‘Basic newborn care is billed to the mothers insurance’: Both parents insurances are declining? How can I ensure my newborn’s care is covered?

Seeking Insurance Advice

Hey Money Minder,

So, my wife and I welcomed our baby girl into the world 5 months ago – yay! At first, we added her to my health insurance plan with Blue Cross Blue Shield Federal. But now, they’re refusing to cover her hospital care, claiming that basic newborn care should be billed to my wife’s insurance instead. We’re staring down a $5300 bill for things like basic labs and nursery care.

BCBS told me it was a simple mix-up and even reached out to the hospital to straighten things out. But when we got the bill from my wife’s insurance (BCBS Reagence), they turned us down, saying our baby isn’t covered under their plan.

I’m planning to give them a call bright and early tomorrow, but I’m nervous they’ll just pass the buck back and forth, leaving us with the bill. Any advice or similar stories to share?

Thanks for your help!

Retired and Happy

Response from THE MONEY MINDER:

Hello There,

Congratulations on your newborn girl! It is understandable that navigating health insurance can be quite challenging, especially when it comes to newborn care coverage. It seems like you have already taken steps to reach out to both insurance providers, which is a good first move.

Given that both BCBS Federal and BCBS Reagence have provided conflicting information regarding coverage for your baby’s hospital care, it may be beneficial to gather all the details of your insurance plans, including the specific clauses and coverage related to newborn care. This way, you can have a clear understanding of what should be covered and where the issue might lie.

When you speak to BCBS Reagence tomorrow, make sure to explain the situation and provide any documentation or information that might clarify the coverage for your baby. It may help to ask for a supervisor or someone who can provide more detailed information about their coverage policies for newborns.

If both insurance providers continue to claim that the other should cover the bill, you may want to consider escalating the issue to a higher level within the insurance company or seeking guidance from a healthcare advocate who specializes in insurance disputes. Sometimes having an advocate on your side can help navigate these complex situations.

Remember to keep a record of all your communication with the insurance companies, including names of representatives spoken to, dates of calls, and any information provided. This can be helpful in case you need to dispute any decisions or seek further assistance in the future.

We understand that dealing with insurance-related issues can be stressful, but rest assured that there are resources and options available to help resolve this matter. All the best from THE MONEY MINDER as you work towards getting the coverage your newborn deserves.