Health care costs! Costs to have a baby? (Denver, Colorado Springs: health insurance, job transfer)

[cea]

Hi,

I was wondering if any body out there could help me find out the approximate costs involved in having a baby in Colorado Springs?? (No Insurance)

Thanks

[bashep]

I think alot depends if you go natural or C-section. I am guessing around $5,000 and C-section is $12,000++. Just guessing though. What about Medicare? bashep

[cea]

Thanks for the reply!

We'll be coming from England but I'm not sure if we'll qualify for Medicare??

[bashep]

Are you an american citizen? What is bringing you to the states? bashep

[javaj]

Originally Posted by cea

Hi,

I was wondering if any body out there could help me find out the approximate costs involved in having a baby in Colorado Springs?? (No Insurance)

Thanks

We just had our 2nd baby last June at Penrose Community Hospital, using Colorado Springs Health Partners physicians. This was for a c-section, high-risk pre-eclamptic pregnancy, spent 6 days at the hospital after birth.

Still have our EOBs so here are the costs that were charged (includes our insurance network discounted price which you wouldn't have though). You'll have to talk to the hospital and physician's offices to ask if they have special cash rates.

FYI, if you are paying cash at Penrose, they give you a 40% discount if paid by a certain date, I would discuss with them upfront.

Amounts are total charge, network discount, allowed amount by United Healthcare

C-section
Surgery $3274.00,$627.09,$2646.91
Asst. Surgery $1899.00,$1679.33,$219.67
Anesthesia $872.00,$294.30,$577.70

Hospital during birth (I had more costs because I was hospitalized twice in the last trimester) -- remember most patients are only there 2 days after birth, I was just high risk and spent 6 days!
Room and Board and IH Misc Services 6/27-7/2 $14589.00, $6428.00, $8161

Pre-natal Doctor Visits varied in price but here are some of the amounts (I had more but -- Regularly every 4 weeks until 3rd trimester, then goes to every 2 weeks, then weekly during the last 4 or 5 weeks)
For each visit: $115,$36.68, $78.32

Ultrasounds/Non-stress tests
$178.00,$60.52,$117.48

2/8 Labs
$315,$238.31,$76.69
6/27 Labs
$310.00,$62.00,$248.00

6/27 Pediatrician at Birth
Service Specified: Ih Medical but I assume one of these is for attendance of birth?
$194.00,$83.70,$110.30
$167.00,$79.66,$87.34

6/28 - 6/29 Pediatrician Services
Service Specified: Ih Medical
$137.00,$34.87,$102.13
$76.00,$30.09,$45.91

6/30 - 7/2 Pediatrician Services
Service Specified: Ih Medical Visit
$137.00,$34.87,$102.13
$76.00,$30.09,$45.91
$76.00,$30.09,$45.91

Circumcision:
$498.00,$336.04,$161.96

1st office visit to pediatrician
Preventive Med $134.00,$20.44,$113.56

There were other minor charges (other labs, etc), but for the most part, these were the major costs for prenatal care and birth. If you're paying cash, discuss this fully with the hospital and physicians. There are things you can do to save money -- let them know you'll be bringing your own tylenol, etc. Hope this helps and good luck!

[cea]

Originally Posted by bashep

Are you an american citizen? What is bringing you to the states? bashep

Yes I'm american but my wife is british. I've been in the UK for over 30 years!

[bashep]

Ok, what line of business are you in? Are you taking a job transfer? Is there anyway we can help? bashep

[hope07]

Hello cea just wanted to put my 2 pennies in here. I am Irish, living in the UK for the past three years, my husband is American and we too are heading over to Colorado Springs, in early summer hopefully. Have lived in the states and overseas for the last 20 years. I think on the whole you will find things are so much cheaper in the COS area than in the UK, but where you would see a big difference would be medical care, especially for uninsured. If time is not an issue, and considering you will have no health insurance, I would think about staying in the UK, having the baby through NHS and then making your way over. As you can see from the post by 'javj' having a baby is expensive. And it looks like hers was healthy. Things can go wrong and if you were in England these expenses would be covered, however, in the US without insurance, any problems can run into thousands, possibly, hundreds of thousands, and you could be paying for years to come. You would have that added burden of having to consider medical expenses in what may be an already stressful situation. Plus, there is nothing like having your mum around with a new baby. Just something to think about as you make this decision. The very best of luck to you and your growing family.

[Mike from back east]

Saw an article in the paper today...led me to a website... http://www.fitpregnancy.com/bestcities2007/main07/

Seems that nationwide, Denver ranks 6th and Colorado Springs ranks 7th as best places to have a baby....

The website gives all the reasons why this is so and is good reading...

[tfox]

Just to add to this conversation, getting private individual insurance (the kind you just buy off the street through an insurance company) almost NEVER covers prenatal care. Group insurance (like the kind you'd get through an employer) usually does.

One option to consider for some is that most colleges and universities offer a group medical plan for their students. Some even allow part-time students to participate. It will cost money, of course, but sometimes it may be the only way to get eligibility for coverage that you may need if you don't have an option through an employer.