prepay before delivery. what's that?

[mag131]

I called last week to a facility to pre register for my normal delivery. The registration lady called me back this morning to inform me; I am out of network therefore I need to pay a $1000 deposit before I can use their facility. I was like my insurance approved me to come to use this hospital no but you still need to pay ahead. I said I am responsible to only pay 20% how you already calculate that. Well there is another hospital nearby you can you, but my ob doctor only come here.

I told her guess what when I am in labor you can refuse me service I will sue you. People come from other country deliver babies never pay a dime now you are forcing me to pay ahead. Sorry for the typo I am extremely upset. I called my insurance they told me I can pay after I get my invoice from them.

[mag131]

My husband has a niece that lady is on her 5th baby still don't know how it cost for a baby. I have been work since I was 17 just because I have a career I am penalized for making a decent paycheck what the hell..

[mag131]

I am not paying a dime until the service is rendered otherwise they will have to wait after my 12 weeks leave I will pay them.

[MaganL]

My doctors office makes me do a payment plan the whole pregnancy so that way all bills are paid before delivery.  So I paid 90 dollars every visit and if money is left after delivery they send u a check for refund. I only pay 10% after insurance.

[cecilia_morgan]

Yea unless you don't qualify for Medicaid. Thankfully we just have a $200 deductible. In our world stl a lot of money but comparatively not bad. But no you should not have to pay up front and after should be able to get on a payment plan. And if your ins said that hospital was ok they should've known it was out of network and told you that upfront that their fault. See my ob and hospital are in network but their lab is out of network so bc of that my ins required to pay it in full anyways bc hospital is in. If I were you I'd calling and bitching to ins bc that is their fault for not trekking you the hospital is out and ob is in.

[Kesh26]

I got the same thing. And they are giving u a bill based on an estimate. I wont pay **** either. My hospital is charging 17K for a normal delivery. My PPO insurance agreed to pay 14K. If thats not enough oh well bc im not paying a dime. Our health care is a damn rip off. Why the hell is a natural delivery estimating 17K which doesn't include anesthesia,  physicans cost etc..my advice would be to trash it. Especially if ur insurance is covering plenty.

Thats why ppl get pregnancy medicaid. They don't have to pay anything.

[shanea32]

Am glad you ask that because am self paid and when I went in to pre-register they told me I have to come up with 2500 now b4 I can get there service I was a little shock because I know they normally bill u after everyone is tell me not to pay just wait to until its delivery time but am a little scared they might not take me because I didn't pay plus thats the only hospital my doctor goes to too

[mag131]

Thanks for all the replies

[Emilee99]

Most hospitals are required to ask for at least a deductible up front. It's just something the administration had us do. But you aren't required to pay it. Hospitals certainly can refuse service, unless it is emergent. EMTALA laws protect that. But fortunately if you are in labor, that is considered emergent and they can't refuse you.  Even then, they are only required to make sure you are stable and then they can transfer you to another hospital. But no hopsital is going to do that to a pregnant woman. This lady was just trying to collect the upfront amount that hospitals like to collect but she shouldn't have phrased it like you had to pay it. That's ridiculous. I used to work.in hospital billing and insurance contracting and although I never agreed with asking for deductibles or money up front, we were required to do it. I hated it.

[mag131]

I do have the letter my insurance said they can wait after the claim is paid then I will be responsible for the remainder that's the agreement. Plus the insurance said my bill will probably be less than what she asked me to pay. The bills are paid per service not by estimate. If I did not get the service they can't charge me for it. If I have 1000 now I would use it for my baby needs the hospital can get their money after.

[RippedonScotch]

do you have the approval letter from your insurance? I would take that into them.  You have already gotten what you need to to confirm that they will be paid that should be enough for them.  

[mommy2Bof3LO]

They still can't deny her service no matter what even if she owes money, I would also be very mad if they asked me for money already being it is not necessary at the moment.....no one has that money upfront just to make them happy. I have a hospital bill i'm paying off every week and everytime I go in they always ask to see me in the business office then send me on my way...they need to realize the procedure hasn't even been done yet so why pay already when you can use that money somewhere else if needed for emergency and pay your hospital bill in payments.

[RockRose]

If she doesn't have the money,  that's one thing that the hospital probably is trying to find out ahead of time.  

Some hospitals can work out payment plans - since she's only responsible for 20%,  I would think they might expect it in one lump check or credit card payment.

I think a lot of people don't know how few people actually pay their hospital bills, and hospitals are trying to come up with better ways to collect on what is owed.

[KelseyK1027]

Shes upeset because their refusing her service unless she pays. Yes she is going to pay it anyways but not everyone has $1000 to give on the spot, hospital bills are usually done in payments. I know I would be just as upset as her too.

[RockRose]

mag,  that's why they're making people pay ahead.  Hospitals get stiffed all the time and the few who pay have to pay SO much more than we all would if everyone just paid what they owed.

If you're responsible for 20% of your bill,  why not pay it now?   You'll owe it anyway - why go through a battle on check-in if you'll owe it anyway?

[Ely3]

I think she was just being a pain in the behind! You should have asked to speak to the supervisor

[dorothy701]

Omg I would be furious I'm so sorry your dealing with this I have never had this issue but I would wait till after the dilvery and see how much your insurance will really charge u. At the end of the day a hospital is still a business and is still trying to make money off of you.