Hi all,
I'm due with my first in November, and we want very much to have a waterbirth at home. Our midwife practices out of New Jersey (she's the first direct entry midwife ever licensed there), but she's happy to do a homebirth for us at our apartment in Southern Westchester (25 minutes out of NYC). According to her, New York State law requires health insurance to cover homebirth. The problem is, she's vague on what, exactly, this law is, and we're already getting the third degree from our insurance company (Healthnet), which doesn't cover homebirth in-network at all.
According to our midwife, we are within our rights to have Healthnet cover this as an in-network service. I just wish in knew what, if any, New York State legal provision details this. Frankly, I'd be happy even to have it partially covered as out-of-network, but I'm not sure if we'd even be able to get that. As far as I'm aware, (at least as of a few years ago) direct-entry midwifery isn't even legal in New York, much less covered by insurance. Does anyone here know if this has changed?
I'm sorry to sound so ignorant
: --I've searched the homebirth forums and archives, but most of the posts on this aren't particularly recent--and the info I picked up re: New York State and homebirth wasn't encouraging. I'm not worried about my midwife getting arrested (nor does she seem to be), as we don't plan to shout this news from the rooftops, but we won't be able to do this with her unless we're covered financially.
I'd really appreciate any input from mamas who have given birth at home in New York as well as direct entry midwives with experience in New York--or anyone else who may know about this. If we're not going to be able to get coverage, we'll have to have the baby at a birth center instead. I really don't want that, but I'd rather know sooner than later if we'll have to change our plans.
Thanks in advance for any info.
I'm due with my first in November, and we want very much to have a waterbirth at home. Our midwife practices out of New Jersey (she's the first direct entry midwife ever licensed there), but she's happy to do a homebirth for us at our apartment in Southern Westchester (25 minutes out of NYC). According to her, New York State law requires health insurance to cover homebirth. The problem is, she's vague on what, exactly, this law is, and we're already getting the third degree from our insurance company (Healthnet), which doesn't cover homebirth in-network at all.
According to our midwife, we are within our rights to have Healthnet cover this as an in-network service. I just wish in knew what, if any, New York State legal provision details this. Frankly, I'd be happy even to have it partially covered as out-of-network, but I'm not sure if we'd even be able to get that. As far as I'm aware, (at least as of a few years ago) direct-entry midwifery isn't even legal in New York, much less covered by insurance. Does anyone here know if this has changed?
I'm sorry to sound so ignorant
I'd really appreciate any input from mamas who have given birth at home in New York as well as direct entry midwives with experience in New York--or anyone else who may know about this. If we're not going to be able to get coverage, we'll have to have the baby at a birth center instead. I really don't want that, but I'd rather know sooner than later if we'll have to change our plans.
Thanks in advance for any info.