Anyone have Blue Cross Insurance?

We are switching over at my job to Blue Cross but its called Anthem...(our Maine Office is holding the policy I guess)

Anyhoo..I was looking at the book today & it showed for Maternal Care--Postnatal & Prenatal visits & Delivery, you are responsible for 10%. Same thing with gyno appointments, paps, etc...

We have a conference call next week to discuss with the health insurance, but does anyone else have a plan like this? How do you afford to have children with this insurance?

I have no kids, but I plan to have some soon...while I am on this insurance more than likely...

Now I am afraid it will cost SOOOOOOOO much money just to give birth!

Re: Anyone have Blue Cross Insurance?

We have that insurance. It's not an HMO so if that's what you're used to it's a big adjustment.

For our plan we have a $200 deductible to meet and then you pay 10% out of pocket for things like labs, certain procedures, x rays, MRI's, etc. Going to the doctor for us is a $10 copay if it's just a visit. On our plan we pay 10% until we reach $4K (which hasn't happened in 2 years) then everything would be covered 100%.

I paid the bill for my pregnancy just to my OB and my 10% was $255. That is just for office visits and delivery assuming no c section. Then I will get a separate bill from the hospital. With my DD is was another $300 but I had no drugs or interventions so I was a cheap stay.

You have to plan ahead, use flex spending and set money aside when you have a PPO instead of an HMO.

We spend about $2K a year give or take out of pocket. Also prescriptions don't count toward deductibles and such as far as I understand.

Re: Anyone have Blue Cross Insurance?

Thats the way healthcare is going these days, with companies choosing to pay less premiums and having employees pay more Out of pocket...especially if Its through Anthem or out of state , you need a plan like that so you can see any Dr. You want.

10% is NOT a lot. Its of the "allowed amount" .

For example...The maternity stay at a hospital is ( example) $10K...The allowed amount that the insurance pays is say $6000K...your 10% is $600.

My co pay is more then that.

You can look into getting a HSA or FSA account to put tax deferred money for health care spending in it to save even more.

Other examples...A pap smear may cost $80...Insurance pays $70...your 10% is &.00 ( much less then your typical $25 co pay) KWIM?

HTH's

Your beenfit book shoudl it explain it in even more detail.

With a plan liek that, I highly suggest reading it in detail and asking any questions ahead of time.

If you have any other questions, you can FM me.

Re: Anyone have Blue Cross Insurance?

I do but my pre and post natal is covered at 100%.

I think it depends on what your company chooses.