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Med bill question
Posted on 1/16/25 at 10:32 am
Posted on 1/16/25 at 10:32 am
I’m not necessarily looking for answers directly for this more so if I’m right for thinking this is insane.
Got an “estimate” from my wife’s OB in the mail yesterday trying to charge us the “estimated charges for pregnancy care” and get us on a payment plan with the first payment due at her first visit.
First off is this normal? I’ve never heard of a medical practice trying to bill for something before it even happens. Or any company for that matter. My wife works for an architecture firm they don’t charge the full bill before the job is done.
Second off how do they actually know what’s going to happen? You’re going to force me to pay for something you don’t even know is going to happen? What if the baby comes out at home before we get to the hospital? I know Id get a refund in that case but that seems convoluted when you could just charge me after.
In conclusion, is this normal and I’m overblowing it or am I justified in my position of this being ridiculous?
Got an “estimate” from my wife’s OB in the mail yesterday trying to charge us the “estimated charges for pregnancy care” and get us on a payment plan with the first payment due at her first visit.
First off is this normal? I’ve never heard of a medical practice trying to bill for something before it even happens. Or any company for that matter. My wife works for an architecture firm they don’t charge the full bill before the job is done.
Second off how do they actually know what’s going to happen? You’re going to force me to pay for something you don’t even know is going to happen? What if the baby comes out at home before we get to the hospital? I know Id get a refund in that case but that seems convoluted when you could just charge me after.
In conclusion, is this normal and I’m overblowing it or am I justified in my position of this being ridiculous?
27
Posted on 1/16/25 at 10:36 am to Pedro
quote:
My wife works for an architecture firm they don’t charge the full bill before the job is done.
They probably didn't just pass a law that says it won't affect your credit if you don't pay your architecture bill.
Posted on 1/16/25 at 10:40 am to Pedro
I wouldn't pay anything until it's a true bill. I've never heard of this
Posted on 1/16/25 at 10:41 am to Pedro
This is normal but I'll be your wife's OB if you'd like.
Posted on 1/16/25 at 10:43 am to LoneStar23
quote:
I wouldn't pay anything until it's a true bill. I've never heard of this
My hospital offered me to pay the estimated amount ahead of time for a discount of 10%. I had 0 trust in their billing being accurate, so I declined.
Posted on 1/16/25 at 10:48 am to Pedro
My wife and I are expecting our first, a son due in May. After the first OB visit, Baylor Scott and White setup a call with my wife to review our estimated costs, or as they called it a good faith estimate. I unfortunately was not able to be on that call to get all the details, but essentially after insurance kicks in, we're estimated to pay about $2,900. As part of that, we could make a 30 or 40% deposit to go towards that estimated bill, which my wife elected to do.
Posted on 1/16/25 at 10:50 am to Pedro
Subtle I had sex thread.
Posted on 1/16/25 at 10:50 am to GeauxOn
Honestly I’m fine with making a good faith down payment of $x. I get that. Expecting the whole thing to be paid before anything happens when the outcome can be wildly different than the estimate is wild to me.
Posted on 1/16/25 at 10:50 am to Pedro
We just went through this for our second.
It is a payment plan for the delivery costs spread out over ten months so that you are not hit with $4,000 delivery + 2 day hospital stay. It may also cover all the appointments leading up to birth as well. I dont recall any bills for those appts.
Billing lady went over changes/refunds. Seemed pretty straight forward. It was new to me, but I saw no issue with it.
Im sure the charges may vary based off your coverage.
ETA: as mentioned below - did not cover bloodwork/urinalysis.
It is a payment plan for the delivery costs spread out over ten months so that you are not hit with $4,000 delivery + 2 day hospital stay. It may also cover all the appointments leading up to birth as well. I dont recall any bills for those appts.
Billing lady went over changes/refunds. Seemed pretty straight forward. It was new to me, but I saw no issue with it.
Im sure the charges may vary based off your coverage.
ETA: as mentioned below - did not cover bloodwork/urinalysis.
This post was edited on 1/16/25 at 10:54 am
Posted on 1/16/25 at 10:50 am to GeauxOn
I should add that that good faith estimate was only hospital and physician fees... Any clinic or lab visits prior to the delivery are separate costs but mostly covered by insurance, with exception of a few elective labs tests.
This post was edited on 1/16/25 at 10:51 am
Posted on 1/16/25 at 10:53 am to Pedro
Yep. You get on a monthly payment plan so it is almost all paid by the due date.
Afterwards, you true-up with accounting.
Afterwards, you true-up with accounting.
This post was edited on 1/16/25 at 10:54 am
Posted on 1/16/25 at 10:53 am to Pedro
It is perfectly normal to pay your estimated OOP over time during the pregnancy rather than being hit with the bill all at once. Now, do some practices abuse this, yes. We were charged for the normal X amount of visits, but the additional visits for complications where at no additional charge. The only extra charges were hospital charges for an emergency surgery. The OB practice didn't charge any additional and the extra days in the hospital were included because of our pre payment plan. I am sure for every good story there is a nightmare story and many more unremarkable stories.
The new norm is going for people to just simply not pay anything above what their insurance pays because medical providers have zero reasonable recourse to collect payment.
The new norm is going for people to just simply not pay anything above what their insurance pays because medical providers have zero reasonable recourse to collect payment.
Posted on 1/16/25 at 10:54 am to Pedro
Sit back.
Make them bill you after service. Don't agree to a thing.
I've done this twice, the latest being 3 months ago.
My estimate was 6k, and my bills for wife & baby were sub 3k. I promise if I would have paid that 6k when they requested I would have to fight to the death to get my money back.
Medical billing are the most crooked of the bunch. frick them.
Make them bill you after service. Don't agree to a thing.
I've done this twice, the latest being 3 months ago.
My estimate was 6k, and my bills for wife & baby were sub 3k. I promise if I would have paid that 6k when they requested I would have to fight to the death to get my money back.
Medical billing are the most crooked of the bunch. frick them.
Posted on 1/16/25 at 10:56 am to thegreatboudini
That’s what worries me. From what I’ve read online it sounds like the practice is hell to deal with getting refunds.
Sucks because her Dr. is great and she loves her but I’m not sure I’m comfortable with the set up.
Sucks because her Dr. is great and she loves her but I’m not sure I’m comfortable with the set up.
Posted on 1/16/25 at 10:58 am to Pedro
It’s normal and getting more common for them to ask because Biden made it so medical collections don’t impact credit.
Posted on 1/16/25 at 11:01 am to Pedro
The hospital has done a few baby deliveries and has an idea of those costs
Posted on 1/16/25 at 11:01 am to Herschal
x2
this is normal and saves you a huge bill at the time of delivery. although we still ended up with a pretty large bill at the end due to extended hospital stay.
this is normal and saves you a huge bill at the time of delivery. although we still ended up with a pretty large bill at the end due to extended hospital stay.
Posted on 1/16/25 at 11:01 am to Pedro
This is why my wife opted for a natural birth at home with a midwife who worked for cash
Posted on 1/16/25 at 11:02 am to Pedro
Have the kid at home. Somehow we survived for thousands of years.
Posted on 1/16/25 at 11:03 am to Pedro
Request an itemized bill.Acquaintance of mine that was a nurse was charged for 10 sleeping pills and was only in hospital for 1 night.there were some other erroneous charges that if she hadn’t been a nurse she might not have picked up on.
Charges she made them take off her bill was 10% of her original.
Charges she made them take off her bill was 10% of her original.
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