Any input would be appreciate. United Health care HMO doesnt cover Homebirths? Im in Los...

[Aradia88]

Hi everyone I'm new here and i have a few questions. My husbands job has given him the packet for our insurance and we have no choice. I have left two voice mails for the Company that handles the insurance. I haven't received a call back yet. On the employee website it shows other companies plus PPO but we where no given any choice and that really sucks. All the midwives i have contacted told me I'm out of network and don't take HMO. I am not pregnant right now but i want to try for a 4Th soon.

most of the midwives i have talked too gave me other emails for other midwives. I am waiting for them to respond back. I feel like I'm going to just end up with No midwife. My old Midwife from WA State will come down to LA. I think she said when ever she is here in San Diego. She never charged me any money. She is a licensed midwife but something happened that she couldn't practice at the birthing center so it was shut down but a lot of women have used her and even her own daughters. Other then that, i don't know if i could do a unassisted birth. I tore with my 3rd and DH wouldn't be able to learn to fix it. Or if something else happens. The only thing he knows is Adult and infant CPR. So i rather have a Midwife for peace of mind.

Thanks for reading.

Natalie
 

[phathui5]

You could probably work out payment arrangements with a midwife in your area. Many midwives offer discounts to moms who are paying out of pocket. 

With my fourth baby, I used our tax return to cover my midwife's services.

[Aradia88]

Originally Posted by phathui5 

You could probably work out payment arrangements with a midwife in your area. Many midwives offer discounts to moms who are paying out of pocket. 

With my fourth baby, I used our tax return to cover my midwife's services.

I dont and cant do that sorry. I dont want to pay any money out of pocket and the tax return is going to all the small credit cards we owe. We dont have any extra money to save for this. Doesnt mean i cant afford a 4th, has nothing to do with that. paying out of pocket for this or paying in full is very different then having a baby which is completely free. I will be Breatfeeding, i have brand new boy clothes if i have a boy and some girl ones from my previous children. I have brand new cloth diapers, i have a wrap, a car seat. I will be sleeping with the baby in my bed. No crib, no nursery. But thanks for trying to give me a suggestion, others have said the same but i refuse to do that. Im probably going to use my old Midwife, she offered to help again. She comes to San Diego alot she says. and im about 2hours from their

[phathui5]

Have you tried applying for Medicaid? At least here in Oregon, they do cover midwives. They might where you are too.

[Aradia88]

Originally Posted by phathui5 

Have you tried applying for Medicaid? At least here in Oregon, they do cover midwives. They might where you are too.

No there is no such thing as medicaid in California its called Medi-Cal and no i wont apply for that. Medi-cal doesnt have Midwifes, well not in Los angeles they dont. Plus my husband has a job now and not on Unemployment money anymore. So he has to get the insurance he was given. I was going to get it when he was on Unemployed but it takes a long time and it just takes to much time out of my life to go to some office and apply so i never did it. I may just go and use my old midwife,

[ChristaM]

Have you requested a gap exception with United Healthcare? They are also my insurance company, although I have a consumer driven plan, not HMO. There are no midwives or birth centers in network, but they are in the process if allowing my midwife to be covered at the in network rate since there are no providers. I am paying my midwife up front, but that's only bc her fee is equal to my annual deductible and it's sitting in our HSA. Their only stipulation was that I have their official permission before the claim is submitted. Good luck!

[LittleBlackBug]

ChristaM, is your midwife CNM or CPM? I have UHC and they won't eve cover midwives as out of network.

[Aradia88]

Originally Posted by ChristaM 

Have you requested a gap exception with United Healthcare? They are also my insurance company, although I have a consumer driven plan, not HMO. There are no midwives or birth centers in network, but they are in the process if allowing my midwife to be covered at the in network rate since there are no providers. I am paying my midwife up front, but that's only bc her fee is equal to my annual deductible and it's sitting in our HSA. Their only stipulation was that I have their official permission before the claim is submitted. Good luck!

Mine is UnitedHealthcare SignatureValue HMO from a UNION job. It is my husbands insurance. cant change it to anything and i dont have money out of pocket to pay anyone. Its just how things are right now. HMO do not cover any Midwifes unless its a Hospital based midwife and im not even going there.

[Aradia88]

Originally Posted by LittleBlackBug 

ChristaM, is your midwife CNM or CPM? I have UHC and they won't eve cover midwives as out of network.

Your right LittleBlackBug- UnitedHealthcare does not cover Midwifes out of network for birth centers or homebirths.

[ChristaM]

Mine is a CPM, but the birth center she is at has a CNM as well, so that is irelevant. My UHC covers midwives and birth centers both in network and out (80% in 60% out), but since there are none in network in a fifty mile radius they have agreed to cover mine at an in network rate. It did take several phone calls and a bunch of transfers and I still haven't received the official letter, but once I do I know it will have been worth the time/investigation...

[ChristaM]

Originally Posted by Aradia88 


Your right LittleBlackBug- UnitedHealthcare does not cover Midwifes out of network for birth centers or homebirths.

I think this depends on the plan. Some people with UHC can get midwife coverage, others cannot, apparently!

[Aradia88]

Originally Posted by ChristaM 

Mine is a CPM, but the birth center she is at has a CNM as well, so that is irelevant. My UHC covers midwives and birth centers both in network and out (80% in 60% out), but since there are none in network in a fifty mile radius they have agreed to cover mine at an in network rate. It did take several phone calls and a bunch of transfers and I still haven't received the official letter, but once I do I know it will have been worth the time/investigation...

I understand more know what you mean. My husband has this huge book with a list of Doctors by Specialty. I know UHC would cover a Midwife in a hospital. But im not so sure of a birth center. I dont want neither so im most likely going for a Unassisted birth OR my old midwife who delivered my son said she would be more then happy to assist me. She said she comes down to San Diego (fam or friends idk) and if i chose to use her again just let her know. I may have to see a OBGYN during pregnancy i dont know. Im actually probably will maybe up to the second trimester. I dont want any doctors checking my cervix down there. I just dont want any Arguments because i will get into one. They most likely ask me questions regarding my c-sections and homebirth from the past. Try to guilt me into a c-section or hospital birth. I really dont want to go thru going to a OBGYN.

[Mrs.Floyd]

Originally Posted by Aradia88 

Your right LittleBlackBug- UnitedHealthcare does not cover Midwifes out of network for birth centers or homebirths.

That is not entirely correct, it depends on your plan and how hard you try and what person handles your requests (granted, there may be some plans that absolutely will not budge).  I have UHC and here they cover CNMs in-network at an OB office, however CPMs and lay-midwives are illegal in my state so my insurance does not cover them (NC - the state refuses to allow licensing for those types even though every state bordering us licenses them) - anyway I am planning to deliver at a birth center just over the state line in SC where those types of midwives are licensed.  And even though my plan does NOT cover the birth center or that type of midwife in-network, I was easily able to get an in-network exception for the birth center and my midwife to be covered at the in-network rate.  The reasoning is that there is NOT another *comparable* option available in-network within a reasonable driving distance from my location.  I got it with my second birth and for this one as well.  However we *do* have a PPO plan.  Just wanted to point out that it is not that UHC won't cover them.  You have to ask for it and then see what happens.  Mine was actually *very* easy - the birth center submitted the request for me and a couple of weeks later I got my letter in the mail.  No arguing back and forth or appealilng or anything, just a quick 'yes we will cover the birth center at the in-network rate up to 6 weeks postpartum'.