Paying cash for hospital bills

Last summer I wrote a post for Money Saving Mom about our experience paying cash for the hospital birth of our son. 

And since I am having another baby in a few weeks I plan on doing it again. Now granted our financial situation has changed a lot in the 17 months since our son was born. 

My husband has a better paying job. We have better insurance and we have built up our savings. 

But I still get questions from readers in similar situations we were in asking for tips. 

I got this email from a reader: 

We are planning to do this with our first child and hope we don't have to do it for the others that follow but because of the circumstances at this time it seems it will be unavoidable for baby number 1. How did you go about talking to the hospital about paying cash? Any tips for who in the hospital to talk to and maybe specific questions to ask? Approximately how much should we expect to pay out of pocket? Any specific tips for avoiding unnecessary costs while at the hospital? For now, that's all I have but I may have more later. Thanks for answering! :)

I am certainly happy to answer this reader (or any reader if you want to shoot me an email!).

Sometimes these situations are unavoidable. I hope this is an easy process for anyone going through this. Know that as a new mom, you will be in my prayers.

Note: We did have insurance, it was just really, really, really bad insurance. Our bills reached five digits fast. Because we paid our bill when it was due instead of paying paying in installments we payed about 20 percent less. Yes, that is a lot. And yes, it is a LOT to pay out of pocket. 

1. I talked to the "insurance lady" at my doctors office. Here is a little known secret. There is one amount that insurance companies pay and there is another amount the cash patients pay. Ask up front what that cost will be to your OB and then ask if it is cheaper to be cash patient. Also, your OB's office might still accept installments even if you are a cash patient. It behooves them to do this because they are guaranteed direct payment. 

2. Call your hospital's billing department and ask up front the average cost for Labor and Delivery and Recovery. It pays to price compare. We ended up having our son in the next county because it was cheaper and it turned out the hospital was better. Also call and ask if they offer a cash discount. Often it is 20 percent and a lot of times a hospital will tell you up front. Sometimes the hospital will offer six months interest free payments, this is also a good option for some people. 

3. If you're planning on having an epidural that will be billed separately, but the hospital can tell you the average cost. It is usually around $700. 

4. If you don't eat hospital food, you don't pay for hospital food. It pays to bring your own snacks and drinks and have your husband or a family member bring you food. 

5. Also, limit your stay. If your pregnancy is healthy and there are no complications talk to your doctor about leaving early. You might can only stay one night instead of two. And trust me- you will want to go home. 

6. Another thing. The hospital will give you a ton of stuff that you have already paid for and you won't be charged extra for, like diapers, extra breast pump supplies, ice packs etc. Put these in your bag and ask for more. 

7. I know women who chose to forgo the hospital and go to a birthing center. They had great success with this and it was a fraction of the cost. Personally, I want to be where the meds are, but I am a wimp. Also, Alabama doesn't have birthing centers... so there is that. 

Take a deep breath, this is overwhelming. I want to tell you a story to encourage you. 

I was planning on going back to work after my son was born. I had prayed and prayed and prayed that the Lord would provide my husband and I with an opportunity for me to be at home. In the middle of my maternity leave my husband was offered a job OUT OF THE BLUE. He didn't even apply for it and he never interviewed for it. It came with MUCH better benefits, a raise and the opportunity to move 45 minutes away from my parents as opposed to eight hours. 

The Lord delivered. And He will deliver for you. 

Early to Rise: Morning Success

We are almost done with the early to rise challenge? Will it stick without the accountability? 

Has getting up earlier brought more success? Well, for me it kind of has. I have brought in new clients to work with in my businesses and because I am getting up earlier I have quiet time to work and think. 

So yes, maybe it will stick. 

Early to Rise: Be Quiet

Be quiet. I tell my mind that every night. It doesn't listen. 

I have a busy brain. I am always thinking and planning and making my next list. I am not a sit still type of person. 

I was talking to my mother the other day and she said "getting up before the baby give you an opportunity to just be quiet." 

I've never been a person who relished the quiet. I am working on it. Being quiet with God. Being quiet by myself. It's harder for me then it should be. 

Early to Rise: Planning your Day

This morning I laid in the bed a long time after I woke up. I prayed, I read my bible and I made a list. I need to do all of these things to make my day work. 

I've talked before on how I need to organize my mind. I am a list person. Without a list my day would fall apart. 

I have a growing boy and a growing business and I have to balance those. Sometimes I don't balance well and things don't get done. I try to balance more toward my baby. He is a far bigger priority than my job. But sadly there are days I fail at both. 

Without a list the fail would be far greater. 

So getting up earlier has given me time to write down my thoughts, ideas and to dos and implement them before little boy awakes. 

Early to Rise: Taking Stock

Do you know the song? "I got the sun in the mornin' and the moon at night..." It's from Annie get your gun. (It's called I got the sun in the morning.) 

In the song our heroine, Annie, sings about the things she doesn't have- diamonds, pearls etc. But she is grateful for what she does have, the sun in the morning and the moon at night. 

Do you find that when you great the sunrise you feel more grateful, more balanced, more righted? This morning there isn't much of a sun in South Alabama. It's overcast and icky, but I know the sun is there and will be up behind the clouds and I am grateful to have just a few moments of quiet as the light begins to fill my living room.