doulas...health insurance...anyone have any luck?

[the janet]

Has anyone been able to get their health insurance co to cover doula services?

If so, please share who your provider is and if you had to jump through any hoops.

Thanks in advance!!

[the janet]

I take it the lack of replies means a resounding "no"?

I actually just spoke to someone at United Healthcare who informed me that birth doulas are covered under my plan. I told him that I knew that it wasn't a service that was typically covered by insurance companies...was he sure? He said it would fall under prenatal care or something so, yes, they would cover a doula. He sounded pretty sure of it. Let's hope Ed at United knew what he was talking about.

Guess I'm going to move forward with hiring the pricey but awesome doula(s) I was hoping to go with!

[sibbis_d]

Interesting. I have United Healthcare so I am going to check into this as well. FWIW they did reimburse me for my last home birth. It was a tricky situation because I had to add my CNM as an "in-network" provider since there weren't any available in the area. We paid her up front and then submitted her bill later and they sent a check. They should've! I saved them at least $3000 by having that baby at home! All that being said UH seems like maybe they are somewhat open to "alternative" health care i.e. a doula. They've paid for a chiropractor for my son and I know I've seen accupuncture as well.

Are you going to try to get something in writing from them?