| Author |
Message |
    
brooklyngirl
Citizen
Username: Brooklyngirl
Post Number: 36
Registered: 6-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, April 20, 2006 - 11:15 am: | 
|
Does anyone know how much it costs to actually have a baby in a hospital verses at home or in a birthing center?
What is the best way to find out? I Need to know for 6 months down the road.
|
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 13757
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, April 20, 2006 - 11:16 am: |
|
I don't know, but congratulations!
|
amandacat
Citizen
Username: Amandacat
Post Number: 1101
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, April 20, 2006 - 12:14 pm: |
|
Do you have insurance? If so, what kind? I had Oxford when my son was born last year, and the only out of pocket expense we had were for his circumsision (considered a "cosmetic" procedure) and the extra $200/night we paid for a private room at St. Barnabas. |
Pippi
Supporter
Username: Pippi
Post Number: 2113
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, April 20, 2006 - 12:17 pm: |
|
Is it also true that Overlook hospital rooms are all private? so if you delivered there, that wouldn't be an expense.
|
shoshannah
Citizen
Username: Shoshannah
Post Number: 1230
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, April 20, 2006 - 12:29 pm: |
|
If you have health insurance or Medicaid, it usually costs nothing out of pocket. Without insurance, it could be in the neighborhood of $15,000-$20,000, including the prenatal care (my doctor's fee included prenatal care, delivery, and postanatal care). But of course it all depends on such things as type of birth (vaginal or c-section), drugs administered, private or semi-private room, length of stay in the hospital (one or two nights), services that your baby needs (NICU, incubator, specialist evaluations, etc). |
LilLB
Citizen
Username: Lillb
Post Number: 1550
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, April 20, 2006 - 12:31 pm: |
|
A C-section is considered "cosmetic"?????? Wow. I didn't know that.
|
Wendyn
Supporter
Username: Wendyn
Post Number: 2982
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, April 20, 2006 - 12:32 pm: |
|
I think #2, who was in the hospital an extra 3 days, cost about $10,000 total for birth + stay at Overlook.
#1 was a full term low birth weight (after that experience I would NEVER have a home birth). She was in the NICU for 12 days, cost $25,000.
Of course I had Oxford so I paid a $20 total for each kid. What a bargain!
AND I think that the insurance companies get discounted rates, so if you are paying out of pocket it will probably be more.
I guess what I am saying is you really have no way of knowing. If you have a home birth with no complications I am sure it will be less expensive than a hospital stay. No idea about a birthing center though. |
Wendyn
Supporter
Username: Wendyn
Post Number: 2983
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, April 20, 2006 - 12:33 pm: |
|
Lili, a circumcision is considered cosmetic, not a c-section. |
LilLB
Citizen
Username: Lillb
Post Number: 1551
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, April 20, 2006 - 12:36 pm: |
|
Oh goodness...read that one wrong!!! |
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 13765
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, April 20, 2006 - 12:39 pm: |
|
LilLB as Emily Litella: "Oh! That's different! [turns to audience] Never mind!"
|
LilLB
Citizen
Username: Lillb
Post Number: 1553
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, April 20, 2006 - 12:55 pm: |
|
Tom -  |
campbell29
Citizen
Username: Campbell29
Post Number: 410
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, April 20, 2006 - 2:43 pm: |
|
We had our baby in May at St. B - problems with baby - in NICU for a week, problems with Mom - blood transfusions. The total cost for everyone involved was close to $50,000. Insurance paid all but the circumcision and $250 deductible for baby. They even paid for the private room. |
irl
Citizen
Username: Irl
Post Number: 228
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, April 20, 2006 - 3:21 pm: |
|
I had an unexpectedly preterm baby at Barnabas in '96 (everything was going fine until 33 weeks, then wham!). Total cost for BABY who stayed 4 weeks was $56,900. I don't really recall my costs. With insurance, it didn't fall on us, thank the Lord. |
cppkqp
Citizen
Username: Cppkqp
Post Number: 116
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, April 20, 2006 - 3:33 pm: |
|
Hospital costs clearly depend on your insurance. All of my children were born at St. B and each had their turn in the NICU. For each birth we paid only the extra $$ for the private room.
Thank God for good insurance! I don't know how we would have covered the costs of our children's care otherwise! Our twins were born early (33 weeks); one was in the NICU for three weeks, the other six weeks. Due to the lag between when the insurance co. pays the doctors and the doctors billing cycles, we received many bills for covered expenses that had not yet been paid. I learned that a six-week stay in the NICU, with various specialists and one surgery, ran up a bill of over $165,000.
Best wishes for a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby! |
doulamomma
Citizen
Username: Doulamomma
Post Number: 1366
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, April 20, 2006 - 5:21 pm: |
|
brooklyngirl,
Since others have discussed hospital costs, I'll address homebirth costs...if one were to pay out-of-pocket for complete prenatal care & home birth (& follow up care) with a CNM (midwife), it would be about $4500 or $5000, possibly excluding certain prenatal tests, some lab work & perhaps seeing the backup doctor...this would not include costs if a hospital transfer were needed. Some midwives have their own birthing/labor tubs (should that interest you), while others do not but can help arrange rental (around $150-$200). One can generally find success in getting the birth paid for by insurance by seeking an in-network exception (if insurance allows going out of network). For those who have insurance that will not pick up all costs (or for birth related things like a doula, alternative therapy or classes, some have found that medical flex spending accounts are an option). There are some other small costs & tasks that become your responsibility when birthing at home, such as getting the birth certificate.
There are currently no free-standing birthing centers in NJ. There are some hospitals with midwifery practices that call themselves birthing centers. St. Lukes in the city has an in-hospital birthing center on a seperate floor from the regular L&D. There are a few hospitals in NJ offering water labor & in some cases, water birth.
Please feel free to contact me at doulamomma1@hotmail.com if I can offer names of midwives or answer other questions.
Best & congrats! |
brooklyngirl
Citizen
Username: Brooklyngirl
Post Number: 37
Registered: 6-2005
| | Posted on Friday, April 21, 2006 - 5:27 pm: |
|
Thanks to all of you. Your answers were great and helped me focus on the questions that I needed to ask. I have Blue Cross Blue shield and they will cover everything except for a private room. That costs extra. I called Moristown because that is where my doctor is out of and they said that if I got a private room then I would have to pay the difference. That does not seem to bad. I was trying to do it today since I am starting the flex spending plan at work. So I wanted to set aside enough money for expenses that were not being covered by insurance so that I could pay for them tax free. I was surprised that there was nothing on the message board regarding this. Now there is so if anyone reads this and needs help deciding how much to put aside pretax contact me and I will let you know what I did.
Thanks for your help all, you are all the best! |
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 13813
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Friday, April 21, 2006 - 5:28 pm: |
|
You'll start hating us when we meet again in the Education section.
|
Former Cowgirl
Citizen
Username: Formercowgirl
Post Number: 40
Registered: 3-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, April 22, 2006 - 9:37 am: |
|
I would double and triple check with your health insurance. You need to call them and find out what is your OUT-OF-POCKET maximum for a maternity hospital stay. With my first, my out of pocket max was $2000. We had a c-section and a 4-day hospital stay that totalled about $25,000. We paid $2000 total (this covered random things like ultrasound gels that weren't covered, or the non-covered anesthesiologist...). This time I have a GASP $4000 out of pocket max (yes, I HATE HEALTH INSURANCE COMPANIES!!!!!!!) And while I'm trying to VBAC and hoping for lower costs, I am budgeting for $4000 c-section.
Call your insurance. The out of pocket max will tell you the worst case scenario for you in a hospital setting. If you want to do further research, you can ask your insurance company what you need to alert your medical staff to in regards to non-covered maternity expenses.
I've heard that a delivery in a birthing center with a midwife can cost anywhere from $1500 - $3000 for an uncomplicated vaginal birth (no medical intervention needed). But I've never gone this route myself so I'm not 100%.
FYI. All recovery rooms at St. Clare's in Denville ARE private with no extra cost.
|
Closed: New threads not accepted on this page