The cost of PE

[matilda]

Hello,
I'm new to this forum, so I apologize if this has been discussed already. I searched but couldn't find anything.
I'm wondering how PE and health insurance work... Does PE count as "preexisting condition" for instance? For those of you who were on hospital bed rest, what did you end up paying for?
We moved to CA a year ago, after I gave birth to our daughter. Diagnosed with PE at 27 weeks, I stayed in the hospital for 6 weeks. They induced at 33w. With the awesome insurance plan we had, we did not see one bill, for me or for my daughter (2 weeks in the NICU). Our CA insurance plan is horrible though (are they all like that here?). Since we'd like to try for a second baby in 1-2 years, I'm wondering what we can do with our insurance so that we don't end up totally broke if I have to be in the hospital for an extended period of time again, etc.
I'd love to hear your stories! Thanks!

[kerisue]

I would recommend the kind of plan where you pay a co-pay rather than a % of the bill with a yearly cap on out of pocket expenses. I paid $50 per day, maximum $250 for my hospital stay and maternity care was included basically free. My daughter's tab came to $200,000 for 3 weeks of care. I haven't yet seen a bill for my portion of that but I know it will be much, much smaller.
You might also look into a medical savings account. I put money into that out of every pay check tax free, so they take $100 out of my paycheck, but it only feels like $70. I then use that to reimburse myself for all my medical expenses- so I dont have to use after tax dollars. It works out nicely. And if there's any money left over you can use it for other stuff- like over the counter medications, first aid supplies, etc.
As for the preexisting condition thing, I don't think they would see it that way if you had it previously, just if you are pregnant currently and have it. For me, my high blood pressure has continued beyond the pregnancy so they would probably see that as a preexisting condition, but not the preeclampsia.

[caryn]

I was self-employed and on my husband's grad school insurance.

I do not recommend this as a strategy.

[panguitch02]

I am in CA and had amazing insurance when I had my son and only paid $250.00 for the hospital stay. Now, we have the same insurance provider, but a through a different employer, and we now have a $500.00 deductible, but don't foresee many bills. If I had enrolled in my company’s insurance HMO plan then I would be paying lots and lots.

I have heard that insurance premiums are much higher, up to twice as expensive, in California compared to most states. I have never tried to get individual insurance, I always have gotten insurance through my husband or my own employment, so I do not know if PE is considered a preexisting condition, since we always fall with in the group plan.

Many of my co-worker opt for individual insurance through a huge HMO that owns its own hospitals and employees the staff too (Can't name names on the forum). They felt the premiums were lower and the coverage was better then what our company provides. I would definitely shop around.

Good Luck