anyone ever have to switch doctors during pregnancy??

My doc doesn't accept insurance, but works with patients and I have been with him for years. I switched to DH's insurance before I got pregnant and the office told me they have dealt with this insurance before so it would be no problem. I know DH's insurance isn't great, but it was a lot less out of our paycheck then mine was so I switched. Well it turns out that DH's insurance S*CKS! They haven't paid anything to my doctor, except some lab fees, which doesn't cover much. My doc called yesterday and told me that my options are to switch back to my employers insurance, which I just checked on and enrollment is closed now, pay out of pocket or switch doctors. All are terrible solutions, but right now it's looking like I'm going to have to switch doctors. I'm sooo upset!!

Any advice?? Anyone have Magnacare??

Thanks for reading and letting me vent!

Message edited 4/15/2011 12:54:29 PM.

Re: anyone ever have to switch doctors during pregnancy??

If it were me i would switch doctors but i hate paying out of pocket especially since we pay so much for insurance.

Re: anyone ever have to switch doctors during pregnancy??

I would switch. It's not the ideal solution but if you don't, it sounds like you will be paying an arm and a leg your entire pregnancy.

Maybe you should call the insurance company to find out exactly what they cover (including delivery and hospital stays) and find a doctor that accepts the insurance and you will have no more unpleasant surprises.

Re: anyone ever have to switch doctors during pregnancy??

I switched during my first pregnancy b/c we moved back to NY. I was 30 weeks when we moved and had a hard time finding an OB who would see me (how awful is that? they told me it wasn't worth it financially to them - one being a big name on here)

I found my current OB and could not be happier - so it can be done! But I would start the process ASAP so you don't run into my late term problem.

Re: anyone ever have to switch doctors during pregnancy??

can you do a life change event to open your enrollment period for 30 days? Things like moving, getting married, getting pregnant, losing insurance, etc. usually constitute as means of being able to fall into this category.

If you need to switch dr's.. i did this at 16w. I did it in the mist of some blood testing for down's... and that had to go to the same lab is the first part of the test which was done by the old dr office. So we just had to call to see what lab they use and send the 2nd part of the test to that lab. That was the biggest headache and it really wasn't even a headache.
it wasn't bad at all switching, esp considering I wasn't too thrilled with my first dr and i really liked my 2nd dr.

I just don't see how this won't happen again though. If the insurance is behind on making payments to this dr, I don't see any indication that they won't be the same way with a new dr.
Have you called the insurance company to ask/complain about what's going on here?

I'm sorry you are going through this.

Re: anyone ever have to switch doctors during pregnancy??

no advice but HOLY CRRAAPPP i missed the announcement! congrats mama

Re: anyone ever have to switch doctors during pregnancy??

Posted by maymama

no advice but HOLY CRRAAPPP i missed the announcement! congrats mama

Re: anyone ever have to switch doctors during pregnancy??

thanks everyone! the doctor's office has been in touch with the insurance and I called them today too. apparently it's not even the insurance company's fault, it's my husbands union. they have a set fee schedule that they won't budge from and it pays VERY low! if i was dealing with Magnacare directly, i probably wouldn't be having this problem.

i also spoke with my doctor's office this morning and they are sending me the list of isurance codes to see if magnacare will cover anything more than what the union is saying! I'm hoping to call tomorrow or by Monday at least. I have a doc's appointment on Wednesday and I don't want to keep going to him if it's it not worth it.

I hope this works out!

Re: anyone ever have to switch doctors during pregnancy??

Re: anyone ever have to switch doctors during pregnancy??

apparently there are a list of life changing events that my HR person went through with me and even though pregnancy is one of them, i'm still eligible to be on my husbands insurance so it's not a valid reason to enroll me. I thought maybe she would help me out, but no such luck. Only if we lost his insurance for some reason and apparently she needs documentation that he has! so not even that worked!

thanks ladies! I have one more option I'm trying on Monday and then I have to start looking for a new doctor. I might come on here to ask if anyone has ever heard of any of them!!

Re: anyone ever have to switch doctors during pregnancy??

I had to switch doctors because of insurance. My original Dr. referred me to someone who she trusts. It was very difficult at first, but I love my new doctor now. Ironically, my original Dr. now takes my insurance, but I feel like I am so invested and comfortable with the new guy - I will go back after this pregnancy though!

Re: anyone ever have to switch doctors during pregnancy??

i switched doctors around 15 weeks and didnt find it to be a problem at all. I switched to be closer to my home and to be affiliated with a diff. hospital.

But on another note, i feel your pain with Magnacare!!!! My DH has them too and for the past 2 years its been nightmares with doctors and hospitals not being paid, back and forth phone calls, them tellling us we didnt pay the copays we did, ugh! It was ridiculous. Luckily his union switched to BCBS, but i do understand your frustration! Good luck!