Ok, I need to vent a little. I recently found out that I was pregnant again. This part though a surprise is great, except for the morning sickness. This was an oops on my hubby part. I kept telling him we need to be careful and he should be wearing a condom so we don't have an oops. He of course told me not wearing one they don't feel right. I say oops because we have private health insurance and it doesn't come with maternity benefits. That is an extra cost. We were planning on trying to conceive this summer so we hadn't added the maternity rider yet.

I was told by our insurance company that the rider could be added on at anytime and if we had an oops, just don't go to the Dr. for 30 days and benefits would be covered. So I called them up and added the rider. I am then told the rider can't be added on until March 1st since that is when our benefits would start. I still had to wait an additional 30 days after that before I could conceive or no benefits would be paid. So that means, we have to pay everything ourselves. On the low end it will cost around $8,500 just to have the baby between Dr. and hospital care.

Hubby doesn't believe me and says there is insurance we can get even though we already conceived. I tell him no there isn't, it's considered pre-existing. So I then get sent on a wild goose chase looking, to prove my point. (This was a mistake) I should have not even wasted my time. Anyway, I found a company in Pennsylvania Health Care Advocates. I apparently spoke to the President and he told me he could help me and get my insurance company to cover the benefits. All he needed from me was a check for $100 and to fill out a couple forms (Contact info for me and for my insurance). Me being skeptical and hubby wanting to try it. I asked this man, what is the catch? He said we do this all the time and not to worry and there is no catch. He also said before we could even get started we had to send him what he needed. We sent it to him. Mistake # 2 for me. I emailed this guy and asked him a couple questions, basically does he have any guarantee, in good standing with better business bureau, references, how will he proceed. I think these are legit and resonable questions. He emailed back some various info that could be obtained from his website, (you can say anything on a website, doesn't mean it is true or accurate) and said he needs the forms to get started. This all conspired last Mon Night, mailed stuff Tues.

I wait until the following Mon. to contact the company again. I emailed him, asking if he had received the forms and what our next step was. I also explained our situation in detail as far as the insurance goes and the issue of coverage, since the forms I had filled out didn't asked for any of that information. I would think you would need to know why your contacting an Insurance company on someone's behalf, don't you? I get a reply the next day, stating, your case is being set up. I wait until the afternoon and then call to talk to him or someone in his office about my case and what the next step is. You know, how are they going to proceed. I am then told by the man that just last week said I can help you just fill out these forms and send us $100. You are crazy and it is evident you won't be satisfied. We are returning your money. Then transferred me back to reception, basically hanging up on me.

I shouldn't have bothered and this was a waste of time. I wonder if I will actually get my money back! I tell this man the situation, he says he can help for $100, then a week later says I am crazy. I think he is a scammer. The only thing I think is Crazy is the time I wasted on this.

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Elizabeth
Words to Live By
Remember the Past, Live for Today, & Grab Hold of the Future!
Today is a gift and not a given right, Live each day as it was your last.

Wow, terrible situation! They only asked for $100. figuring you would give up and call it a loss. Report then anyway. &*&%#$ scammers!
I Feel so bad for you. ((((((Littledevil))))))
If you are healthy, then keep your visits to a minimum, take vitamins. (You don't need the most expensive) Consider a midwife and having the baby at home. It's an absolute atrocity how much it costs to have a baby.

__________________
Men have heard their struggle with passions so strong.
Echoes from the Tiger’s cries and tears from the
Dragon’s song.

That's what I was going to suggest, provided your first pregnancy went well, and you're willing to tough out the pain. Do be sure you have a good physician back-up, though, and you don't live too far away from a hospital in case you need to go by surprise.

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Oh, sweet music that brings back the days when I believed, and the remembrance of faith and peace; When the pure delight of wandering banished all dark desires...

Berlioz The Damnation of Faust

We are considering a midwife and birthing center, but if something does go wrong, I would have to be transported by Ambulance. My parents on the other hand, especially my mother, want me to deliver at their hospital. It is the best in the area, my parents both work there, but it is 35mins away. My nearest is 2 mins. however my doc doesn't use that one. Some decisions will have to be made. My last delivery went fine. I had to get an epideral since I was induced and wasn't dialating as fast as the contractions would have you believe. Although compared to some women my labor was short, 13 and half hours total. There should be some type of program out their that pregnant women can get if they become pregnant by accident and don't have the coverage. Wouldn't you think that would make sense? Oh well, lesson learned. Told hubby he is getting snipped after this one. Vasectomys' are easier on a man the tubal's I think.

__________________
Elizabeth
Words to Live By
Remember the Past, Live for Today, & Grab Hold of the Future!
Today is a gift and not a given right, Live each day as it was your last.

You can do it, 2nd baby can be easier.
My first labor was 23 hours, induced, preemie. no epidural.
My second was 4 hours, no epidural and he came right out as easy as can be.

__________________
Men have heard their struggle with passions so strong.
Echoes from the Tiger’s cries and tears from the
Dragon’s song.

I agree LD cancel your payment and report that company.
I could be wrong but I think Florida has a program similar to that of Georgia.
If you are pregnant (it depends on your income) you can be treated by a midwife who is a trained professional at your local Health Dept. FAR LESS EXPENSIVE!! You are a high-risk pregnancy since you have a record of previous miscarriage and will still be seen by an ObGyn too.
You might want to check it out as an option.
CONGRATS!!

Update on the Insurance covering the pregnancy. They decided to back date the contract to before I became pregnant. As long as I pay the extra premium they will cover us. YEAH! Didn't need that Idiot company anyway.

__________________
Elizabeth
Words to Live By
Remember the Past, Live for Today, & Grab Hold of the Future!
Today is a gift and not a given right, Live each day as it was your last.

Oh Littledevil, my sympathy to you in these times of confusion and panic on unexpected situation. This happened to me, a surprise pregnancy and it is true no insurance will cover..ever! And there should be but not yet. And like you I was looking for any kind of help even just a little and I came accross a company, which I have a feeling that the guy you sent $100.00 is just the same as what I got. The people I had, they represented in my behalf as far as asking for discounts to all service provider that they have network with. Some have their own list of doctors, pharmacy and others. For example I had a sonogram done and I told them to send me a bill and then I sent it to the "company" and then the "company" manage to get a 25% discount for me. I guess a little always help, also works with prescription and others. I hired a doula to assist me, I know it was too much to ask a partner to fully rely on or even families. I had another condition so I had to deliver to a hospital just in case of difficulties. I was financially tight, so I did not opt for any kind of medication, but I was in Baylor - Dallas, they have the best ICU, so I know that if I needed help they it's there. The hospital wanted to assist in my financial set up but I didn't because I already had that company and they said not to set up with the hospital. I had a mission, to save money and deliver my child without medication. I stayed one night at the hospital and left home the next day. I felt that if a child came out of me, anything after that I could survive LOL. Good luck to you Little!!! Don't stress out, I always remind myself, don't worry about things money can fix...for as long as you live, you can pay if off. If your health fails, nothing can fix that, even all the money!

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"You were born an original don't die a copy." -unknown

Yeah for you! I'm so happy the insurance company is working with you. Hugs to you and prayers that your pregnancy will be healthy and easy.

__________________
Men have heard their struggle with passions so strong.
Echoes from the Tiger’s cries and tears from the
Dragon’s song.