34 weeks pregnant, but doctor is out of network!?

Question

My doctor is not in my insurance network...I did not want to change doctors because I have already had 2 other children with her (with a previous insurance) and am comortable with her. I did not find out she was out of network until I had already begun my prenatal care with her. Now I find out that I have to pay 100% of her fee's. I am so stressed out about this and just do not know where the money is going to come from. Any suggestions?

Answer 1

Call your insurance company. Ask them if they'll authorize her to deliver your children. GET IT IN WRITING.

I don't know what the big deal is, you have a really high chance of having someone else deliver you, if she's not on call when you go into labor!!

Plus, you have to deliver in an IN NETWORK hospital, or WOW will you get massive bills. Does she work in the in network hospital you're going to deliver in? It's almost impossible to get the HOSPITAL moved in network.

I'm not sure if the "comfort level" is worth $12,000 out of pocekt expenses. It wouldn't be, to me.

Answer 2

Dear, get yourself to another doctor, and quickly, before you deliver this child. At least, at this point, you only have liability for prenatal services and charges. The REAL money is going to come when you deliver, both from the doctor and the hospital. Unless you have $12,000 to $15,000 (or more, if the birth is complicated) to throw around, your 'comfort level' with this doctor should not be considered as an important factor.

Sit down with this current doc, explain your scenario, and ask her for names of others docs who ARE in your network.

Answer 3

Try asking her if she would be willing to reduce her fee since you have had 2 other children with her. Many doctors are willing to do this.

But honestly, why does it matter if you have had 2 other children with her? Most doctors are excellent, and perhaps a new doctor will be able to give you different suggestions from a different perspective. And if you've been through it twice before, you know the drill already, so it won't be a big deal.