GEHA insurance and home birth

[ElizaS]

My husband and I are planning a home birth in just a few short weeks (I'm 32 weeks along), and have only recently transferred to the care of a midwife. As we've been talking to our insurance (GEHA), we've learned that they will not cover any midwife that is not a certified nurse midwife.....ours is a certified professional midwife (and in the state of Mississippi, those are the ONLY ones who do home deliveries). Has anyone had any experience/success getting GEHA to cover CPMs? or Homebirth?

Thanks!

[C.Arden]

GEHA originally told us that they would cover my CPM at the out of network rate.  We talked with several different people who all confimed that this was correct.  Also, the wording about midwife coverage in their materials was kind of vague and not at all specific so we thought it would be ok.  The story was completely different once our midwife billed after the birth though.  My dd is now 18 months old and we've been fighting the entire time to get the payment and it's just not going to happen.  I've talked to a few other people in different states who have had the same experience I have.  No one I've heard of has gotten them to pay for anything but a CNM.

We're using a CNM this time around (at home) and there are none that are covered in my area that do homebirths, but we'll definately get the out of network rate.

[dovemama]

Op, can I ask what the outcome was for the reimbursement? I am planning a Homebirth as well with Geha

[ElizaS]

We got zero reimbursement. :( I ended up with a CNM delivering and billing GEHA, but they refused and we didn't press the issue. Our CNM was not the one we hired, but was a friend who did the delivery because our CPM was at another birth.

GEHA did cover my prenatal care with my OB before I switched.

I'm thankful homebirths are sooo much cheaper than hospital births and that most midwives will work with you on the payments.

[dovemama]

Oh my gosh! That really concerns me! I am so sorry to hear that! Wow, I better figure out what is going on!