Today I went to see my obstetrician for my 16 week appointment. I started off the visit by sitting down with the OB counselor to go over the costs of maternity care. I was told by her that I have a deductible to meet and will have to pay three payments of about $240 each. I listened quietly while getting a little irritated inside.
When she finished, I explained to the girl that my OB services are covered at 100% with only 1 low copay. I explained that I would need to follow up with my insurance company to see why they were giving her incorrect information and that I was not prepared to pay $240 today. She offered to pull up the information on her computer. She also said she would have to check with the doctor to see if she would still see me today without paying. I was getting really upset by this time. I drove 15 miles to be there and just wanted to have my stomach measured and my urine checked and leave. After a few seconds, the girl told me with a smile that it looked like I was correct. She then adjusted the paperwork to show the correct information, and I made my first payment of $30. I was laughing on the inside by then and would have been appreciative of an apology. However, she gave me a bag full of free samples instead. So, all was forgiven!
It really pays to know your benefits before the doctors and hospitals overcharge you. When they overcharge you, you do eventually get your money back, but sometimes not without a struggle. Over the last 2 years, I have learned quite a bit about medical insurance and paying doctors/hospitals. I was so happy to be prepared this morning!
After this, I was weighed by the nurse and my blood pressure was found to be within the normal limits. The second attempt at using the Doppler to hear our baby's heartbeat turned out to be effective and the baby's heartbeat is at 147. The doctor also gave me a copy of my blood work from the previous appointment and went over what it meant. The screenings for Down's Syndrome were within the normal ranges, and I was happy to hear that.
I also informed the doctor that I spoke with TCH yesterday. They indicated to me that she would have to refer me to them in order to get a fetal echo cardiogram. I stressed the importance of doing this right away so that Chris and I could be scheduled to go to TCH at 20 weeks gestation.
Then, I had to venture on down to the lab to get more blood work done to screen for Spina Bifida. Yuck - I abhor needles! I do have to admit that I know that I am a grown-up when I get my blood taken and I don't throw up, get dizzy, or pass out! Go Courtney!
The next OB appointment will be in 1 month's time. Coming soon, I will meet with the perinatalogist and have a diagnostic ultrasound completed with her. Chris and I look forward to this time because we will most likely find out whether baby #2 is a boy or girl (I think there's a baby girl growing inside me by the way). We also are hesitant about this time because we are fearful of receiving negative news. I have been trying to mentally prepare myself for this just in case, and I have been praying to God much more frequently than normal, which is a blessing itself.
Overall, today's appointment was unremarkable, which is how we expect it to be. I am enjoying this time now where I am free of nausea and I only have to go visit the OB monthly. Soon enough, I will be going bimonthly and then weekly, and I will be huge and swollen with numb fingers and whatever else comes along that I have blocked from my memory!
one shy of fifty (part two)
4 years ago
