It's the Money, Honey!
Ok, I'm curious. Looks like there are quite a few homebirthers out there and many women who have had multiple homebirths. I'd like to know how that impacted you financially? Did you have insurance who covered you or did you have to pay out of pocket? I know that was a major issue when I decided to go with the in-hospital CNM with my last birth. I loved my midwives, but think I might have considered homebirth if it would have been covered by insurance....even partially. My insurance would only cover an in-hospital CNM.....no lay or direct-entry midwives. Thanks!
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Lindsey on -
My insurance covers delivery in a birth center just as they would delivery in a hospital ($150 copay for all prenatal visits + birth! I have awesome insurance for which I'm eternally grateful). I haven't seen anything in my coverage that's specific to midwives/homebirths.
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Permalink Reply by Kaitlin Rose on -
I had to quit my job when we found out I was pregnant (I had been working as a waitress/bartender in a smokey bar). Applied for Medicaid and was accepted. Went to a local hospital.
When I decided I wanted a home birth, my fiance thought it would be a good idea to continue going to the hospital visits along with the home visits we were getting from our midwife. It was kind of his experiment to see the differences between the two, which turned out to be fascinating indeed.
We paid *out of pocket for our home birth, which consisted of paying our doula, midwife and getting some supplies. We ended up paying about $1600. *We put it on our credit card!
I thought of this hypothetical: "having a home birth is too expensive. My insurance doesn't cover it," "but we just put a plasma-screen TV on our credit card last weekend." Or you could insert, 'new car', or 'a boat', whatever! Know what I mean?
We spent our money damn well if you ask me. ;)
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Permalink Reply by applejuice on -
I think you spent your money well, also, but that is just my own honest opinion. Good for your fiance' to go along with it. Getting the father on board is often a big problem. I am glad that you got to see the difference between the two models of prenatal care. You are smarter than you think.
Kaitlin Rose said:I had to quit my job when we found out I was pregnant (I had been working as a waitress/bartender in a smokey bar). Applied for Medicaid and was accepted. Went to a local hospital.
When I decided I wanted a home birth, my fiance thought it would be a good idea to continue going to the hospital visits along with the home visits we were getting from our midwife. It was kind of his experiment to see the differences between the two, which turned out to be fascinating indeed.
We paid *out of pocket for our home birth, which consisted of paying our doula, midwife and getting some supplies. We ended up paying about $1600. *We put it on our credit card!
I thought of this hypothetical: "having a home birth is too expensive. My insurance doesn't cover it," "but we just put a plasma-screen TV on our credit card last weekend." Or you could insert, 'new car', or 'a boat', whatever! Know what I mean?
We spent our money damn well if you ask me. ;)
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Permalink Reply by Jennifer Chaffee on
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My insurance will cover some birth centers. My problem is that I am pregnant with twins. Our birth center wants nothing to do with me. I am stuck. I can either pay for my own home-birth or I can go to the hospital. My OB assured me that twins require c-section. I would rather not go into this with no options, so we will probably opt for self-funded home-birth.
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Permalink Reply by mom2palm on
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You might be interested in seeing this video. My Bradley instructor gave birth to twins at home. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dgvC9WW3Bk
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Permalink Reply by Monique Nolan on -
Wow! That was amazing! Thanks so much for sharing!
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Permalink Reply by Jese Wiens on
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mine was free! sorry to rub it in.
for those who are considering a move to canada, do it! there are many provinces that cover midwifery care (home or hospital) under the government health care (yep, for free).
i live in BC, our health care is called MSP (medical service plan). it is supposed to be 'free for all' but there is a percentage charge depending on your income. no fee for low income. so we pay about $20 a month. or we used to, now my husbands work pays. this covers all dr visits, a portion of meds, all testing, surgeries, hospital stays, specialist referrals and the rest).
many people have extended health benefits through their employer to cover glasses, dentist, massage, naturopathic, chiropractic.
we had a homebirth and it was covered (prenatal, testing, birth, postpartum). i paid to rent a birthing tub and some home supplies (candles, fish scoop, towels etc) all medical supplies the midwife had.
i wish it was like this for all!
but even with this, most people have births at the hospital with a dr (usually gp's that catch babies). the awareness is slowly changing. there are not midwifes everywhere, but most places.
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Permalink Reply by Clair A Hamaker on -
We have to pay up front to the midwife and then after the birth our insurance reimburses us partially. Even if our insurance didn't give us any money back we would have made it a priority to save the money up for the midwife. Homebirth is that important to us (as long as I am not in a high risk pregnancy). The experience during labor and after is worth millions. I love after the baby is born and checked, taking a shower right away and then my midwife tucks me in and leaves. No checking by nurses all through the night. My husband, who I've just had this huge bonding experience with, is in bed with me. Best idea ever.:) It is a total personal preference though. And what you can handle financially. This is just our thing.:)
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Permalink Reply by Dana on -
We paid out of pocket with a little help from family. Our insurance would have covered a hospital birth despite the fact that our home birth was $3K and the hospital birth is $10K and up. Even though the money was an issue, I couldn't have chosen any other route. I was dissatisfied with the group of CNM's that would have delivered at the hospital even though they were considered the gentle group. There is no comparison with the level of care I received from my lay-midwife and the other. Our midwife routinely makes payment arrangements with her families, knowing that money is a factor because she feels strongly that home birth should be an option for everyone.
Home birth tie into other issues of choice in this country. I have the right to choose where I birth my child and I have the right to have that choice covered by my VERY expensive insurance! Write your congressperson today (said in the voice of an announce at the end of a radio commercial) :)
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Permalink Reply by Dana on
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Boy am I jealous! Good for you and good for Canada! Massage is even covered? I'm a comin' up!
Jese Wiens said:mine was free! sorry to rub it in.
for those who are considering a move to canada, do it! there are many provinces that cover midwifery care (home or hospital) under the government health care (yep, for free).
i live in BC, our health care is called MSP (medical service plan). it is supposed to be 'free for all' but there is a percentage charge depending on your income. no fee for low income. so we pay about $20 a month. or we used to, now my husbands work pays. this covers all dr visits, a portion of meds, all testing, surgeries, hospital stays, specialist referrals and the rest).
many people have extended health benefits through their employer to cover glasses, dentist, massage, naturopathic, chiropractic.
we had a homebirth and it was covered (prenatal, testing, birth, postpartum). i paid to rent a birthing tub and some home supplies (candles, fish scoop, towels etc) all medical supplies the midwife had.
i wish it was like this for all!
but even with this, most people have births at the hospital with a dr (usually gp's that catch babies). the awareness is slowly changing. there are not midwifes everywhere, but most places.
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Permalink Reply by Alice Trask on -
I had 2 homebirths. The first was almost 33 years ago and I think she just charged us a couple hundred dollars. My last homebirth was 25 years ago and it was a trade. I delivered my midwifes baby and she came and delivered mine.
I would have another home birth in a heartbeat if it was possible.
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Permalink Reply by Monique Nolan on
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That is awesome!
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