triangle area - cost of a homebirth and health insurers

[spiritofthings]

I'm wondering how mamas paid for a homebirth. I am hoping for one last kiddo this year and having just moved to NC are shopping around for health insurance. We are self-employed so we will not be getting a group policy. So far Blue Cross is the only insurer that I've found that will cover maternity, let alone homebirths etc. Even though we have no health issues. Did anyone pay for a homebirth out of their own pockets? Apparently it would be $4400 at Carrboro Midwifery without labs and ultrasounds. I'm wondering in total how much it would come to roughly. Maybe I should talk to another homebirth midwife too to compare costs. Or anyone have any health insurance recommendations for individual/family policies? If the homebirth route is too much financially, I guess we can go with Blue Cross and the birth center in Chapel Hill. I'm not sure how homebirths are dealt with with Blue Cross. I'll look into it. 

Edited by spiritofthings - 1/7/12 at 9:53pm

[preciouspkgs]

CPM's are illegal in NC still, so most of them cannot get insurance reimbursement (occasionally you may find someone who was lucky enough).  CNM's can bill insurance, but most insurance pays crap for homebirth.  The birth center is more likely to get paid.  If you are interested in speaking to a CPM (who are cheaper than what you were quoted for the carrboro practice) nchomebirth.com and fill out the contact info; because of our legal status that way they can choose to contact you if that makes sense?  There are a few in your area though.

Good luck!

[spiritofthings]

Thank you. I will go digging at that website. 

[pittsburrito]

I had Blue Cross Blue Shield during my pregnancy and planned homebirth, and they reimbursed me very well--after the birth.  That means I paid everything out of pocket for 9 months (several thousand dollars), then the paperwork was filed afterwards, and a handsome check came in the mail (80% of what I had paid).  I was with a CNM (legal in NC), who does homebirths.  

In my case, I ended up with a transfer to the hospital, but Blue Cross reimbursed me for both the prenatal care for the homebirth, and paid for my care at the hospital.  So, it wasn't an either/or thing.  They covered it all at 80%.  Different plans at Blue Cross might handle it differently, so be sure to choose the particular plan you want carefully.

[delaneymom]

I have BCBS State Health Plan.  My first was born by c-section at Rex.  If I'm remembering correctly our out of pocket cost was around $3500-drs. office, hospital, labs, etc.  With the second and third the cost of the provider was within +/-$5 of the homebirth.  I believe that my homebirths were $2800 for the first, and $3000 3 years later.  Those are close, but may not be exactly right.  I used a CPM.

Obviously, you wouldn't purchase the state health plan, but just for reference.  For me, there was not cost issue between the hospital and home births.