Sunday, November 29, 2009

Million Dollar Babies

I just opened the bills for Bobby and Maya. One million dollars. No joke.

It's funny this happened, since it is on the cusp of a commenter asking about our insurance coverage. The short of it is that my husband's employer offers bang up coverage. It is the best we could hope for. Bobby and Maya's conception via IUI (including medications) cost us a mere $400 in co-pays, which I know is insanely low for many trying to figure out how to cover fertility treatments. Out of pocket, we've spent no more than $2500, which is the deductible for the year. My OB care, hospital stay, and the NICU have all been covered. (Well, we havent gotten the insurance statement from the NICU stay yet, since we've only just received the hospital statement, but our insurance is due to pay it).

I honestly dont know what we would do without our insurance. Peter makes a comfortable living but what makes it better are his benefits. We will never be rich people and that is okay, but I feel like we can make sure our children are healthy without breaking the bank. Which is also to say that we were able to get pregnant with them and bring them safely home.

Thank you BC/BS. I know you must hate us, but we are grateful. And, actually, it isnt BC/BS I should really thank. It is Peter's company, which will remain nameless, who offers the coverage and sets the stipulations (BC/BS just administers it). Back when we'd first gotten pregnant with Nicholas and Sophia and were looking into a traditional midwife and homebirth, we found out they would cover it via reimbursement (since our midwife doesnt take insurance). I'd never heard of such a thing being covered.

The reason we even pursued ART over adoption was money. We didnt have the $5000 minimum we needed to pursue adoption, but our insurance would cover a reproductive endocrinologist completely. Hence, our trip to Dr Lee.

I realize how incredibly lucky we are. I hope this answers the questions I received; please let me know if not and I'll try to address the situation better!

14 comments:

momto558 said...

Sounds about right...ours was 1/2 a million with all the IVF cycles and operations.... and worth every cent...Enjoy those babys!!!Michele

Stace said...

We have the same insurance and feel EXACTLY the same way. We got the claim for just Connor's first 2 days and it came to well over $40,000. I don't even want to think about Colby's 109 day bill, bed rest, or our IVF. We will never again complain about paying for our portion via my work. :)

Tina Pearce said...

That is so great!! What a great God we serve that provides your husband with a job and such great insurance! The babies are getting so big and they are so sweet!

Anonymous said...

Oh wow how ironic that you chose the ART over adoption because of money and the bill ended up so huge ! Thank god you have such a good insurance. I dont even want to think what would happen if you didn't. And hey, if your insurance reps read your blog, they may consider putting adoptions on their list of coverage ! How awesome would that be for the other couples (as in, it would be much cheaper for them to cover the adoptions then preemies in cases where your decision was based on money)

Love, Katie

Tina said...

Wow!!! And they are worth every penny!! xx

Mandy said...

Wow that's awesome! Most of that stuff is covered here by the government but that's because we have free 1-tier healthcare.

It has it's ups and downs but I like that I can always been seen by a doctor and not have to pay!

$1000000! That's a lot of 0's!!! It would take me almost 6 years to earn that... let alone see it all at one time :)

I'd say you're truly blessed!

Anonymous said...

working for a health care insurance company myself, it warms my heart to hear something that a health insurer does something right because all we hear about is what we do wrong. I am so glad to hear that your insurance is covering what you need. :)

paulsgirl1297 said...

Paul and I always joke that our insurance comapny is gonna hire a hitman for me soon --that it would be cheaper..But I agree with you we are so blessed to have that coverage and i say a thank you prayer for his job and our insurance whic is BC/BS also.

Debby@Just Breathe said...

Wow! Your very lucky when it comes to insurance, that is wonderful.

Anonymous said...

WOW! That is wonderful that you have such awesome coverage. I am glad your babies are doing well. Thanks for the comment. <3

Holly said...

Yes, thank goodness for insurance!! I know my DH told me that my SD's bills were over a million too (she was a 25-wker). Crazy!!!

Jen said...

I had 7 weeks of hospital bedrest, a c-section & hysterectomy, and post-op care and the bill was
$194, 000!

I can't wait to see Cooper's NICU and Special Care Nursery bills...Yikes!

THANK GOD for good insurance!

B said...

With Tina - they are worth every cent.

NancinaT said...

I want to agree with Jessica above, it's nice to hear good things about a health insurance company.

BC/BS was my insurer when I had Matthew, and through his first 8 months of life until I changed jobs (and our past year with Aetna has been pretty great too). Matthew was full term, born via c-section, and my hospital bills were around the $10,000 range, and I had a $100 copay. He's not quite a million dollar baby, but I think he's worth a million bucks. Even more than that.

I'm soooo glad to read that Bobby and Maya, and you and Peter, are doing so well. Thank you so much for sharing your story with us.