FYI to you expectant dads

[landscaper]

I just paid the hospital bill for our newborn son and got a pleasant yet frustrating surprise. I was getting ready pay it with a check and noticed some fine print on the statement about discounts for paying in full and paying early and additional things that insurance could cover so I called to check into that. The cashier ran the numbers. She said if I could pay in full and pay within the next two weeks it would save me nearly 700%!! I said, "If you can take a credit card over the phone how about I pay NOW!?"

That was a real blessing I wasn't expecting, but the moral of the story is that healthcare is marked up way beyond what is necessary, and the hospitals will settle for much less money than what they bill you for.

When you guys leave the hospital with your new babies ask all the questions you can about your bill!

[grnhed]

This is very true.

[ShotgunSP]

I have heard similar from friends. Good to know.

[free78]

We had our first child while in the Army so she was covered. Our second after insurance was $20. I got lucky. Glad I didn't get some of the bills I have heard of from friends and guys on here. Lucky you saw that fine print.

[JaMak84]

We had to spend the night in the hospital last month for observation and the bill I got was over $5K, the hospital accepted the insurance payment that was less than $800! My plan is supposed to cover 100% of prenatal and delivery, so I better not owe a penny. Guess we'll find out in a couple of weeks.

[mshunter77]

My wife works in labor and delivery and I know they give a large discount if you pay up front.

[the tree]

Just wait until 2014! The "offspring" of Affordable Health Care Act will enter the US healhcare world.

[420 racin]

Just had a baby boy (our first) in November and insurance was to pay all but about $150 or so, but my wife went into labor before the "scheduled" day, so her Dr. wasn't on call and we had to do a semi-emergency C-Section. After 18 hrs she said give her a C-Section, but they were about to do it anyway, so now insurance says since it wasn't medically necessary, she requested it and the Dr., that was there wasn't a "preferred provider" we are stuck with over $2K to pay after insurance. I am pissed. IF we had been so no good lazy bastards that didn't pay for our own insurance, we wouldn;t have to pay a dime, just like all the other POS that were there having babies.
Oh well, mom and baby are doing great so I am happy, worth any amount of money

[Seymore]

Health care providers enter into agreements to be part of a network with a third party payer like insurance all the time. Those agreements state that the payer will pay "X" for "Y" treatment and the provder agrees to accept that for being a network provider.

For instance let's say you have insurance that has network physicians and well baby is covered. The provider sends a $20,000.00 bill to the insurance company for two days of well baby care. The insurance looks up the codes that went with the bill and pays $200.00 for the two days. The health care provider writes off the rest as a "billing adjustment".

Next time you get an EOB look at it and see what is charged versus what actually gets paid.

[Northbigmuddy]

Just had my girl close to two months ago. We paid in advance and had estimates from the insurance and hospital on any out of pocket type charges. Everything went as scheduled and momma and baby are healthy of which I am very grateful for. There were no unexpected procedures or care.

Just got a hefty bill for over 3 grand from the hospital. The wife called the insurance company who told us not to pay it. Moral of the story is dont pay anything before you see what it's for. The hospital was just fishing to see if we would write a check. Jerks.

As a side note I saw pics of my 19 year old employees baby with his lying cheating 16 year old gurfriend at a nice hospital similiar to what my wife and I enjoyed. I can say for sure that neither of those two can afford the gas to get to the hospital. I'm wondering what is the point of being responsible?

[duramax]

I had twins in the fall and they were both in the NICU for 2 weeks because they were 6 weeks early. $28,000....each for their hospital bill. Thankfully my wife's insurance through her work extended to the babies, and I signed the babies on mine, so they were insured twice in order to cover everything without having to reach the max out of pocket for one.

[trey]

I just paid the hospital bill for our newborn son and got a pleasant yet frustrating surprise. I was getting ready pay it with a check and noticed some fine print on the statement about discounts for paying in full and paying early and additional things that insurance could cover so I called to check into that. The cashier ran the numbers. She said if I could pay in full and pay within the next two weeks it would save me nearly 700%!! I said, "If you can take a credit card over the phone how about I pay NOW!?"

That was a real blessing I wasn't expecting, but the moral of the story is that healthcare is marked up way beyond what is necessary, and the hospitals will settle for much less money than what they bill you for.

When you guys leave the hospital with your new babies ask all the questions you can about your bill!

This is why maturnity coverage on health insurance is a total waste of money unless your insurance is paid by your employer!

[bwilli3]

I am not looking forward to the stress or bill I will soon be getting. I have a second son due the end of July, and the dr's have already determined a heart defect. With that said, they told us to pack our bags for at least a months stay(3 - 6 weeks). On top of that, they are requesting my wife move to Jackson the month prior to delivery. So i'm not even trying to estimate how much I will be spending and in the end every penny will be worth it to be able to bring home a healthy baby.

[landscaper]

I am not looking forward to the stress or bill I will soon be getting. I have a second son due the end of July, and the dr's have already determined a heart defect. With that said, they told us to pack our bags for at least a months stay(3 - 6 weeks). On top of that, they are requesting my wife move to Jackson the month prior to delivery. So i'm not even trying to estimate how much I will be spending and in the end every penny will be worth it to be able to bring home a healthy baby.

Saying a prayer for y'all!

[deltadukman]

I am not looking forward to the stress or bill I will soon be getting. I have a second son due the end of July, and the dr's have already determined a heart defect. With that said, they told us to pack our bags for at least a months stay(3 - 6 weeks). On top of that, they are requesting my wife move to Jackson the month prior to delivery. So i'm not even trying to estimate how much I will be spending and in the end every penny will be worth it to be able to bring home a healthy baby.

Lets hope everything goes well. Let me know if yall need anything while down here. Im just down the road.