How much should I budget for medical expenses if I am a BCBS member?
 

I just found out I am pregnant. I am trying to prepare for the
expected costs associated with prenatal care, delivery and infant
check ups.

I belong to the Blue Cross Blue Shield Federal Employee Basic Plan.
Pessimistically, I assume that I will be stuck with some additional
fees or costs for non-covered expenses.

Does anyone have experience with this plan and remember how much they
ended up shelling out of pocket, give or take a few hundred?

How much should I budget for medical expenses if I am a BCBS member?
 

"C. S." wrote in message
om...
I just found out I am pregnant. I am trying to prepare for the
expected costs associated with prenatal care, delivery and infant
check ups.

I belong to the Blue Cross Blue Shield Federal Employee Basic Plan.
Pessimistically, I assume that I will be stuck with some additional
fees or costs for non-covered expenses.

Does anyone have experience with this plan and remember how much they
ended up shelling out of pocket, give or take a few hundred?

Do you have a co-pay plan or a deductable? I'm on Co-pay PPO, and the only
costs are $15 for the initial OB appointment and $15 for each specialist
appointment or ultrasound. The delivery is supposed to be completely
covered. So far, the only non-covered expense was my pre-natal vitamins.

How much should I budget for medical expenses if I am a BCBS member?
 

You really should call BCBS and ask what exactly they cover and what other
costs you will incur. Every plan is different so it will be hard for a bunch
of us on a newsgroup to tell you what your plan covers and doesn't cover.
Good luck. :o)
--
Sue (mom to three girls)
I'm Just a Raggedy Ann in a Barbie Doll World...

C. S. wrote in message
om...
I just found out I am pregnant. I am trying to prepare for the
expected costs associated with prenatal care, delivery and infant
check ups.

I belong to the Blue Cross Blue Shield Federal Employee Basic Plan.
Pessimistically, I assume that I will be stuck with some additional
fees or costs for non-covered expenses.

Does anyone have experience with this plan and remember how much they
ended up shelling out of pocket, give or take a few hundred?

How much should I budget for medical expenses if I am a BCBSmember?
 

I too belong to blue cross. I am 29 weeks pregnant & so far, we had to
pay about $400 - 500 from our pockets (of course other than the $15
copayment for every doctor's visit). I have done lab work, ultrasound etc.

It really depends if you are PPO or HMO (as a PPO that's what I have
paid so far).

I hope I have been helpful.

Mona
due 07-31-04

C. S. wrote:
I just found out I am pregnant. I am trying to prepare for the
expected costs associated with prenatal care, delivery and infant
check ups.

I belong to the Blue Cross Blue Shield Federal Employee Basic Plan.
Pessimistically, I assume that I will be stuck with some additional
fees or costs for non-covered expenses.

Does anyone have experience with this plan and remember how much they
ended up shelling out of pocket, give or take a few hundred?

How much should I budget for medical expenses if I am a BCBS
 

When dd was born 5 years ago I had BCBS through the post office. I had the
copay for my prenatel vitamins and that was it. The pregnancy delivery and all
related dr visits were covered 100%.Acutally I think I may have had a $15 copay
with the first visit too. I think I had the PPO high end plan.
Rose
Mamma to Caity Feb 13 1999 ( Daddy's best birthday present)

How much should I budget for medical expenses if I am a BCBS member?
 

"Donna Metler" wrote in message ...
"C. S." wrote in message
om...
I just found out I am pregnant. I am trying to prepare for the
expected costs associated with prenatal care, delivery and infant
check ups.

I belong to the Blue Cross Blue Shield Federal Employee Basic Plan.
Pessimistically, I assume that I will be stuck with some additional
fees or costs for non-covered expenses.

Does anyone have experience with this plan and remember how much they
ended up shelling out of pocket, give or take a few hundred?

Do you have a co-pay plan or a deductable? I'm on Co-pay PPO, and the only
costs are $15 for the initial OB appointment and $15 for each specialist
appointment or ultrasound. The delivery is supposed to be completely
covered. So far, the only non-covered expense was my pre-natal vitamins.


I think this must vary by the specific plan. I have BCBS also through
my job (not the "federal employee basic plan", though). I owed a $20
copay at the first prenatal visit, and that's it so far. None of my
lab work or ultrasounds required a copay (I haven't had anything
beyond the basics though since I haven't needed it). I had to pay
another $20 copay for the extra visit I went for when I thought I had
a UTI (in between regular visits, so it didn't count as a prenatal
checkup). If I were taking the prescription pretnatals, they would
have been somewhat covered by the prescription plan (copays vary from
$0 to $20 depending on the drug/generic/etc for my plan)--I'm taking
OTC prenatals, so that isn't a factor for me ($6 for a year's supply
from Target...). I forget how much the delivery will cost out of
pocket, but I think it's pretty low or $0--last time I looked at that
info was before we TTC. Also, my plan will reimburse up to $45 for a
childbirth or breastfeeding class, and sent me a free book about
pregnancy/labor/childbirth.

I think all this would cost more if I went to a doctor or hospital
that's "out of network"--we'd owe something like 30% in that case.

Good luck with your budgeting!

--Elit.
#1 due 9/20/2004