Hospital asks my sister to prepay for having her baby.

My sister has to have a c-section and she scheduled well in advance and has already paid $460. Today the hospital called her up and asked for $600 more. I called the hospital and they told me she can make payment arrangements but they will ask for $600 upfront. I asked if I could pay $50 for her as a good faith payment if she does not have the money. They said yes ut she must settle the bill shortly after.
My poor sister lost her job and her husband's hours were cut. She had no idea this was going to happen when she got pregant. Has anyone heard of this? She has health insurance.Can they really refuse her if she doesn't make a payment? I am so worried. I called my whole family and we are all going to pitch in money to pay but not sure we can come up with $600 This recession has hit my family hard.
My other sister's contract was bought out; my mom's retiring soon and my dad's hours were cut.
Any suggestions? Thanks.

If you live in the US and you say that your sister have health insurance then call the insurance company up and ask if she is covered. Most likely she is but the anesthesiologist is not unless he will take the insurance that she has as well. If he anesthesiologist is not in the plan then find one who is (the hospital will help you in this matter or the insurance company ). This way you pay nothing. Check to see is the hospital will also except the insurance to pay for her stay there as well as for the baby. If not, then find a hospital that will. Check again with your insurance company. You must go to where the insurance company pays.

They will only pay 85% of everything.This is just her portion. This is the hospital that takes her insurance. Believe me her husband talked to the insurance company and they there is a co-pay.

reply to post by dreamseeker


Well if $600 is the co-pay then there is nothing you can do but pay. But I'm sure they won't be hunting you down if you don't pay right away.

You are lucky...I had to pay slightly more than $2000 out of pocket for my child. That was the most expensive intercourse I've ever had

Anyhow...we had to pay about $700 upfront. The final bill was $24,000 for the delivery of our child. Insurance covered 80% of it.

so basically if she does not make a payment than she can't have her baby?

If she shows up at the emergency room they HAVE to provide her with appropriate medical care including child birth. I'm just surprised, I haven't heard of a hospital demanding payment up front like that. I'd ask for a supervisor and work out a payment plan.

Well, to be frank...this pregnancy thing does sound like a pre-existing condition...

Ask if they accept layaway plans...10 bucks a month or something and eventually once the bill is paid, your sister an have the baby.

reply to post by dreamseeker


If one were to check the health care system here in the US all they would have to do is go start bleeding out by the emergency room. Even on the tragic chance that the worst happened, someone would exploit it for money. If thats any concellation. The health care system is a private sector industry that seems to be ran by tougher laws than the Hebrews under Pharoh..thats my joke ha ha. Nationalized health care, (which would be equal or better to in personel quality) would cost annually. Like a union or something. Then that would solve the issue?

Ive never heard of a hospital refusing anything except vanity procedures?
That is soon to be at the minimum a bankrupt insurance company. If its not it should be.

I don't think the hospital is going to refuse the procedure, I'm almost positive you can work out some type of a payment plan.

Have the baby in the Barbarian Socialist country called Canada.

They give your baby a teddy bear, you a bouquet of flowers .

Total Cost = 0

wow that sounds nice not having to pay. The American way or should I asy the United States way is to be in debt even before you are born.

4 months ago I was admitted to the ER and was hospitlized for 5 days in the ICU. I did not have health insurance.

However, the hospital was more than helpful in talking to me about repayment options. And to this day, I havent paid a cent.

Here is what you need to do:

Is your sister having a C Section because she is a high risk pregnancy or is this a convenience thing. If its a convenience thing, they she needs to just buck up and pay the 600. If its a high risk pregnancy, dont prepay- and arrive to the hospital while she is labor and they will do the C Section.

There are options. Go to another hospital if this one is causing her so many problems. Im certain they are asking for the money upfront because no one (like me) is paying their hospital bills- because we dont have a job because of the economy.

Originally posted by xynephadyn
And to this day, I havent paid a cent.

How do you feel about receiving a service and paying nothing for it?

Originally posted by Sean48


Have the baby in the Barbarian Socialist country called Canada.

They give your baby a teddy bear, you a bouquet of flowers .

Total Cost = 0

Whats the total cost to everyone else that has to cough up tax money to pay for it?

Ive never realised that you actually have to pay money to the hospital to have kids there... maybe its because im from canada tho. The whole system is gimped, i was going to say what an evil hospital it is but then i realised that the hospital has bills to pay too. I'm not excusing what they are doing by trying to make her prepay, because that is totally wrong, but the real fault of the situation lies with the monetary system!

My wife and I are going through the same thing right now, but instead of looking at it in a negative light, we see it as a positive.

It gives us a chance to start funding the account well before our due date, that way when the time comes, we're not going to be faced with a huge hospital bill PLUS the cost of having a new born baby in the house.

In my opinion, the hospital is just trying to do the best thing for your sister, especially considering the financial hurt that you say your family is in.

Just pay some on it little by little. By the time the day comes, the bill will eaither be paid off or be significantly less of a burden.

If you live in the US medicare should cover the entire cost. It is only for the pregnancy I believe and the baby after it is born with health insurance if the criteria is met. Call them and ask it never hurts to try and good luck and God bless. Also I believe they cove the vitamins needed. In wisconsin it is called badger care I dont know were you live check it out.

[edit on 19-2-2010 by Subjective Truth]

[edit on 19-2-2010 by Subjective Truth]

The way illegals do it is go to free clinics for all the prenatal care and when the time comes the go to the ER at a local hospital.

Then they claim they have no money and disappear with the baby and birth certificate.
Cost the the illegal none. plus the infant is now a US citizen.

Some times Mexicans come across the border legally and do the same thing.
and after the baby is born just go back across the border without paying.
There is no way for the hospital to ever collect.

A friend worked for a ambulance company in San Diego county and about once a week a Mexican family would cross the border and walk up to a customs officer and ask them to call a ambulance because there baby was on the way.

The ambulance company almost never got payed for one of these runs.

Originally posted by pumpkinorange


How do you feel about receiving a service and paying nothing for it?

Most all of these hospitals are owned by religious corporations. Don't you think religions have already made way too much money on their lies? Don't you think it's time they really gave something back to the people they have stolen from?

[edit on 19-2-2010 by Alethea]