I just mentioned in another thread that I'm a big believer that money is one of, if not the main motivating factor in the perpetuation of circumcisions by the US medical community. In order to further expand on this point, I'd like to post the form given to DH and me right after the 5 month ultrasound that revealed that we were having a boy (this was about 5 months ago, and I was too hormonal to post about it at the time).
The ultrasound was considered elective and therefore wasn't covered by insurance, so after the ultrasound we went to the front to pay. The woman at the front asked "So what is it ?" .... "It's a boy!" we happily said. "Oh, well, let me give you this then"......and this is what we received....this and ONLY this.......no educational material, nothing:
FINANCIAL POLICY REGARDING CIRCUMCISIONS
Congratulations, you are having a baby boy! We at Yada Yada Yada Obstetrics and Gynecology would like you to know that if you choose to have your son circumcised, our physicians can do this in the hospital, typically 24-48 hours after delivery.
We will be happy to file this service to your insurance company as a courtesy to you. Our office fee for the circumcision is $325.00. We require that $175 of this be pre-paid by the beginning of your 8th month, as many insurance companies only pay a portion of this fee. We will gladly reimburse you for any overpayment you made in the event we recieve payment from your insurance (gee, aren't they helpful????).
If you have Medicaid, we also require you to pre-pay $175.00 at the beginning of your 8th month. The Medicaid office has informed us that as of July 1, 2003, they will no longer reimburse for circumcisions.
(On the letter, this next portion is italicized for special emphasis) If you decline to know the gender of your baby, we still require the $175.00 to be pre-paid in the event that you do have a boy and wish to have him circumcised. If you do not have a boy, then your money will be refunded to you. We need your signature on this form regardless, if gender is known or not.
If the circumcision is not pre-paid, then you will be responsible for the $325.00 fee.
______ YES I would choose circumcision if I have a son.
______ No I would NOT choose circumcision if I have a son.
Blah blah blah, sign your name and all that.
Paid_______ Yes ___________ No
As you all can see, they are very concerned with getting their money and not so much concerned with anything else. It was hard not making editorial comments as I was typing that, but I know you all will add your own as you read it.
There's a portion where you're supposed to sign where it says "Patient Signature"....I said to the woman "But how can he sign this, he's not even born yet" and she said "No, that's for YOUR signature" and I said "But it's not my penis, I'm not the patient"...and of course she just chuckled, you know, because I'm oh so silly.
I freaking hate people sometimes.
The ultrasound was considered elective and therefore wasn't covered by insurance, so after the ultrasound we went to the front to pay. The woman at the front asked "So what is it ?" .... "It's a boy!" we happily said. "Oh, well, let me give you this then"......and this is what we received....this and ONLY this.......no educational material, nothing:
FINANCIAL POLICY REGARDING CIRCUMCISIONS
Congratulations, you are having a baby boy! We at Yada Yada Yada Obstetrics and Gynecology would like you to know that if you choose to have your son circumcised, our physicians can do this in the hospital, typically 24-48 hours after delivery.
We will be happy to file this service to your insurance company as a courtesy to you. Our office fee for the circumcision is $325.00. We require that $175 of this be pre-paid by the beginning of your 8th month, as many insurance companies only pay a portion of this fee. We will gladly reimburse you for any overpayment you made in the event we recieve payment from your insurance (gee, aren't they helpful????).
If you have Medicaid, we also require you to pre-pay $175.00 at the beginning of your 8th month. The Medicaid office has informed us that as of July 1, 2003, they will no longer reimburse for circumcisions.
(On the letter, this next portion is italicized for special emphasis) If you decline to know the gender of your baby, we still require the $175.00 to be pre-paid in the event that you do have a boy and wish to have him circumcised. If you do not have a boy, then your money will be refunded to you. We need your signature on this form regardless, if gender is known or not.
If the circumcision is not pre-paid, then you will be responsible for the $325.00 fee.
______ YES I would choose circumcision if I have a son.
______ No I would NOT choose circumcision if I have a son.
Blah blah blah, sign your name and all that.
Paid_______ Yes ___________ No
As you all can see, they are very concerned with getting their money and not so much concerned with anything else. It was hard not making editorial comments as I was typing that, but I know you all will add your own as you read it.
There's a portion where you're supposed to sign where it says "Patient Signature"....I said to the woman "But how can he sign this, he's not even born yet" and she said "No, that's for YOUR signature" and I said "But it's not my penis, I'm not the patient"...and of course she just chuckled, you know, because I'm oh so silly.
I freaking hate people sometimes.
(like our son should have been!) so there won't be anything at all to worry about.
: 
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