When I first came to the US, I could never understand the insurance structure in this country. Coming from India, where there is no concept of insurance - you go to any doctor you want when you're sick and pay the amount in full after the office visit, the whole concept would irk me the most. My last employer provided a HMO insurance where I had to choose a primary care physician and only when she refers me to a specialist, I could go see one. I found this very annoying as it would take me a couple of days to get an appointment with my PCP and then another couple of days to go to a specialist - plus I pay 2 co-pays. So what happens when you're dying (a.k.a emergency) - well there are always emergency rooms for that which obviously charge you higher !
Anyways, my dislike for insurance subsided over the years as I switched companies and found a very good insurance plan. My employer provides me with Aetna Choice which means I can go see any doctor I want, usually for a co-pay of $15 provided he/she is in-network. This sounds like a dream until just yesterday when I got a letter from them saying that they will no longer allow me to visit Longmont United Hospital (luh) - the biggest hospital that is nearby to my residence. So one would think, so what, who goes to a hospital anyways ? as long as the doctors accept insurance, I should be fine, right ?? But here's the complication in my case: I was supposed to deliver in luh this summer for my 2nd baby but with this new rule, I don't think I can. My Ob-gyn, who I like, is affiliated with luh so it means that if I wanted her to deliver my baby, I would have to go there or atleast that's how I understand. So now I have a 3 problems:
1. Find another Ob-gyn that's affiliated with hospital that accepts Aetna
2. All other hospitals are at least 30 mins away from where I live which depending on type of delivery will or will not matter - example scheduled delivery or if my water breaks, I know it'll be a while until I go into labour !
3. Even if I deliver in this hospital that's farther away, the 3 days that I'm in the hospital would be a nightmare for my family - driving up and down..
I've been upset with the news since yesterday because I was so used to the convenience of a hospital that is 10 mins away from home. I'm hoping that Aetna can re-negotiate with luh and provide the same level of service that they did before, this way I don't have to change anything but we all know how the corporate world works and that might never happen. As long as I can deliver my baby safely in good hands, I won't care about it anymore after my delivery !
Anyways, my dislike for insurance subsided over the years as I switched companies and found a very good insurance plan. My employer provides me with Aetna Choice which means I can go see any doctor I want, usually for a co-pay of $15 provided he/she is in-network. This sounds like a dream until just yesterday when I got a letter from them saying that they will no longer allow me to visit Longmont United Hospital (luh) - the biggest hospital that is nearby to my residence. So one would think, so what, who goes to a hospital anyways ? as long as the doctors accept insurance, I should be fine, right ?? But here's the complication in my case: I was supposed to deliver in luh this summer for my 2nd baby but with this new rule, I don't think I can. My Ob-gyn, who I like, is affiliated with luh so it means that if I wanted her to deliver my baby, I would have to go there or atleast that's how I understand. So now I have a 3 problems:
1. Find another Ob-gyn that's affiliated with hospital that accepts Aetna
2. All other hospitals are at least 30 mins away from where I live which depending on type of delivery will or will not matter - example scheduled delivery or if my water breaks, I know it'll be a while until I go into labour !
3. Even if I deliver in this hospital that's farther away, the 3 days that I'm in the hospital would be a nightmare for my family - driving up and down..
I've been upset with the news since yesterday because I was so used to the convenience of a hospital that is 10 mins away from home. I'm hoping that Aetna can re-negotiate with luh and provide the same level of service that they did before, this way I don't have to change anything but we all know how the corporate world works and that might never happen. As long as I can deliver my baby safely in good hands, I won't care about it anymore after my delivery !
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