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We definitely appreciated the global billing, even if we were giving the OB a free loan. With a March birth, we got all of the prenatal visit stuff from late 2011 onto the 2012 policy year with everything else, which worked out well for deductible purposes rather than splitting between years.
Common practice. I owed the OB my portion of a normal labor and delivery by 4-5 months along. Warn your friend that you may not be able to use an FSA card for these expenses as the charges have not been processed yet.
This may sound very negative but I am planning on starting a family at the very start of the year, but what happens if they do all of this pre-billing and the woman miscarries? I understand if they have to go in and do a D&C that those funds may come from the pre-billing, but if another doctor has to do it because it's an emergency, etc. Just food for thought / worst-case scenario.
My wife recently had a baby on the state health plan. The prepaid deductible thing is definitely common. We switch practices mid-way and both did that. However, the amount of the pre-payments vary widely. Durham OBGYN was like $280/visit and UNC Midwives were $35/visit. The UNC Midwives were great!
I agree with a previous poster that this practice is insulting. It seems to be an accusation that you are unable or unwilling to pay. We called Durham OBGYN on this and their uncaring reaction contributed to our leaving their practice.
The state health plans coverage for pregnancy is so bad it is almost offensive, so my sympathies. Our out of pocket costs were $4800.
My doctor did the same thing, 33 years ago in Ohio, but I had regular insurance through my employer. I paid until my deductible was met, but it was such a low fee I actually didn't pay the deductible off until I was around 8 months pregnant.
When ou first son was born, we paid them after the fact, but our next kid is due in November, and they wanted us to pay up front by the end of December. We plan to hang out around the entrance of the hospital, and then have the kid in their main lobby and get our money back
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