Obstetrics Fees

GLOBAL OBSTETRICAL PACKAGE

Most insurance companies require that we bill “globally” for your obstetrical care and delivery.  What this means is that all of your routine prenatal visits and your delivery are billed to the insurance company together after your delivery.  You will be asked to pay for your “initial obstetrical visit” at the time of your visit.  At that time, the staff will explain our payment procedures.  We require our patients to pay the percentage that their insurance does not cover in advance.  This amount varies due to the percentage the patient is required to pay (20%, 15%, 10%).  We ask that this be paid in full by the end of your 8th month.  Most patients find that by making monthly payments toward this it is often paid before the end of the 8th month.  The fee for your delivery can vary based upon whether you have a normal spontaneous vaginal delivery, a VBAC (vaginal birth after caesarean), a caesarean section, a breech birth, a multiple birth, or an obstetrical delivery with complications during the prenatal period.

LABORATORY PROCEDURES

During the course of your pregnancy there are lab testes that will be required and lab tests that are optional.  These will be billed to your insurance company as they are completed.

MISCELLANEOUS PROCEDURES

You will receive a Pap Smear during your initial OB visit if you have not had one recently.  There is also a possibility of having a Pap Smear done while you are pregnant.  If you have had a history of abnormal Pap Smears, or the smear taken at your initial visit shows an abnormality, you will have another Pap Smear during the pregnancy.  These are not included in your global obstetrical fee and you will be responsible for paying at the time of service unless we have agreed to bill your insurance carrier for this.

If you are a patient that is considered to be “at-risk” for birth defects, you will be advised to have an amniocentisis.  This is an optional test and the nurse will fully explain this procedure if it pertains to you.  There will be a charge for the doctor or technician to perform the ultrasound, you will have a reasonable, definite amount set up and paid in regular installments.

Occasionally, insurance companies will send a check for more than the balance due (the patient having paid what she thought was the difference).  Since, in these cases the overpayment would be sent back to the patient, the refund will be sent out the following month.  Also, occasionally when a patient has two group insurances, there is an over payment, the proper insurance company will be sent the refund the following month.  There have also been requests from insurance companies for a refund when they have misfigured benefits.  We refund these amounts to the insurance company and this may leave the patient with a larger balance due.