It is easy to see that the fees are minimal for an out-of-hospital birth when compared to a natural hospital delivery, especially when all of the things a midwife provides are listed out. In the hospital, these tasks are delegated to many other people and the birthing mother and newborn are no longer people in the eyes of the "staff", they are a "patient"... a number. With the services provided by Birth Wellness, you remain a person and the quality and continuity of care is the highest there is.
INSURANCE
Insurance sometimes does cover midwifery services. Since most midwives practicing out of hospital are not "In-Network" providers, coverage in most cases will be considered "Out of Network." This means we are not contracted with health insurance companies to provide services to plan members for a specific, pre-negotiated rate. Typically, when you see an out-of-network provider, insurance will pay between 60-70% of the fees charged, leaving you with the responsibility of the remaining 30-40 %. In addition, you may also have to meet a separate out-of-network deductible.
Birth Wellness will determine payment plan amounts at the first visit to your midwife, following benefits verification.
SOME OTHER FEES YOU MAY INCUR
(insurance may pay for some or all of the following)
$100 to $150 for the initial lab work
$65 - $85 for each additional lab
$195 for a RhoGam shot if you are Rh negative
$350 -$450 for a medical ultrasound
ADDITIONAL ITEMS YOU WILL NEED
(not covered by insurance)
Birth Kit – Whether you birth in your own home or the Belvoir home, you will need to order a birth kit. You can go online to the 'Mama Page' and follow the link for ordering your birth kit. You need to order your kit early enough to have it available at 36 weeks. This birth kit contains the consumable items we use for the birth (sterile gloves, bed pads, etc). The price for the basis kit is currently around $75.
Additional Birth Supplies – In addition to the birth kit, you will need a few other items for the birth (such as juices, towels, etc). You probably already have most of these things around your home. A list is provided in a notebook that every mother receives when they begin care.
Childbirth Education Classes - Hypnobabies is $200 for Birth Wellness Clients. Starting 2012, the fee for classes will be $250. The fee includes all materials.
Herbs and Vitamins – You will be asked to purchase and take some good prenatal vitamins throughout your pregnancy. Sometimes we recommend herbs for different situations.
Physician Consult - Should you need a physician referral, you will need to pay for his or her services separately.
Hotel Expenses For The Midwife, If More Than 50 Miles Away – If you live more than 50 miles from Chattanooga and do not have an extra room with a bed and an extra bathroom to accommodate us during our stay with you, then we ask that you provide hotel accommodations. If the distance to your house hinders us from taking a break at home during a long early labor (as we would if you lived in town), or if we are too exhausted to safely travel on the road after a long birth, we will choose to stay in the hotel. If it turns out that we do not need the hotel room, the money of course is yours to keep. Please discuss specific arrangements with us prior to your birth if you can not offer us an adequate room in your home and you live more than 50 miles away.
Mileage - There is an additional fee for mileage if you live over 35 miles from Chattanooga.
(insurance may pay for some or all of the following)
$100 to $150 for the initial lab work
$65 - $85 for each additional lab
$195 for a RhoGam shot if you are Rh negative
$350 -$450 for a medical ultrasound
ADDITIONAL ITEMS YOU WILL NEED
(not covered by insurance)
Birth Kit – Whether you birth in your own home or the Belvoir home, you will need to order a birth kit. You can go online to the 'Mama Page' and follow the link for ordering your birth kit. You need to order your kit early enough to have it available at 36 weeks. This birth kit contains the consumable items we use for the birth (sterile gloves, bed pads, etc). The price for the basis kit is currently around $75.
Additional Birth Supplies – In addition to the birth kit, you will need a few other items for the birth (such as juices, towels, etc). You probably already have most of these things around your home. A list is provided in a notebook that every mother receives when they begin care.
Childbirth Education Classes - Hypnobabies is $200 for Birth Wellness Clients. Starting 2012, the fee for classes will be $250. The fee includes all materials.
Herbs and Vitamins – You will be asked to purchase and take some good prenatal vitamins throughout your pregnancy. Sometimes we recommend herbs for different situations.
Physician Consult - Should you need a physician referral, you will need to pay for his or her services separately.
Hotel Expenses For The Midwife, If More Than 50 Miles Away – If you live more than 50 miles from Chattanooga and do not have an extra room with a bed and an extra bathroom to accommodate us during our stay with you, then we ask that you provide hotel accommodations. If the distance to your house hinders us from taking a break at home during a long early labor (as we would if you lived in town), or if we are too exhausted to safely travel on the road after a long birth, we will choose to stay in the hotel. If it turns out that we do not need the hotel room, the money of course is yours to keep. Please discuss specific arrangements with us prior to your birth if you can not offer us an adequate room in your home and you live more than 50 miles away.
Mileage - There is an additional fee for mileage if you live over 35 miles from Chattanooga.
