CO mamas, did your insurance reimburse for a homebirth?

[amrijane128]

I have heard that state medicaid does not, but that state CHP+ does.

Would you mind sharing what other companies have reimbursed your homebirth midwife fees? Thanks!

[lillysweets]

The midwife that I work for has been re-imbursed by Cigna and United Healthcare, among others.

[MamaMorgana]

So how much does a homebirth typically cost in Colorado? And how much did you end up paying out of pocket, once insurance did or didn't cover costs?

[babsbob]

I had Lumenos for my first and Blue Cross for my second. I can't remember what I ended up paying out of pocket - I think it was maybe $700. The deductable plus whatever the insurance didn't pay for. You just have to make sure your insurance company considers a midwife as a provider. My DH's insurance would only reimburse a midwife who worked for an MD or something stupid like that.

[lillysweets]

Originally Posted by MamaMorgana

So how much does a homebirth typically cost in Colorado? And how much did you end up paying out of pocket, once insurance did or didn't cover costs?

In the Colorado Springs area, HB costs $1800-$3000 OOP.

[LittleBlackBug]

I have Great West HSA. They didn't cover a midwife for home birth but would have covered a CNM in a hospital, something I didn't want. I had saved up the money in my HSA and we paid out of pocket.

[amrijane128]

Here in Grand Junction I saw 3-5k for the few midwives we interviewed. The midwife who we have chosen is costing 5k, out of pocket at the moment. I am on state medicaid and it just may be worth paying bogus "pre-existing condition" rates to sign with someone else, if they will cover the homebirth. That's why I was hoping to get some companies listed. Thanks!

[RainRaven]

CNIC covers home birth, I am in Grand Junction and they covered mine i had to pay my 1500 deductible and they covered the rest 100% original cost was 6000. I paid 1500. CHP+ pays at 80/20

[ktmama]

Aetna covered my last two homebirths at the Out of Network Provider rate (80% the first time and 60% the next). My mw charges $2,800 for prenatal care, the birth, postnatal care and initial pediatric care for six weeks post partum. Her fee also include a Ayurvedic massage and meal.

[sparkly]

Blue Cross is not wanting to reimburse one single cent, so it would then cost us $3,200 out of pocket. Yikes.

[craft_media_hero]

Hi I am in Grand Junction, CO, and looking for a hb mw, too. I am really getting discouraged with the mw hunt and the fact that we can't get any insurance to cover the birth, either. We don't make enough $ to qualify for CHP+, so if we apply, we will get Medicaid. My dp's insurance website is very confusing, and it sounds like they only cover nurses practicing in a hospital? Ugh, I am fed up with it.

eta- I haven't contacted very many mw's because I was hoping to have the insurance ironed out first, but we are looking at about $3500 out of pocket. Garrrr!

[Rockies5]

I've seen CHP+ cover some midwives. I've personally had Aetna cover two homebirths (with no OON coverage, I just argued until the gave in)

[Right of Passage]

I've had Aetna cover pregnancy care from a homebirth midwife, babe was born in hospital for non-emergent transport (midwife wasn't going to make it). Now I'm working with Anthem/BCBS to get an in network exemption to pay for my up coming homebirth.