Childbirth Costs (1 Viewer)

[TheWalkmen]

WTF people. My wife gave birth to our 2nd child in April. She's a precious little girl named Ceciia. She cries all the time and ####s whenever and wherever she wants, which seems a bit rude, but other than that she's great. My 18 month old son loves to smack her in the face when he's not throwing #### down our laundry chute or dumping over the dogs water bowls, so while that is also frustrating it's somewhat hilarious at the same time.

Anyway, the hospital bills are rolling in. It looks like the hospital stay is about $11,000 - $12,000 a day pre-insurance, and our responsibility is $1,700 - $1,800 of it. We've only received the insurance "Explanation of Benefit Payments" paperwork, not the actual bills, but it looks like we're in for about $5,000 or so excluding another $1,000 that was our responsibility for a short NICU stint. That also excludes the $1,000 or so we had to pay in pre-birth medical bills to the OGBYN.

$7,000 seems a bit steep for out-of-pocket expenses. In all seriousness, how does the average American family have a child? Since I am obviously an FBG, I have the cash laying around, but I really don't feel like paying these bills. Should I be outraged at these amounts? Does our insurance suck that bad?

 

[ClownCausedChaos2]

Have you inquired about the hospital's return policy?

 

[bleachercreacher]

The wife and I just had a baby. Our bills totaled about $1200 after insurance.

 

[McGarnicle]

If a you and your wife have a combined IQ of 220 or higher, the government should issue you a $25,000 rebate per child.

 

[Ned]

The wife and I just had a baby. Our bills totaled about $1200 after insurance.

That's about what we paid for both of our kids - 5 & 7yrs old. Both were super easy births, wife didn't take any drugs, etc. I'm not surprised the OP is over $5K if they needed a NICU stay.

 

[Ned]

If a you and your wife have a combined IQ of 220 or higher, the government should issue you a $25,000 rebate per child.

 

[Kal El]

My wife and I paid about $500 or so all each for our first two daughters, when their deliveries sans insurance would have run about $11,000 each. I already know that price will go up with our first son due in November, due to the cost of circumcision.

 

[Rayderr]

My daughter was born 2 years and month ago. We had a bill for like $10k, but after all the insurance stuff kicked in, it got down to $2k. So we paid it off and moved on with our lives.

Then last month, (about4 days after my daughters second birthday) we get a bill from the hospital demanding $1037 or they were going to take legal action.

Odd we thought. Went and grabbed the bill that it was referencing and saw that it was for $2k. Found our payment in our bank statements as well. So called them up and asked them what the hell was going on. They tell me the bill was for $3k. I tell them that's not correct and that I have the bill showing $2k. And went over everything on the bill that resulted in the $2k charge. They say one of the items was different. I say that's what the original bill they sent me said. Had me fax a copy of the original bill and they would look it over.

A week goes by, I get a bill for $1037 again. But at least time it's a normal bill and not one threatening legal action. So I call them back up. They say that the Insurance did not pay what it says on my bill. I grab the EOB (explanation of benefits) and which says they paid what they said on the bill. They tell me they can't help me and to take it up with the insurance (which I no longer have as our company swtiched insurances)

So call up the insurance company, explain the situation, they can't seem to find anything that matches up with what the hospital is saying. So I have them send me a copy of every EOB they have associated with that hospital stay.

A week goes and I get a copy of the EOB's in the mail (had to get them in the mail because apparently 18 months is the cut off for them to email EOBs) and sure enough, everything they send me matches up with what I already have.

Call the Hospital back up. After telling them that the EOB's are still saying I only owed the $2k which I paid. They tell me that the Insurance Company made an adjustment this past November which resulted in me now owing that extra $1k. I mutter under my breath that it would've been nice if they had mentioned this in my previous calls. Also ask them if that's the case, why they didn't send me a bill then instead of waiting 5 months and sending me the threatening bill. They didn't have an answer about that. I apparently would have to talk to another department for that answer

So, back to the insurance company. Ask them if they made an adjustment back in November. After a little searching, yes they did! Turns out they were doing an audit and discovered they overpaid by $1037.88 so they took the money back from the hospital (they can do that apparently.) Asked them why they didn't send me that when I asked for EOB's before. Apparently adjustments are totally separate from EOBs, so that's why they didn't send it to me. So they email me a copy of that.

The Hospital did off to "settle" for like $770 but the remaining amount would be written off as bad debt and go on my credit report.

So I just had to pay a $1k bill that I had no idea was coming. Good times.

 

[Donsmith753]

Universal healthcare, you should try it.

 

[Cliff Clavin]

Had a beautiful little girl in February. Hospital bill was $0 before insurance.

 

[cheese]

Where you live will be a big factor here.

 

[KCitons]

A couple of years ago, my wife gave birth to a rather large kidney stone. She went to the ER at approx 6:30am and she was home around 7pm. She ate one crappy meal and never slept in the bed. (she did lay unconscious for a few hours on a gurney)

Total cost, $17k. Out of pocket, $1400.

Healthcare in this country is out of control. I wish the government would put together some type of mandated health care for us.

 

[Jayrok]

My daughter's birth in '86 was $10. My wife had to stay an extra couple of days in the hospital. My son in '90 was $7.

 

[mr roboto]

Universal healthcare, you should try it.

Wait 6 months to have the baby!

 

[GoBirds]

The wife and I just had a baby. Our bills totaled about $1200 after insurance.

I think we were around this maybe a couple hundred less and both were c sections.

 

[McGarnicle]

I had a beautiful little girl in '86. I had to hide in the closet when her parents came home unexpectedly.

 

[bushdocda]

Trick is getting kids to prepay their birth.

 

[matttyl]

I believe the average cost to have a baby without insurance is $10-15k without any complications. Insurance kicks in and lowers that to whatever the policy provides for.

A friend of mine had twins 2 or 3 years ago now - both needed extended NICU stays, and both are totally happy and healthy today and completely tormenting their parents as children do. Total bill before insurance for that one was over a quarter million. Insurance obviously paid the vast majority of that claim.

 

[kutta]

Wait until the college bills start rolling in.

 

[Steed]

My daughter was born 2 years and month ago. We had a bill for like $10k, but after all the insurance stuff kicked in, it got down to $2k. So we paid it off and moved on with our lives.

Then last month, (about4 days after my daughters second birthday) we get a bill from the hospital demanding $1037 or they were going to take legal action.

Odd we thought. Went and grabbed the bill that it was referencing and saw that it was for $2k. Found our payment in our bank statements as well. So called them up and asked them what the hell was going on. They tell me the bill was for $3k. I tell them that's not correct and that I have the bill showing $2k. And went over everything on the bill that resulted in the $2k charge. They say one of the items was different. I say that's what the original bill they sent me said. Had me fax a copy of the original bill and they would look it over.

A week goes by, I get a bill for $1037 again. But at least time it's a normal bill and not one threatening legal action. So I call them back up. They say that the Insurance did not pay what it says on my bill. I grab the EOB (explanation of benefits) and which says they paid what they said on the bill. They tell me they can't help me and to take it up with the insurance (which I no longer have as our company swtiched insurances)

So call up the insurance company, explain the situation, they can't seem to find anything that matches up with what the hospital is saying. So I have them send me a copy of every EOB they have associated with that hospital stay.

A week goes and I get a copy of the EOB's in the mail (had to get them in the mail because apparently 18 months is the cut off for them to email EOBs) and sure enough, everything they send me matches up with what I already have.

Call the Hospital back up. After telling them that the EOB's are still saying I only owed the $2k which I paid. They tell me that the Insurance Company made an adjustment this past November which resulted in me now owing that extra $1k. I mutter under my breath that it would've been nice if they had mentioned this in my previous calls. Also ask them if that's the case, why they didn't send me a bill then instead of waiting 5 months and sending me the threatening bill. They didn't have an answer about that. I apparently would have to talk to another department for that answer

So, back to the insurance company. Ask them if they made an adjustment back in November. After a little searching, yes they did! Turns out they were doing an audit and discovered they overpaid by $1037.88 so they took the money back from the hospital (they can do that apparently.) Asked them why they didn't send me that when I asked for EOB's before. Apparently adjustments are totally separate from EOBs, so that's why they didn't send it to me. So they email me a copy of that.

The Hospital did off to "settle" for like $770 but the remaining amount would be written off as bad debt and go on my credit report.

So I just had to pay a $1k bill that I had no idea was coming. Good times.

Was the extra 1037 paid by the insurance company a clerical error or did they clawback money because of improper documentation, procedure etc etc

 

[Sand]

$7,000 seems a bit steep for out-of-pocket expenses. In all seriousness, how does the average American family have a child? Since I am obviously an FBG, I have the cash laying around, but I really don't feel like paying these bills. Should I be outraged at these amounts? Does our insurance suck that bad?

45% of all births are billed to Medicaid.

 

[TheWalkmen]

Wait until the college bills start rolling in.

~$600 / wk for 2 under 2 in daycare starting in July annualizes to about $30,000. So I think I'm there on daycare alone.

 

[TheWalkmen]

$7,000 seems a bit steep for out-of-pocket expenses. In all seriousness, how does the average American family have a child? Since I am obviously an FBG, I have the cash laying around, but I really don't feel like paying these bills. Should I be outraged at these amounts? Does our insurance suck that bad?

45% of all births are billed to Medicaid.

Not to be intentionally ignorant... so they pay nothing at all then?

 

[belljr]

Luckily other then our monthly premium everything was covered.

now I think I would be oop 4k

 

[Cliff Clavin]

Wait until the college bills start rolling in.

~$600 / wk for 2 under 2 in daycare starting in July annualizes to about $30,000. So I think I'm there on daycare alone.

Is that normal or some sort of fancy private daycare?

 

[Sand]

$7,000 seems a bit steep for out-of-pocket expenses. In all seriousness, how does the average American family have a child? Since I am obviously an FBG, I have the cash laying around, but I really don't feel like paying these bills. Should I be outraged at these amounts? Does our insurance suck that bad?

45% of all births are billed to Medicaid.

Not to be intentionally ignorant... so they pay nothing at all then?

I believe that all those bills are covered under Medicaid and the parents don't have a bill going home.

 

[ClownCausedChaos2]

Wait until the college bills start rolling in.

~$600 / wk for 2 under 2 in daycare starting in July annualizes to about $30,000. So I think I'm there on daycare alone.

Is that normal or some sort of fancy private daycare?

Jeez. Some lady in our neighborhood watched our 3.5 year old and 14 month old for $260 a week.

 

[AcerFC]

The only thing we had to pay for was the epidural. Very surprised how much some of you have to pay

 

[McGarnicle]

Jeez, in Cambodia the baby just plops out into a rice paddy, mom throws it in a sack and slings it over her shoulder and gets back to work.

 

[ClownCausedChaos2]

Jeez, in Cambodia the baby just plops out into a rice paddy, mom throws it in a sack and slings it over her shoulder and gets back to work.

That's all well and good, except for...you know...you live in Cambodia.

 

[matttyl]

$7,000 seems a bit steep for out-of-pocket expenses. In all seriousness, how does the average American family have a child? Since I am obviously an FBG, I have the cash laying around, but I really don't feel like paying these bills. Should I be outraged at these amounts? Does our insurance suck that bad?

45% of all births are billed to Medicaid.

And growing year to year. Won't be long when it will be over half nationwide (as it is in many states currently - I believe in Louisiana it's like 70% of births).

In 2010, facility charges billed a combined total of $111 billion for “mother’s pregnancy and delivery” and “newborn infants”. Assuming 4 million births in the US each year, that works out to $27,750 per child!!!

 

[fantasycurse42]

I guess I'm lucky, our cost at the end of 2012 was $0 out of pocket for the birth and hospital stay. I have solid insurance for a family of 3 and am basically not responsible for more than a copay of $15 per any visit in network, but it does cost me about $700 a month out of pocket.

 

[guru_007]

In all seriousness, how does the average American family have a child?

well, first congratulations on your child

As a U.S. taxpayer and insurance premium payer for the last 20+ years, I too have had the pleasure of paying for the privilege of having children. Recently I had one that cost $2,500 for a universal package - including all OB/GYN visits, hospital stay, delivery etc... My last child ended up costing about $5,000 when all was said and done. So, in short, $7,000 is not out of line, imho.

Now, the part that does get me is if you're not a legal citizen of this country, you get to have children for free! This is something that really gets me going as I know quite a few people that have went this route.

So, in short, people that can afford to pay to have children, will get squeezed for as much as the healthcare system thinks they will pay. Those who cannot/willnot....do not pay.

Wonderful.

/rant

 

[TheWalkmen]

In all seriousness, how does the average American family have a child?

well, first congratulations on your child

As a U.S. taxpayer and insurance premium payer for the last 20+ years, I too have had the pleasure of paying for the privilege of having children. Recently I had one that cost $2,500 for a universal package - including all OB/GYN visits, hospital stay, delivery etc... My last child ended up costing about $5,000 when all was said and done. So, in short, $7,000 is not out of line, imho.

Now, the part that does get me is if you're not a legal citizen of this country, you get to have children for free! This is something that really gets me going as I know quite a few people that have went this route.

So, in short, people that can afford to pay to have children, will get squeezed for as much as the healthcare system thinks they will pay. Those who cannot/willnot....do not pay.

Wonderful.

/rant

Thank you.

I'm sort of infuriated by the whole thing. I've been slammed at work since the birth. Hell, I even worked while at the hospital. I had 2 days off work, and am just getting over shingles I developed due to stress... all so I can carry the load of those less "fortunate".

At least I know if I ever need a reliable babysitter, I can PM McGarnicle.

 

[Patriotsfatboy1]

I guess I'm lucky, our cost at the end of 2012 was $0 out of pocket for the birth and hospital stay. I have solid insurance for a family of 3 and am basically not responsible for more than a copay of $15 per any visit in network, but it does cost me about $700 a month out of pocket.

Ditto. I have not had a kid in 10 years, but I have $20 co-pay and maybe $200 deductible for a hospital stay. Other than that, I pay more than enough during the course of the year for insurance.

 

[BroadwayG]

Should have the crazy cat lady from down the street deliver the next baby at home for a case of Sheba.

 

[McGarnicle]

At least I know if I ever need a reliable babysitter, I can PM McGarnicle.

I'll take Percocets in lieu of cash.

 

[wilked]

Wait until the college bills start rolling in.

~$600 / wk for 2 under 2 in daycare starting in July annualizes to about $30,000. So I think I'm there on daycare alone.

Is that normal or some sort of fancy private daycare?

We pay $375/wk, very basic home day care (1 child). 2 kids, $600/wk sounds about right

 

[Rayderr]

My daughter was born 2 years and month ago. We had a bill for like $10k, but after all the insurance stuff kicked in, it got down to $2k. So we paid it off and moved on with our lives.

Then last month, (about4 days after my daughters second birthday) we get a bill from the hospital demanding $1037 or they were going to take legal action.

Odd we thought. Went and grabbed the bill that it was referencing and saw that it was for $2k. Found our payment in our bank statements as well. So called them up and asked them what the hell was going on. They tell me the bill was for $3k. I tell them that's not correct and that I have the bill showing $2k. And went over everything on the bill that resulted in the $2k charge. They say one of the items was different. I say that's what the original bill they sent me said. Had me fax a copy of the original bill and they would look it over.

A week goes by, I get a bill for $1037 again. But at least time it's a normal bill and not one threatening legal action. So I call them back up. They say that the Insurance did not pay what it says on my bill. I grab the EOB (explanation of benefits) and which says they paid what they said on the bill. They tell me they can't help me and to take it up with the insurance (which I no longer have as our company swtiched insurances)

So call up the insurance company, explain the situation, they can't seem to find anything that matches up with what the hospital is saying. So I have them send me a copy of every EOB they have associated with that hospital stay.

A week goes and I get a copy of the EOB's in the mail (had to get them in the mail because apparently 18 months is the cut off for them to email EOBs) and sure enough, everything they send me matches up with what I already have.

Call the Hospital back up. After telling them that the EOB's are still saying I only owed the $2k which I paid. They tell me that the Insurance Company made an adjustment this past November which resulted in me now owing that extra $1k. I mutter under my breath that it would've been nice if they had mentioned this in my previous calls. Also ask them if that's the case, why they didn't send me a bill then instead of waiting 5 months and sending me the threatening bill. They didn't have an answer about that. I apparently would have to talk to another department for that answer

So, back to the insurance company. Ask them if they made an adjustment back in November. After a little searching, yes they did! Turns out they were doing an audit and discovered they overpaid by $1037.88 so they took the money back from the hospital (they can do that apparently.) Asked them why they didn't send me that when I asked for EOB's before. Apparently adjustments are totally separate from EOBs, so that's why they didn't send it to me. So they email me a copy of that.

The Hospital did off to "settle" for like $770 but the remaining amount would be written off as bad debt and go on my credit report.

So I just had to pay a $1k bill that I had no idea was coming. Good times.

Was the extra 1037 paid by the insurance company a clerical error or did they clawback money because of improper documentation, procedure etc etc

Error on their part. They forgot to deduct the coinsurance amount from the amount paid to the hospital.

 

[Cliff Clavin]

Wait until the college bills start rolling in.

~$600 / wk for 2 under 2 in daycare starting in July annualizes to about $30,000. So I think I'm there on daycare alone.

Is that normal or some sort of fancy private daycare?

We pay $375/wk, very basic home day care (1 child). 2 kids, $600/wk sounds about right

I've just started looking for some and it ranges between $20-30/day for a 6 month old. Both private and public.

 

[ClownCausedChaos2]

Wait until the college bills start rolling in.

~$600 / wk for 2 under 2 in daycare starting in July annualizes to about $30,000. So I think I'm there on daycare alone.

Is that normal or some sort of fancy private daycare?

We pay $375/wk, very basic home day care (1 child). 2 kids, $600/wk sounds about right

I've just started looking for some and it ranges between $20-30/day for a 6 month old. Both private and public.

Maybe it's geographic? Like I said, we pay $260/week for our 3.5 year old and 14 month old. It's a basic, private, in-home babysitting gig done by a woman in our neighborhood. She's registered and has about 6-8 kids. Our 3.5 year old has gone there since he was 12 weeks and has never had a bad thing happen to him. Same can be said for the 14 month old.

If you're just looking for someone to make sure your kids don't get hit by a truck and not a formal daycare, I think 20-30 a day would be reasonable.

 

[TheWalkmen]

Wait until the college bills start rolling in.

~$600 / wk for 2 under 2 in daycare starting in July annualizes to about $30,000. So I think I'm there on daycare alone.

Is that normal or some sort of fancy private daycare?

We pay $375/wk, very basic home day care (1 child). 2 kids, $600/wk sounds about right

I've just started looking for some and it ranges between $20-30/day for a 6 month old. Both private and public.

We looked at 3 daycares; one was $350 a week until age 2; one was $335; one was $300. We liked the cheapest one the best, but the rate is now $305/wk. We get a slight discount for having 2 children in so it will be less than $600 / wk but not by much.

 

[Captain Quinoa]

1. Elasticity

 

[Cliff Clavin]

Wait until the college bills start rolling in.

~$600 / wk for 2 under 2 in daycare starting in July annualizes to about $30,000. So I think I'm there on daycare alone.

Is that normal or some sort of fancy private daycare?

We pay $375/wk, very basic home day care (1 child). 2 kids, $600/wk sounds about right

I've just started looking for some and it ranges between $20-30/day for a 6 month old. Both private and public.

Maybe it's geographic? Like I said, we pay $260/week for our 3.5 year old and 14 month old. It's a basic, private, in-home babysitting gig done by a woman in our neighborhood. She's registered and has about 6-8 kids. Our 3.5 year old has gone there since he was 12 weeks and has never had a bad thing happen to him. Same can be said for the 14 month old.

If you're just looking for someone to make sure your kids don't get hit by a truck and not a formal daycare, I think 20-30 a day would be reasonable.

It must be regional. Those are prices for both formal daycares as well as home day cares and not just places that will keep the kid from getting hit by a truck.

 

[ClownCausedChaos2]

Wait until the college bills start rolling in.

~$600 / wk for 2 under 2 in daycare starting in July annualizes to about $30,000. So I think I'm there on daycare alone.

Is that normal or some sort of fancy private daycare?

We pay $375/wk, very basic home day care (1 child). 2 kids, $600/wk sounds about right

I've just started looking for some and it ranges between $20-30/day for a 6 month old. Both private and public.

Maybe it's geographic? Like I said, we pay $260/week for our 3.5 year old and 14 month old. It's a basic, private, in-home babysitting gig done by a woman in our neighborhood. She's registered and has about 6-8 kids. Our 3.5 year old has gone there since he was 12 weeks and has never had a bad thing happen to him. Same can be said for the 14 month old.If you're just looking for someone to make sure your kids don't get hit by a truck and not a formal daycare, I think 20-30 a day would be reasonable.

It must be regional. Those are prices for both formal daycares as well as home day cares and not just places that will keep the kid from getting hit by a truck.

Don't get the wrong idea. She feeds them, too. Three times a week, I assume.

 

[fantasycurse42]

At least I know if I ever need a reliable babysitter, I can PM McGarnicle.

I'll take Percocets in lieu of cash.

I can imagine this:

McGarnicle: "Hey Arizona Ron, the kids are asleep upstairs, basement and pool in the back are wide open, we got 4 hours... Bring the whores, I got the drugs and video camera"

 

[KCitons]

Wouldn't it make sense to have one of the parent just stay home. With the cost of daycare, gas, extra car, etc, etc. A change in careers to a part time job in the evenings or weekends for one of the parents would pretty much even out.

Plus the kid would be raised by, you know, the parents. Instead of a complete stranger?

 

[McGarnicle]

Wouldn't it make sense to have one of the parent just stay home. With the cost of daycare, gas, extra car, etc, etc. A change in careers to a part time job in the evenings or weekends for one of the parents would pretty much even out.

Plus the kid would be raised by, you know, the parents. Instead of a complete stranger?

Pffft. FBGs don't raise their own kids. That's for poor people.

 

[Patriotsfatboy1]

Wouldn't it make sense to have one of the parent just stay home. With the cost of daycare, gas, extra car, etc, etc. A change in careers to a part time job in the evenings or weekends for one of the parents would pretty much even out.

Plus the kid would be raised by, you know, the parents. Instead of a complete stranger?

Depends on the career. Some people can't afford to be out of the workforce for long periods of time. Let's say you only stay home with the kids for 5 years, you may not be able to get any job back, never mind one in your field at the pay that you left at.

 

[TheWalkmen]

Wouldn't it make sense to have one of the parent just stay home. With the cost of daycare, gas, extra car, etc, etc. A change in careers to a part time job in the evenings or weekends for one of the parents would pretty much even out.

Plus the kid would be raised by, you know, the parents. Instead of a complete stranger?

Pffft. FBGs don't raise their own kids. That's for poor people.

It's also beneficial for the children. Our daycare doesn't have any TV's and my 18 mo. old has assessments done by the teachers every 6 months. The teachers are almost all (if not all) degreed, so it's more than just a babysitting service.