I’m crying while typing this

[u/the-irish-jew]

I prepared for the birth of my child for many, many months including how much it was going to cost us. I can’t tell you how many times I called my insurance company to make sure my insurance plan was covered, my husband’s insurance plan was covered, and all in all that we were covered no matter what. I knew it was still gonna be a hefty bill, but I needed to make sure that there weren’t going to be any surprises.

While you can plan for these types of situations, you can’t plan for what life can throw at you. About two weeks before I gave birth not only did we lose my husband’s brother, but my husband got laid off from work. We lost our insurance, we lost his steady paychecks, we lost paternity leave which was going to be 100% covered by his company, and he was unable to sign up for disability because he had been with the company for only 10 months. These events put us in a place of uncertainty and I didn’t know how we were gonna pay the bills.

My son came into this world at the end of July and I just got some of the medical bills. On the low end we were going to owe over $6000, which we really have no way of paying. I decided to call the hospital today to ask for an itemized bill and to see if they had any payment plan option. While the representative on the phone was helping me look up payment plan options, she asked me if I wanted to see if I qualified for financial assistance. She told me it was possible that I could get 60 to 100% of the medical bills covered. With my luck I didn’t think I was going to receive any kind of help. The next thing she told me on the phone is, “you’re covered.” We had been joking around, so I thought maybe she was playing some sort of evil prank, so when I asked her to clarify, she said your hospital bill is 100% covered and you don’t owe us anything. I cried right then in there and I’ve pretty much been crying all day. This was a huge burden, lifted off my shoulders and I feel so grateful.

The moral of the story is be an advocate for yourself and sometimes good things can happen 💕

[u/DramaticPost2381]

So glad this happened for you!!!!
Hugs and hope your hubby has found something new!

[u/the-irish-jew → u/DramaticPost2381]

Thank you!! No work yet but we’re trying!

[u/linzkisloski]

Wow what a relief! I was so afraid this story was going in the opposite direction and that you owed an astronomical amount.

[u/the-irish-jew → u/linzkisloski]

We are having a hard time paying the bills, so it’s a huge relief not having this one on our shoulders.

[u/sonisonata]

This is similar to my first birth experience. My bill was $8K and I called the hospital billing department in tears because I simply could not pay that. They ended up cutting the bill in half, on the spot. While I was grateful it also made me realize how arbitrary healthcare costs are. Our system is so broken.

[u/the-irish-jew → u/sonisonata]

So glad you got some relief as well! Such a huge weight lifted off our shoulders!

[u/isthatabingo]

The American healthcare/insurance industry is barbaric. I say this as an American owing 15k for my daughter’s birth and NICU stay.

[u/the-irish-jew → u/isthatabingo]

Have you tried calling the hospital to see if anything can be done? My boy had a short stint in the NICU as well.

[u/isthatabingo → u/the-irish-jew]

We submitted a financial aid application with the hospital. We make too much for income based assistance (because we don’t live in literal poverty, but that doesn’t mean we have 15k just sitting around!), but there is other aid they offer patients that we should qualify for.

[u/Actual-Peak-6358 → u/isthatabingo]

Oh yikes!! I agree the system is awful.

My friend had two NICU babies and their hospital bills were both in the MILLIONS! Blew my mind… insurance covered most and for their second an anonymous donor paid it all off!

Wonderful news OP, congrats on your little one ❤️

[u/classicicedtea]

What a huge relief. Congratulations on your baby. 

[u/the-irish-jew → u/classicicedtea]

Thank you!

[u/EagleEyezzzzz]

Wow that’s amazing, so happy for you!!!

(It’s so frustrating that we all could have this experience, if we had universal health care like every other developed country and many developing countries…)

[u/GlitteringPositive77 → u/EagleEyezzzzz]

I’m an American living in Canada and after believing my whole life I’d have a hefty bill to pay after giving birth I left the hospital and had nothing to pay. Not only that, I had a midwife who I also didn’t pay for and had I opted for it, a birthing centre I would not have paid for.

After being a person with no coverage in the US, not even able to pay to go to urgent care for the flu, not able to pay the bill for being seen for a broken leg, I can say without a doubt universal healthcare is 100% better. Wait times aren’t even what they are in the US. I remember trying to see my family doctor in the US and having to wait 6 weeks. Here I wait a week, two max, but often I can go in same day or same week. It’s just not what people in the US often think it is and it’s so sad so many go without.

[u/Snoopy101x]

What country do you live in?

[u/the-irish-jew → u/Snoopy101x]

The US

[u/ComprehensiveEbb4978 → u/[deleted]]

Did you read the post?

[u/beyondthebump-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

Your post has been removed due to breaking our rules:

This comment was removed as it breaks rule #2. This is a supportive community.

Please be sure to read and follow our rules in the future.

[u/SwimmingCoyote]

That is amazing news! I can only imagine what that must have felt like to have such a weight lifted from your shoulders. Hopefully it is just the beginning of things turning around for you and your family.

[u/the-irish-jew → u/SwimmingCoyote]

Thank you!!

[u/MermaidOutOfWater15]

I would look into suing your husband’s work for wrongful termination. They could have fired him to avoid having to pay out benefits.

[u/the-irish-jew → u/MermaidOutOfWater15]

Yes, we’ve discussed this, but we have no way of proving it’s because of the paternity leave. A few people were let go in his department, so a lawyer would have a hard time arguing that it was specifically against him.

[u/wildabee]

Awesome! Congratulations on your bundle of joy.

[u/the-irish-jew → u/wildabee]

Thank you!

[u/haydukeliives]

Congratulations, no new parent should have to stress immensely about this 

[u/the-irish-jew → u/haydukeliives]

Thank you! Much appreciated.

[u/greenandredofmaigheo]

My wife and I went through a very similar situation so I empathize with everything you've done through. I was laid off when my wife was 8mo pregnant with our first and my sister died a week after our daughter was born.

I wish nothing but the best for your new family and am glad the hospital was able to work with you. keep an eye on your husband though. For me, grief and recovery got pushed deep down because I was so focused on the newborn and came up in unexpected ways.

[u/a-vague-shape]

Congratulations to you, and so happy this was covered for you! While I was pregnant last year, my husband lost his job and any chances at his paternity leave (little amount though it was). And we lost a close friend very suddenly that summer. I'm so glad you were able to get the financial relief you needed to ease your burdens.

[u/the-irish-jew → u/a-vague-shape]

Thank you! You know how this all feels 😢

[u/thedaught]

COBRA is supposed to cover you in these cases. https://www.dol.gov/general/topic/health-plans/cobra

[u/the-irish-jew → u/thedaught]

Oh, we do have COBRA now, but COBRA is a scam. My husband went from paying like $100 for himself (would have been $400 total when we added our son) to $1,200 a month. For an HMO plan, too.

ETA: he was paying that for a PPO plan, now we’re paying $1,200 for an HMO. We changed due to the qualifying life event.

[u/Commercial-General46]

So happy for you!!! Can’t imagine the relief.

[u/the-irish-jew → u/Commercial-General46]

Yes, it is. Thank you!

[u/mirrorlike789]

Yayyy! Glad this turned out the way it did. Bringing your baby into this world shouldn’t be this stressful and expensive. Hope your husband finds something soon. Congrats on your baby. 

[u/yearlyPAP]

It’s always good to ask. Many hospitals are required to have some sort of financial assistance or charity. My hospital is just one form and it’s based on income and household size compared to federal poverty level- up to 100% can be covered.

[u/Significant-Radish23]

I’m so sorry for your loss. At least the financial burden has been lifted in some ways. Grief and loss while having a newborn baby is no joke, hold each other tight.

[u/sad_euphoric166]

I was about to tell you to just not pay it and worry about your family and the baby but so glad to hear the outcome!

[u/BusyDragonfruit8665]

I did not expect this to end the way it did. I am so happy for you and your new family. This is wonderful. I am also very sorry for the loss of your brother in law and your husband’s job. That is so much at one time. Sending good wishes.

[u/just-ur-avrg-20smthn]

When I had my first born two years ago at Kaiser here in the US (Northern CA), the billing department actually called me on the landline in my room and asked if I wanted to see if I qualified for financial assistance. I said sure, but that we don't usually get any. And then I too was surprised with the blessing of having my entire bill covered! I couldn't believe it. It was such a relief. I wish I knew exactly what program helped me, but I didn't want to look the gift horse in the mouth.

So grateful that there is some sort of help for people like us in the middle! And hard agree on the criticisms that this just proves that the healthcare system is effed.

Sending my best wishes and virtual hugs to your family during this time ♡