Cynthia, RE Physical Therapy
Cris Coffey (CCOFFEY@rugs.bry.indiana.edu)
Wed, 27 Mar 1996 14:03:29 EST5
Cynthia,
We were lucky in a sense. My husband had a low-paying job at the
time, but we could make ends meet and afford a baby with both of us
working. When deciding to have a baby, we didn't consider the
possibility of complications. Since I couldn't work for all those
months, we qualified for both Medicaid and WIC. I was humiliated at
first to accept this assistance and "sponge off the tax payers", but
my mother quickly pointed out that I have been one of those tax
payers, and would be again once I returned to work. She eased my
mind by making me believe that I was just collecting what I had
already paid in to the system and that it was a drop in the bucket
compared to what I would contribute in my lifetime of employment.
It still humiliated me to some point. Anyway, we received Medicaid
benefits to supplement my employer's insurance. It was a special
benefit for expectant mothers with complications, which would cover
the baby until its first birthday (they anticipate problems for the
first year if the mother has problems during pregnancy). It was the
Medicaid that saved our hides. We received the best physical therapy
our son could receive (through the Bloomington Hospital Children's
Therapy Clinic) and never paid a penny. My insurance paid most of
it, and Medicaid pick up the rest.
A financial word to all on the list--aren't these babies expensive?!
But worth every penny and then some! We were one of the fortunate
families in the way of medical financing. I saved all of my Blue
Cross and Medicaid statements that explained what they had paid to
whom. After his birth, I added them all up. Drumroll,
please.....$70,000! And that was with only the statements I could
find--several were missing. I estimate that from my 19th week of
pregnancy until the day Brandon was born (36th week), about $100,000 was spent on
my weekly OB/GYN check-ups, the many hospitalizations we went
through, the medications, the home monitor, terbutaline pump, and
home health care that was required in connection with the home health
equipment. And that amount was what was PAID, not the excessive
amount that was charged before insurance write-offs.
I have no record of the cost AFTER his birth, but I can
just imagine with all the physical therapy along with test after test
after test with pediatric neurologists. We never had to pay a dime
because my insurance coverage was so good and then was supplemented
with Medicaid.
After my experience, I can just imagine how hard it is for all of you
who had extensive hospitalization in NICU--especially if you've had
to foot any of the bill. I just hope all of you were able to cope.
It's enough just to cope with seeing your child so helpless and
struggline, but then to have to worry about what it's costing you
must be a real burden. I hope you have been fortunate enough to
receive assistance to allow you to focus on the most important
things--your children!
Cris