Homebirth-NYS Insurance coverage HELP!!

[Dee18A]

Hi everyone. I am new here and would appreciate some help. I am already 36 weeks pregnant and just convinced DH on a homebirth (we have a 2yr old that was born in a hospital). I've been looking for midwives and I'm interviewing my first tonight. BUT I just called my insurance co (GreatWest which is now part of CIGNA) and they said they don't cover homebirths. I know that NY law says insurance cos have to cover, but they said they are exempt from that rule bc they are a SELF-FUNDED plan. Does anyone have any experience with this? I really, really want to do a homebirth, but we really can't pay for it ourselves. If I can't work anything out with them, I won't be able to do it.

[Citykid]

My plan told me this as well. I brought it up with my HR person, they talked to the insurance people, and lo and behold, he came with the answer that they had been mistaken, they will cover it on an out-of-network basis. My suspicion is that they discovered they were wrong about being exempt from the NYS law, and decided to change their policy to covering it out of network, rather than being forced to cover it at in-network rates (which is what happens udner the law if they say they won't cover it at all).

Everyone at work knows you're pregnant by now, so you have nothing to lose. Ask for a meeting with your HR person and gently but firmly ask them to advocate with the insurance co. on your behalf. After all, it's much less expensive for them.

Hope that helps. Good luck.

[Dee18A]

Thanks so much for the info! I will try to go that route. Not sure how helpful HR will be-every year they get a worse insurance plan, but it is definately worth a shot!

[nyveronica]

back in 2000, I had CIGNA PPO and they paid %100 of my homebirth (we were in NYC then)

[bodaciousmom]

in NY they ABSOLUTELY MUST COVER HOMEBIRTH.. contact susan rachel.. she is upstate( i think dutchess or orange).. insurance will lie to you to save some $$$ but they have to cover