Hi, Robin!
This has been my experience in getting my homebirths paid for. (I'm in MI and actually CA is much kinder insurance wise for homebirths. Your insurance laws kindly include homebirths.)
With my first I had Health Alliance Plan. They said that my midwife was out of network and would not pay for her. But, I had submitted a few $100 charges here and there and got them reimbersed 100%. I ended up having to pay all but $200 out of pocket. I then, proceeded to write letters, make phone calls, etc for a whole year and managed to get them to pay for 100% of the birth around my son's 1 year Birthday. The way they paid, is I kept repeating, "If you didn't pay for the $200, I would have discontinued services with my care provider, but I was under the impression, you were going to cover my care 100%." Also, they were never billed for the birth, but rather prenatal care. They liked that better, since they don't believe birth takes place outside of hospitals.
With this pregnancy I have Blue Cross/ Blue Shield Empire Blue PPO. They will cover 80% of out of network care after I have paid the first $250 out of pocket. That's a drastic savings. Yeah! I'm happy. They seem to jerk me around less than my old insurance.
Now, since you babe is due next year, your other option is to switch insurances if your current one is unfriendly. Your midwife might even be willing to not bill you until 2004, so all the care would appear on your new insurance, not your old one. I think you have options besides paying for it all. You may have to wait to be reimbersed and be diligent, but in my experience, you will get paid (at least some) back.
Best wishes! And, I'm so glad that you're expecting a little one! I love to see our Nursing Mama's graduates! Yeah!
This has been my experience in getting my homebirths paid for. (I'm in MI and actually CA is much kinder insurance wise for homebirths. Your insurance laws kindly include homebirths.)
With my first I had Health Alliance Plan. They said that my midwife was out of network and would not pay for her. But, I had submitted a few $100 charges here and there and got them reimbersed 100%. I ended up having to pay all but $200 out of pocket. I then, proceeded to write letters, make phone calls, etc for a whole year and managed to get them to pay for 100% of the birth around my son's 1 year Birthday. The way they paid, is I kept repeating, "If you didn't pay for the $200, I would have discontinued services with my care provider, but I was under the impression, you were going to cover my care 100%." Also, they were never billed for the birth, but rather prenatal care. They liked that better, since they don't believe birth takes place outside of hospitals.
With this pregnancy I have Blue Cross/ Blue Shield Empire Blue PPO. They will cover 80% of out of network care after I have paid the first $250 out of pocket. That's a drastic savings. Yeah! I'm happy. They seem to jerk me around less than my old insurance.
Now, since you babe is due next year, your other option is to switch insurances if your current one is unfriendly. Your midwife might even be willing to not bill you until 2004, so all the care would appear on your new insurance, not your old one. I think you have options besides paying for it all. You may have to wait to be reimbersed and be diligent, but in my experience, you will get paid (at least some) back.
Best wishes! And, I'm so glad that you're expecting a little one! I love to see our Nursing Mama's graduates! Yeah!
