Comments on: Florida law mandates that insurance covers homebirth

By: bigjohnscott

bigjohnscott — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 16:39:40 +0000

Hi Angela…can you give me a law or precedent where you received this information?

“If you carry insurance that is based out of the state of Florida if the claim is filed in Florida, as BCBS requires because this is where the “services will be rendered”, the claim must be processed under FL statutes regardless of what the policy covers/excludes.” We’re in Florida and having the baby here and our insurance says they follow Illinois statutes where they are based.

Thanks so much!

John

By: Gab

Gab — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 00:27:28 +0000

Rebecca You can try thehollywood birth center in hollywood florida! They are the ONLY BC around in PBC florida . You may want to try private midwifves in your area . or even checking if you obtain a HICFA Form will you get reimbursed for any or all pre ,delivery and postnatal care. Look around or switch your policy you always have that right as well!

By: Sandy

Sandy — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 19:14:54 +0000

I have been recently working on a project which includes investigation in this service. I working with a federal government entity as well. I would think Tricare is the ultimate government plan that would be exempt from following state law. However, a little known secret, Tricare is required and does provide this option for obstetric patients. There are cost share and network provider restrictions but freestanding birth centers and home birth are included in the insurance. Dig around!

By: Rebecca Ferguson

Rebecca Ferguson — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 21:36:00 +0000

I also have BCBS… my husband works for the VA hospital, so it is a “Federal Employee Program.” When I contacted them to find out about paying for my midwife, I was (very rudely) told by BCBS that since they are a federally contracted, they don’t have to follow any state statues or laws. However I just realized that our statements do come from “BCBS of Florida.” Any suggestions? My husband said he found some law that Congress passed that did indicate that federal employee health benefit packages are exempt from state laws, so that all federal employees in all states have the same benefits.

By: Angela

Angela — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 17:36:15 +0000

Oh, and I forgot to mention. BCBS-TN will gladly pay for a repeat cesarean. But not a low cost home birth. Isn’t that kind? I’m glad I don’t live in TN where isn’t a law that mandates coverage for home births…the women there are completely screwed if the have BCBS-TN.

By: Angela

Angela — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 17:28:01 +0000

We’ll see how it goes with the actual “getting paid back part”… I’ve already paid my midwife her full $4,000 fee in cash because of how late in the game we found out about the filing policy. So now it will just be a waiting game as to if/when we get paid back.

What women need to know is this: If you carry insurance that is based out of the state of Florida (like mine for example, is based in Tennessee, and specifically excludes homebirth in the policy), if the claim is filed in Florida, as BCBS requires because this is where the “services will be rendered”, the claim must be processed under FL statutes regardless of what the policy covers/excludes.

So…I’ll be sure to keep you posted after the baby comes. As it stands I’ll probably only get about $1000 back after my super-high deductible is met because the policy only covers 80% of maternity care.