Doctor making us prepay for child birth?

[humandraydel]

My wife is pregnant and due in February. The doctor is trying to make us prepay all of our deductible ($3k) right now. Is this legal? I do not feel comfortable paying because I just switched to an HDHP for next year and I don't want the expenses from this year not to count against the deductible and I'd really like to be able to pay out of the HSA. What should we do?

[cschin4]

I think we are going to see more and more of this in the future. You should call your Health insurance company and find out how things are paid.

[LuckyRobin]

Yes, it is legal. This was normal when my kids were born, 17 and 13 years ago. My doctor allowed us to make monthly payments. If you explain to your doctor that you'd like it to go on your deductible for next year and so that you can use the HSA for it, you might be able to work something out. He or she may be willing to be flexible, so long as it is paid for ahead of time. January is less than 2 months away and not an unreasonable amount of time to ask the doctor to wait so long as you then pay it promptly.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

Pretty much the norm.

[hamchan]

Not to be morbid, but what happens if you lose the baby after per paying the deductible?

[BuckyBadger]

Not to be morbid, but what happens if you lose the baby after per paying the deductible?

I would imagine that you wouldn't owe any *less.* In fact, I'd guess that a problem birth resulting in the tragic death of the baby would cost a lot more...

[hamchan]

Not if you miscarried fairly early on. The care required for that is pretty minimal.

[BuckyBadger]

Not if you miscarried fairly early on. The care required for that is pretty minimal.

Oh - yeah. I misunderstood your question.

[NetSkyBlue]

That's a weird way of doing things. What happens if you unexpectedly go into labor early and are away from your regular doctor? Strange case, but a co-worker of mine was pregnant with triplets and was visiting her family in another state and there were *SOME* kind of complications that lead to them having to deliver early in the other state. And she ended up losing one.

How does that work if you've pre-paid?

[ua_guy]

Not to be morbid, but what happens if you lose the baby after per paying the deductible?

The doc/hospital would likely refund your deductible in good faith.

That's a weird way of doing things. What happens if you unexpectedly go into labor early and are away from your regular doctor? Strange case, but a co-worker of mine was pregnant with triplets and was visiting her family in another state and there were *SOME* kind of complications that lead to them having to deliver early in the other state. And she ended up losing one.

How does that work if you've pre-paid?

See above. The deductible is the portion that insurance does NOT pay, so this is owed directly to the hospital from you. If you choose to deliver elsewhere, or if that's just how it happens, I'd bet a call to the doc/hospital would resolve the issue and end up with you getting a check for the money you prepaid.


I'd ask to speak to see the billing policies that state the deductible is due up front. A lot of hospitals like to collect this in advance to simplify billing and to reduce accounts receivable. Asking for prepayment or payment at the point of service isn't uncommon and you can usually elect to be billed for the self-pay or deductible amount once care is received. Press them a little harder to see what your options are. Also ask if they'll give you a discount for paying in advance (prompt payment discount).

[snafu]

While the baby isn't due until February, the physician has likely been seeing your wife regularly for prenatal visits to check her and baby's progress and health. Delivery is one more point of care but others have preceded.

[Redraidernurse]

We are having a baby this December and have already pre-paid for the delivery & all clinic visits/labwork, even the clinic visits during postpartum. It's pretty normal now if you are uninsured or have private insurance. Otherwise the only guarantee the doctor is going to see a penny for his work is if you are on government insurance.

[danielhermann]

USE then PAY

If you have insurance for the delivery covered then there is no point in doing any prepay. When your wife gets admitted to the hospital if the hospital demands prepay that will be done by the insurance company not by you. And the insurance company will pay only when your wife gets admitted for the delivery. Yes the delivery charges for each day the hospital can charge to the insurance company but not the charge for the whole process. You direct the doctors to talk to the Insurance company.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

I have to add they say now delivery after 24 weeks is usually feasible.

[Redraidernurse]

If you have insurance for the delivery covered then there is no point in doing any prepay. When your wife gets admitted to the hospital if the hospital demands prepay that will be done by the insurance company not by you. And the insurance company will pay only when your wife gets admitted for the delivery. Yes the delivery charges for each day the hospital can charge to the insurance company but not the charge for the whole process. You direct the doctors to talk to the Insurance company.

That's not how it works anymore, the hospital may be okay with waiting for their $$, but many delivering doctors want their $$ upfront.