Insurance nightmare

[songbird]

My friends,

Yikes! I am so scared all of a sudden...

I worked hard to get Medicaid for my baby (and succeeded) because my current OBGYN would not take Medicare (which I get from SSDI) and my COBRA coverage was due to run out before baby came.

You following so far?

Today, I tried to sign up for a program called, "Better Beginnings" at my local hospital (the one I plan to go to to deliver.) This program is supposed to help Medicaid patients get prenatal care, get an OBGYN assigned that follows a mother through delivery, and get a pediatrician for baby. (Complete with a 6 week followup.) Great program, right?

When I called, I was told that the program took patients who had Medicaid and nothing else. Medicare and Medicaid was right out. I have called the office in charge of the program and pled my case. Now, all I can do is wait while they decide what to do with me. But, if they won't take me, baby will have no coverage for the last month of my pregnancy!

Like I said, yike.

Any suggestions?

Sonbird

USA

[jude mack]

Hi Songbird

I can't help you with your situation, I'm sure someone else can, I just
want to wish you well and hope there is a quick fix for your problem.
Seems like all our medical systems need some help.

Take care
Jude :wave:

[songbird]

I've just gotten a call back.

Seems like I am out of luck with this program. :( Must begin my search again. I've been given a few contacts, doctors who take Medicaid. Not sure if they are accepting new patients, though.

Wish me luck.

[neytoynia]

Hey Songbird,

If you are a high risk patient, which you should be because of condition. Then they should automatically send you to an OBGYN. In the state of SC, I didnt have a choice as i was high risk and they made me go to this doctor instead of the local clinic, not that I was complaining or nothing when it happened. These OBGYN doctors are not supposed to turn down a high risk patient, even one is on medicaid, as I was, and they were not taking new patients. Everybody was trying to figure out how I got in with them. As for the pediatricin goes, I went into Labor at 28 weeks and was put in the hospital on bed rest, they asked me who would be my babys doctor,and I named the best doctor there was in the area, and he came and started seeing me while in hospital. After my twins were born 8 days later, he became their doctor for good and stayed with them for 6 years until we moved out of town. When I got pregnant a second time, I was automatically sent back to the same doctor, because if your previous pregnancy was high risk, then they treat your next one the same. So I hope you will have the best of luck getting the doctors you need

[songbird]

I am a high-risk pregnancy. This is no surprise to me. :)

I guess my question is, do I have to tell them I will be getting Medicare? (Medicaid is fine, this doctor is taking new patients. It's just that no one wants to deal with Medicare as a secondary insurance.) I don't mind if they don't want to handle Medicare; it doesn't cover squat for this situation anyway. I just don't want the doctors to run my SSN, discover the Medicare, and accuse me of fraud or something. On the other hand, I don't want to close any doors unnessecarily. There are precious few doctors who will take Medicaid around here, and I can't afford to have no coverage for the last 5 weeks or so of my pregnancy, presuming I manage to carry the baby that long. (What a reason for actually wanting a preemie!)

If nothing else, who on Earth is going to deliver this kid if I don't have an OBGYN?

There is a doctor that I want to see who is accepting new Medicaid patients. Must call the office tommorow and see if they will accept this billing situation. Any suggestions?

[songbird]

I have been told by the doctor I just called that the only place that will deal with my pregnancy is the local charity hospital--and they will only because they have to do it. I am glad I have a place to go, but sad as well. I of course wanted to go to the best place I could for my baby, which would have been the hospital I was already using. I have always been afraid of the charity hospital--a place I avoided at all costs. Understaffed and underpaid--it was kind of an unspoken threat in my family. (Mom's a nurse.) Sort of, "Do better for yourself than x, or you'll have to go to the charity hospital."

(That sounds really elitist and I am sorry if I offend anyone.)

I have never been to this place. Maybe it is not as bad as I think, maybe the stereotype is kind of self-perpetuating.

All I do know is that it is in baby's best interest to have one OBGYN through as much of the pregnancy as possible. So, if that's what it takes, I'm going.

[neytoynia]

Hey Songbird,
I think its kind of rotten of the doctors in your area. As far As I always have known, medicaid covered all the expences, so I cant even see why they are worried about the medicare. The doctors know that you are highrisk and suppose to be seen by A OBGYN. I think they are being pretty mean and it ticks me off, If they were in your situation, they wouldnt wont to be treated this way. Maybe if you keep fussing about it, the right person will hear it and do something about it.
To the charity hospital :o , I mean are they crazy. Plead your case to some of the doctors and tell them your situation,w/o mentioning the medicare and maybe one will see you. I wouldn't mention the medicare until I had too. Until then I will pray on this situation. I wish you the best of luck........ Kisha