Having A Baby? Check Your Health Insurance Coverage? Repeatedly
Congratulations, you?re pregnant! Now go check your health insurance coverage. Great, the baby?s nursery is painted, decorated, and ready! Now go check your health insurance coverage. Wow, you?ve just received a ton of baby gifts for your baby shower! Now go check your health insurance coverage. Oh boy, your hospital bags are packed and it?s almost delivery time! Now go check your health insurance coverage.
Well, maybe it?s not quite to that extreme, but health insurance problems can creep up at any time. Unfortunately some people learn that the hard way when they receive a hospital or doctor?s bill that?s many times higher than what it should be. The problem is that with most of today?s healthcare networks, there are in-network and out-of-network providers. Choose a provider that?s in-network and your bills will be substantially lower. Choose an out-of-network provider and you?ll likely pay three times as much or more.
At this point, you?re probably thinking, ?No problem. I checked my network directory and chose an in-network OBGYN and hospital. I?m covered.? While that was probably true when you first checked the directory, that may not be true today. Unknown to many patients is that doctors and hospitals often fail to renew contracts or drop insurance companies for some reason. That?s why each and every time you visit your OBGYN or check in to a hospital, you?re asked to fill out the same insurance forms and sign the same payment guarantees you?ve signed countless times before. At that time, they should inform you if your insurance is no longer accepted, but that?s not always the case. Doctor?s offices and billing departments are not always up-to-date and aware of insurance contract changes. The only time you may find out a problem exists is when you get the bill. Even if they are aware of the insurance change and you are informed, you certainly don?t want to get that information when you?re checking in to deliver your baby.
Your best bet is to call both your insurance company and your chosen delivery hospital well before your big day and again as your due date gets nearer. Make sure they accept your insurance and are an in-network provider. If possible, find out when their contract expires and if it is being renewed. Just because they accept your insurance today doesn?t mean the same will be true tomorrow or next week or on your day of delivery.
If you do find a problem with your insurance, your options may be limited to paying the higher rates, switching insurances, or switching doctors and/or hospitals. Before you go to any of those extremes however, contact your insurance company to see if they will grant you an exception where you can continue with your out-of-network provider at an in-network rate. Also, call your hospital or doctor to see if they can come to some kind of compromise with your insurance company. While neither of those are likely to happen, it is worth a try. If you end up needing to switch insurances, make sure you check their rules regarding pre-existing conditions.
So, go on celebrating your pregnancy, decorating your baby?s nursery, unwrapping your baby shower gifts, and getting ready for your baby?s entrance into the world. Then, GO CHECK YOUR HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE.
Kenneth Taylor is an editor for the Binky Links Online Baby Store and Information Directory. Visit the directory at http://www.binkylinks.com/
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