Getting the paperwork done for birth?

Question

My husband and I have a fairly good idea of which hospital we want to use to give birth. We are touring later this month. My question is this, someone told me that you have to file paperwork prior to having a baby with the hospital for insurance purposes. How far in advance do you have to do this? What all is necessary?

This is my second baby, but with my first I had no option of which hospital to use, and I don't remember having to do any additional paperwork. Then someone mentioned this "pre-certification" thing to me and now I am worried.

Answer 1

Its always a good idea to pre- register. The hospital can make sure that your insurance covers everything in advance. Also if you go into labor quickley or it becomes an emergency, you don't want yourself or your husband to have to fill out paper work. They ask some serious questions as well like: living wills, organ donation for yourself and your baby and religion preferance. Those are things that you don't want to be rushed into deciding. When your pre-registered you just walk into the hospital and they already know what you expect and what is covered! Good luck with your birth!

Answer 2

I resgistered at the hospital at 24 weeks. The reason most hospitals do this is for:
1. When you go into labor earlier or not you aren't having to fill out paperwork
2. They can give you a rough estimate of the of delivery for you.

I find it to be great, with my last birth and now this one all I have to do is give them my name and they know everything. My hospital even had food I could not eat (allergy foods) wheter or not I wanted an epidural, I found it to be useful so when I came in, in pain I didn't have to answer all the questions.

Answer 3

When you take a tour of the maternity ward at the hospital you're going to visit, they will probably ask you to write down your name and address so they can send you a pre-admission packet.

It's filled with information and then there are lots of things to fill out and sign about insurance, birth certificates, social security card for the baby, etc.

I filled mine out months in advance but forgot to send it in! I brought it to the hospital with me, though, and it was fine. They just want you to fill those things out in advance so that you don't have to lay in the hospital bed, sore and miserable, while signing page after page.

Good luck and congratulations :)

Answer 4

you don't have to do it in advance, but it helps. That way when you are in labor they have all your info ready and waiting, so you don't have to wait for them to process it before admitting you. I did it about 3 weeks before I was due and it took about 1/2 hour with an administrator. Call the hospital and they will get you an appointment. But don't do it too early, the authorization can expire (4-6 weeks depending on the hospital of insurance)

Answer 5

Some insurance companies require you pre certify before they will pay for pregnancy expenses. Contact your insurance company to find out for sure. The hospital paperwork can be done prior to admission and then you don't have to fill it out when you are in labor. It just saves time.

Answer 6

Your doctor should give you a paper with that basically says "Please pre-register this patient". All you do is go to the hospital's registration desk and give them that piece of paper as well as your insurance information, and they will ask you a few questions. Takes about 10 minutes, and when you go into labor you don't have to do all that paperwork down in the ER. They just take you to Labor and Delivery and set you up with a room, monitors, etc, then ask for your signature on a few forms. It's really easy.

Answer 7

I sent in paperwork early with my first, I'm not sure if it was for insurance purposes or not though. I just assumed it was to make things easier when I showed up in labor, the paperwork was already completed for me. I would check with your insurance company about any pre-certification they might require or even your OB at your next visit. Good luck!!

Answer 8

We took Lamaze classes at the hospital I gave birth at. When we signed up for them they asked if we were going to be there for the birth. We were and they said that we could pre-register when we were there for the classes. I would call the hospital and ask to talk with the registration department. They would know more.

Answer 9

I was pre-mature (10 weeks to be exact) so my mom didn't have to much time to make plans for where I was going to be born, but however she just went to the same hospital that she went to a week earlier to get a physical done to see if caring me was keeping her healthy or not.

Answer 10

Ask the maternity ward in your hospital. They will be very helpful. Don't forget the social security card for baby. Good luck. Do as much as you can in advance so you can focus on the important stuff like BABY!