My insurance might cover!!

[Charmie981]

I visited my LAY midwife yesterday with a friend (I am her doula) and she told us that she's about to be put on the list of approved provider for TRICARE and that by the time I'm due, she should know for sure if the birth center or homebirth will be covered. I've heard of lay midwives being on the list before, but everytime any MW I know has inquired, they've been told you MUST be a CNM. Well, Tricare actually called this MW after being hounded by a client of hers to get her on the list! They told her exactly how to bill it so that she gets the entire fee out of them and sent her all of the paperwork. She put a cover letter on it saying she expects not to be rejected since she knows __________ of _____, TX, also a lay midwife is on the approved providers list as well .

I couldn't be happier. I want a home or birth center birth, and I'm willing to pay for it, but I'm much happier if I DON'T have to pay for it!!

[lunarmomma]

That is great news... Wish that would happen more often...
Good luck. that is really cool!!!

[Spark]

Wow! That's just amazing. Yesterday, 11 mos and 2 weeks after my son was born at home I received a check from our insurance company paying 100% of our midwife bill. I was so happy. What a nice Birthday present for my son! And, the crazy thing is -- I HAVE AN HMO! I never got approval, but I did write 6 letters call 10 times and just didn't give up. How wonderful to have a midwife already associated with your insurance.
Congrats! Sending you healthy positive thoughts.
BTW -- my insurance company is H.A.P. out of Michigan.

[kama'aina mama]

Charmie that is AWESOME! Tricare covered my homebirth too! It's kind of wild and amazing. I met a woman here recently who got into a big hassle in LA over having a homebirth on base. JAG called her, it was a big scene... so if you live on base you might want to keep your plans kind of quiet, you know?