Homebirth & Kaiser in CA

[justthinkn]

Hi! I was wondering if anyone has experience with Kaiser in CA as their HMO. I understand an HMO like Kaiser is unlikely to cover HB costs (though if anyone knows of exceptions, I'd love to hear it). But I was wondering about things like asking them to do your labs/ultrasounds (if desired) to save money, having them as your "backup" option if something goes wrong, and about adding the new child onto your insurance policy (is it more complicated? I may need a lot of lactation support after the birth - IGT - and have an awesome and free LC through Kaiser, who helped so much last time).

I'm really new to thinking about HBing, so I hope these questions make sense!

[GoldmanBaby09]

I don't personally have experience with this, but my mom had Kaiser and a homebirth 15 years ago. She got concurrent care with an OB, but planned her homebirth (4th kid and 4th hb). She found a midwife who was willing to give her a deal on her fee because she was getting prenatal care else where. She stopped seeing the Kaiser OB at about 36 weeks or so and had a wonderful homebirth with my brother. I don't think you should have a problem adding the baby to the insurance once you have a birth certificate and social security number.

[smpayne]

No HB experience, but I had both my kids at Kaiser Anaheim. I doubt much has changed too much in 10 yrs. You will probably never see the OB and only see a Nurse Practitioner for all pre-natal. Maybe alternate between Mid Wife and Kaiser for monthly appts or such.

Even if they say they will not cover a HB, I would go ahead and submit the "super bill" from the midwife anyway. You may get lucky and they may cover some of it. Sometimes getting re-imbursed is easier than having outside providers bill directly.

[justthinkn]

Thanks so much for both of your replies! I should have said, I do have experience birthing at Kaiser (Baldwin Park). My DD was born there, and it was an okay experience (I arrived at 10cm, gave birth vaginally 1.5 hours later with an episiotomy I believe the nurse-midwife considered truly necessary - she was very hands-off until that final moment of concern for DD's stress level). Yet I still find myself very stressed out when I consider repeating it, while thinking of getting to just stay at home to birth totally relaxes me

Anyone else?

[nia82]

I was with the Kaiser HMO in Redwood City until 4 months (we then switched to Tricare, yikes).
I do not have experience with HB, but I am pretty sure they will not cover it, but I would use them for all the labs.
They have many midwives and I would pick one and stick with her - in case you have to transfer you know them (it is unlikely with Kaiser to end up with your practitioner for birth, they make you sign a thingie in the beginning). But you will meet a couple I guess and the labwork and response time is truly awesome. I got all the things I asked for, and contacting your midwife via email is wonderful.
E.g. I asked to have my blood tested for toxoplasmosis and 5th disease and they did it without any questions...
In case you have to transfer, Kaiser has the lowest csection rates in CA, so it's not the worst place to be! Good luck!

[GoldmanBaby09]

That is true about the c/s rate at Kaiser. Thankfully, they are too cheap to pay for it routinely!

[sweetpea_119]

Well, as a two-time Kaiser c/s survivor & a one-time HBA2Cer, I will say that Kaiser will not cover homebirth, but there was no issue with them when I had my DS getting him on the insurance, getting him a pediatrician, etc. They don't really care a bit about how much you're in the system since you're just a number anyway...

I went with an OB until 20ish weeks & then I just couldn't take the medical system there any longer & switched to my delightful midwife. Kaiser didn't even call to see why I didn't make my next appointment...If you want to use them for your labs and such, why not just stick with them until after whatever tests you're most interested in are past & then just quietly fade out of there? They'll have your charts started so that you'll have something already there to preregister you if you did need to transfer.

I can't speak for the LC issue, but I can't imagine that the LC would refuse you service when you've got coverage...why would they care where the baby was born?

Happy homebirthing!!!

[justthinkn]

Thanks! That's helpful...