or the hospital fees, just their fees.

Has anybody ever paid for childbirth before they ever went in to have the baby?

[tmsmalley]

Yep, I think that's pretty standard. You have to pay your share/co-pay. They usually give you some time to do it, but it is done before the baby gets here.


Tess

[isis]

I had to pay my portion ahead too, that was 7 years ago. I had natural childbirth, so that was the packet I filled out, but also had to fill out an emergency page just in case I needed a C-Section. The paperwork is filled with the hospital ahead of time.

[foggierbard9]

ok, with my first we didn't pay beforehand. I do have to fill out papers for the hospital to pre-register also. This is just the OB's fees so far, I guess.

[tmsmalley]

Yes, the hospital and any anesthesiologist and anything else is separate. This is just your OB visits (including your basic urine test), all the way through your 6 week follow up. If you go out for an u/s or have blood work, etc. that's extra too.

Tess

[jen276here]

I never heard of such a thing! That is really interesting! Just out of curiosity, what if you don't/can't pay ahead?

[foggierbard9]

Originally Posted by jen276here I never heard of such a thing! That is really interesting! Just out of curiosity, what if you don't/can't pay ahead?

The letter says the alternative to the payments is to pay the full amount up front. I was wondering the same thing about if you don't/can't pay ahead? Do they tell me I can't deliver my baby?

[jenrose]

WOW, that I have never heard of. My OB actually didn't bill me at all other than my visit copay until after the baby was born then they billed me their fees in one lump sum. Then I put it on a payment plan and was paying as instructed until I went to make a payment and they told me they did an administrative adjustment and my balance was 0. So I didn't end up even paying the total bill in the end LOL

[foggierbard9]

I'm not sure if we can make these payments. Money is already tight and I don't know where 180 a month is going to come from. Just what I need right now, more stress.

[seedlady]

i had to prepay everything for each of my kids, and then one was born with so many problems that insurance kicked in at 100 per cent, and i got a refund. that was kinda nice.