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Defeated....::vent::

Posted : 2/18/2008 4:06:28 PM

What does a girl need to do to catch a break now a days?? So I am 33 freakin weeks pregnant and my doctor dropped me. Because I can't pay my remaining bill of $1156.00. That is insane! At the begining of all of this I was told my portion of the bill, not covered by my insurance, was going to be $1300. A bit high for me...but I could work it out. I paid them $700. So by all logic I would owe them $600 more. I went for a visit recently and I was told that I had a balance of $1156 and if I didn't pay it in full they wouldn't see me anymore. Well... $1156? There was no way. I call to get some sort of explanation and figure out that I paid $200 on the day of my sonogram and the statement only had me as paying $20. Ok I figure theres a mistake. I call back and they tell me O no.. that $200 was not for them...that was paid to the office I went to for the sonogram! WTF? I thought that the $1300 was suppose to cover all the expenses my insurance wasn't covering? Not to mention that still doesn't add up right. So needless to say I am left doctorless with less than 2 months to go. Now I don't know what to do. I went to JPS... a low cost medical place...not sure yet if they take my insurance. If they do.. they still suck and I might have to go 30 mins away to deliver. I was told that I could still go to another private doctor. I called one.. and after telling the lady my situation I just ended up crying because of the attitude I got from her. I feel so defeated and left with nothing. I have no doctor, about to have a baby, and I can't even get medicaid or anything. According to the government I make too much money. Awsome. And to top it all off, one of my friends will be getting Medicaid. Which will not only allow her to get medical care but get care from the doctor I WAS seeing!! And my friend does nothing. She is 21 with no place to live, no job, and had a one night stand. Me.... someone who works their butt off everyday for 8 hours gets nothing! I just feel so trapped.

Pomeranian <3

Posted : 2/18/2008 4:24:38 PM

AthenaBear I hope everything works out for you; the last thing you need during pregnancy is high stress levels.

I'm very shocked that the doctor dropped you? I incurred medical debt of $3,600 and they allowed me to pay it monthly. Well of course they didn't recommend it, you have to be firm and say look it I don't have that money we need to set up a payment plan. I can't believe they wouldn't let you? So since you still have that bill I assume you still have to pay it off somehow plus find a new doctor??

Having a baby is no joke and deff expensive; I would talk to the hospital/office to discuss other payment methods.

badrap

Posted : 2/18/2008 5:12:20 PM

AthenaBear

. Me.... someone who works their butt off everyday for 8 hours gets nothing! I just feel so trapped.

Amen, sister.

Check around and see if there's a Planned Parenthood or other women's organization in your area. Usually those places can help pick up the pieces.

boneyjean

Posted : 2/18/2008 5:16:38 PM

badrap
Check around and see if there's a Planned Parenthood or other women's organization in your area. Usually those places can help pick up the piec

I was going to say the same thing. Since you mentioned JPS I think you might live in DFW. If so, I know there are Planned Parenthoods in the area. They should at least be able to give you some direction I would think.

ottoluv

Posted : 2/18/2008 8:55:15 PM

Why don't you just call your insurance company and have a new doctor assigned? If is exceedingly difficult to "fire" a patient so to speak. I've also never seen an OB patient charged the entire amount prior to the birth as you have no idea if you will have pre-mature labor, distress requiring a c-section, etc. What insurance do you have? Can you use your babies father's insurance? Sounds like you are going to have a rough start, babies can and frequently do cost a fortune :(

probe1957

Posted : 2/19/2008 10:11:50 AM

I have never understood why people just expect their doctor to be their bank and to finance his services for them. Doctors, whether they realize it or not, run a business. IMO, if someone can't afford his service, it is quite appropriate for the doctor to refuse to see them. It isn't like there aren't alternatives.

janobonano

Posted : 2/19/2008 10:30:34 AM

Wow, what a bummer. I can't believe they can just "drop" you like that, especially since you've been making payments. Have you called your insurance company?

mrstjohnson

Posted : 2/19/2008 10:34:59 AM

probe1957

I have never understood why people just expect their doctor to be their bank and to finance his services for them. Doctors, whether they realize it or not, run a business. IMO, if someone can't afford his service, it is quite appropriate for the doctor to refuse to see them. It isn't like there aren't alternatives.

I agree with you to a certain extent Billy, but what is she supposed to do? Have the baby at home by herself while hundreds of people without insurance get free medical care at our expense? She is willing to work out a payment plan. Plus, some of the prices the Dr's are charging are outrageous! I paid $400 for a pregnancy test at the doctor's and I already knew I was pregnant, but they had to do one. I have insurance, with a $5000 deductible so I paid everything out of my pocket pretty much. We only reached our max in December...wow, thanks!

When we left the hospital, they handed us a bill for $3000, payable in 30 days. When I looked at the detail, they were charging astronomical rates for everything! $500 for nursery care - WTH - she was only in there for 2 hours and she was sleeping!!! I could go on and on. $65 for a small bottle of Motrin that I didn't even use, $1500 for the Dr. to deliver Riley which only took 5 minutes and pretty much happened before she got in the room. They should be willing to work out a payment plan. Not everyone can afford to pay the prices they are charging, and when you need the care, what can you do?

rwbeagles

Posted : 2/19/2008 10:53:37 AM

Hmm insurance....your mileage may vary!

We paid $15 co pay, once at the ob/gyn....$50 for the U/S....and $500 to get out of the hospital post-baby, when I stayed THREE DAYS due to fever (Lily's) the first time and blood loss (mine) the second.

I also see what Billy is saying but I might've phrased it differently...lol. Doc are under no contract to keep seeing you....and there are alternatives...but it does bring the suck...all the same.

I'm sorry AB.

probe1957

Posted : 2/19/2008 11:01:12 AM

rwbeagles
but I might've phrased it differently...

There's a first. LOL.

probe1957

Posted : 2/19/2008 11:19:41 AM

mrstjohnson
but what is she supposed to do? Have the baby at home by herself

As others have said, there are alternatives. The alternatives might not be convenient or whatever but they certainly exist. She won't be forced to have her baby under a bridge somewhere because she can't pay.

mrstjohnson
Plus, some of the prices the Dr's are charging are outrageous!

Don't you think some of that is a result of making up for people who never pay or people who don't pay on time? It costs money for a doctor to finance a patient. REAL money.

mrstjohnson
She is willing to work out a payment plan.

But the doctor isn't. Her doctor isn't a bank. Her doctor made a business decision. You and I might disagree with his business decision but, it is his business and his decision to make.

mrstjohnson

Posted : 2/19/2008 11:27:17 AM

probe1957

mrstjohnson
Plus, some of the prices the Dr's are charging are outrageous!

Don't you think some of that is a result of making up for people who never pay or people who don't pay on time? It costs money for a doctor to finance a patient. REAL money.

I totally agree with this one! Plus, I think some insurance companies will pay for it, so they just assume they can charge you that much and "someone" else will pay for it.

dogslife

Posted : 2/19/2008 11:34:41 AM

my portion of the bill, not covered by my insurance, was going to be $1300.

Where , who told you that the remainder would be just $1300? If it was your insurance co. and the doc is only supposed to charge the insurance agreed cost at that lower amount, then you should not have to argue this. If it was the doc office, then that argument would have to be taken up there, and probably not a winning one.

Review your policy. Talk to your insurance co. and confirm facts.

Doesn't seem right that you are that far into a pregnancy and are then dropped due to confusion of coverage.

Sounds like a major lack of communication. And a problem with ethics.

probe1957

Posted : 2/19/2008 11:48:23 AM

mrstjohnson
Plus, I think some insurance companies will pay for it, so they just assume they can charge you that much and "someone" else will pay for it.

My son had some lab work done the other week. The lab billed $600. Blue Cross paid $7. We are not responsible for the rest. I guess that is their agreement with BCBS.

probe1957

Posted : 2/19/2008 11:54:04 AM

dogslife
And a problem with ethics.

An ethical problem? I guess I don't see it. If you don't pay your gas bill, the gas company shuts off your gas. If you don't pay your electric bill, the electric company shuts off your electricity. Is there an ethical problem there too or are only doctors to take the abuse of not being paid?