? About hospital charges and length of stay with high deductible

If you had a high deductible, how much did you pay the hospital out of pocket for your stay? Did you request to go home after 24 hours to lower the charges (if that's even an option)?

? About hospital charges and length of stay with high deductible

When I gave birth, I did not have a high deductible plan, but when I did IVF I did. The good news is that you'll be paying the negotiated rate, which is nowhere near the actual cost. A round of IVF is like 15k and we only paid like 3k. I think most of the cost for giving birth is wrapped up in labor and delivery and not your stay.

? About hospital charges and length of stay with high deductible

I decided to take the High Deductible plan for the first time in 2008, thinking I was going to get pregnant until during that calendar year. I was wrong. Found out I was pregnant in January of 08. Horrifying news for my check book.

But it wasn't as bad as I thought. After all the prenatal check ups and sonos and glucose tests etc, I was nearly at my ded by the time she was born via C/S in August. I stayed as long as they let me and frankly they should have kept me longer since I was back in the ER a week later.

I had to pay for the anesthesiologist which ate up a lot of the remaining amount (he was $950) (since they are never fully covered it seems). But out of pocket I think it was around two grand to the hospital. My 20% and remaining deductible.

Of course that was 2008.

It was a slow bleed, if you will.

I had no complications (other than extreme high blood pressure) but my wound didn't shut properly so there was an extra treatment. AJ had no extra attention while with me (which at the time was still under my insurance, once she left she was under my husband's).

Re: ? About hospital charges and length of stay with high deductible

I had the Oxford Freedom high deductible plan ($6,000) with my first pregnancy in 2011.

The way it worked with my OB at that time was I had to pre-pay my (negotiated) L&D bill before I even reached my third trimester (IIRC), which unfortunately was all of my deductible. But once I finished that everything else was covered 100% because it was all in-network, so there was no additional bill for the hospital stay itself.

That is how it worked in 2011/2012 way before Obamacare and all the new changes. I don't know why i had to pay it all up front. Maybe that was just how my OB did it.

Re: ? About hospital charges and length of stay with high deductible

My problem is that I'm due in February and won't meet my dedictible with the OB before my hospital stay so I'm trying to anticipate what bills I will get from the hospital and find out if I shiuld request to only stay 24 hours if that's even an option.

? About hospital charges and length of stay with high deductible

My deductible is $2,250. The hospital already billed me for a 2 day stay but I've already spent about $500 that count towards my deductible so I will only be responsible for the rest of the cost. I guess the fact that they billed me 3 months in advance is a blessing as I know what my costs will be. I would call your insurance company but also hospital billing. I'm delivering in Manhattan but just for my 2 day stay, it's $9,250.

? About hospital charges and length of stay with high deductible

I haven't looked at my EOB yet but I believe the birth itself is the bulk of the bill that will likely meet the deductible. I don't think leaving early would have affected it. My hospital bill with my first was a total of $49k.

Re: ? About hospital charges and length of stay with high deductible

? About hospital charges and length of stay with high deductible

My guess is you won't save much. Are you going to meet your deductible for the year anyway? If so, it doesn't matter which charges are first. Best way to check the cost would be to see what the negotiated rate is for your insurance.

Re: ? About hospital charges and length of stay with high deductible

Re: ? About hospital charges and length of stay with high deductible

Re: ? About hospital charges and length of stay with high deductible

Re: ? About hospital charges and length of stay with high deductible

Posted by dreamworld06

Posted by clotheshorse

Posted by dreamworld06

Posted by Herecomesbaby

My guess is you won't save much. Are you going to meet your deductible for the year anyway? If so, it doesn't matter which charges are first. Best way to check the cost would be to see what the negotiated rate is for your insurance.

The deductible is $6000 per person. It's a new insirance so I have no idea if I'll meet the deductible anyway.
Do you mean I should find out what the negotiated rate is for the hospital stay?

Yes check with a financial counselor first. Oh my, why such a high deductible & what carrier is this if you don't mind me asking? Are these super high deductibles the norm now?

Sorry I'm so lost with this. Who has a financial counselor? The hospital or the insurance company?
My insurance is through BCBS. I picked the high deductible plan because it will pretty much work out the same because the premiums were higher for lower deductible plans. The high deductible does give me anxiety though.

Re: ? About hospital charges and length of stay with high deductible

Re: ? About hospital charges and length of stay with high deductible

Re: ? About hospital charges and length of stay with high deductible

When I delivered in 2007 and 2009 the cost for a c section was 30,000 and 15,000 for a vaginal delivery. Obgyns billed everything at the end of the delivery. For ds in 2007 we owed 4000 and for dd in 2009 we owed 2500 because the plans changed.

Re: ? About hospital charges and length of stay with high deductible

Keep in mind that it's not just your deductible that you have to meet to have things paid 100%, there's also co-insurance which I found out about the hard way.

This was 2 1/2 years ago but I THINK my deductible was 2500 or 3k but my coinsurance was 5k! So in reality I had to pay 5k out of pocket before everything was picked up 100%.

I paid about 1600or so for my 3 day stay and baby's room and board (that's what they call it, both of you get charged each night). DS was sick 2 months later and was inpatient for 3 days. I paid for that too. He then was admitted to Winthrop for 30 days but at that point I FINALLY met my coinsurance and paid 0 out of pocked.

It's your medical right to be discharged whenever you want. However, the same is not true for the baby. But believe me, you're going to want those extra 3-5 days to recover in the hospital.

? About hospital charges and length of stay with high deductible

Do you have an fsa? That will take care of some of it. Definitely see if you can set up a payment plan of some sorts.

? About hospital charges and length of stay with high deductible

I think you will likely hit the deductible or very close to it with the birth alone. ESPECIALLY if you happen to have a CS or induction.

That said, you can negotiate the hell out of it with the hospital when the time comes. Do not stress about leaving early. I know tons of people who worked out payment plans with the hospital.

? About hospital charges and length of stay with high deductible

I have a high deductible plan. When I log on to my health insurance website there is a section called "Estimate your cost" where you can type in the medical procedure and it will estimate your bill. I just went looked and it estimates my hospital bill will be $11,500, of which I'll have to pay $3500 (my deductible then coinsurance). See if your insurance has something like that on their website.

Message edited 1/21/2016 3:01:29 PM.

Re: ? About hospital charges and length of stay with high deductible

We have had a high deductible plan with coinsurance for a few years now and had it when I delivered my DS. I can tell you, leaving the hospital earlier wouldn't have helped me one bit............I maxed out my deductible AND my coinsurance ($7500 total at the time) the minute they wheeled me in for my C-section. Having a baby is quite expensive!