Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Our vacation home


Better known as health insurance.

We pay $1000 every month for our family's health insurance. We have to pay for two health insurance plans--a personal plan for everyone in the family except Morgan. She can't qualify for a personal plan. Ever. No matter how healthy she is or has been based solely on her chromosome make up. And Morgan's plan--which is a health insurance pool for individuals who are denied coverage on a personal plan and do not have a group plan available. It's a lot of money to pay out every month, but with 6 kids there aren't many options.

We got Morgan's hospital bill today. $18019.19. And that's just for the hospital. The doctor's bill was an additional $1400.

I have no idea what our out-of-pocket expenses are going to be but am confident it will be no where near $20,000. Makes paying that monthly premium a little easier now even thought I'd rather have that money in the bank or a family vacation home.

12 comments:

COOLWHIP said...

That is one thing that makes Trent's job wonderful. Even though he doesn't make very much.... he works for the Church, insurance is still 200 a month for the family, and they cover Eva. We can't get another job, because they wouldn't pick up her ' preexisting condition'.

Lacey said...

I am so thankful for my health insurance! Jax 4 month stay was over 600,000 dollars! I payed 250.00. I'm also glad that our lifetiime max is 2.5 million instead of the typical 1 million. If it was, we'd be done by now!

My name is Sarah said...

This is Joyce. Oh how I understand this post. I've mentioned our insurance issues a couple of times. Most people just do not have a clue. That's why we refer to the Cleveland Clinic as "Club Med"

Far Above Rubies said...

Heather, so good to hear from you. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on my post, Sarah.

Morgan looks beautiful. I forgot you have six children. I do too.

Enjoy your week.

Jasmine

Emily said...

Oh... seriously. Health insurance is a big thorn in my side. It makes me angry.
On a good note... SO Excited to see you at the playgroup next week!

Kristin said...

One benefit of adoption - Max gets Medicaid on top of our personal insurance :)
Funny about your comment... we had his oxygen tested yesterday and it averaged 91. I told my hubby this afternoon to go find a finger oximeter on his way home from work! Do you know where to get one locally?

Kristin said...

Found a pediatric oximeter through an online med supply company based in SLC - they let me pick one up this evening!!! After reading your post about oximeters, I was actually looking around for one, but hadn't bought one yet. Max is holding around 90-93. The on-call pedi just told me to take him in if he falls below 88. FYI - my email is twodogfamily (at) comcast (dot) net

MaggieMae said...

OMG what a Beautiful Family! And OMG, I can't believe that insurance nightmare. I don't really understand I guess b/c hubby's insurance covers our children automatically and it's at a very inexpensive monthly premium. I nearly fainted when I saw the $18,000+ hospital bill for Michael's care in the NICU for the first week of his life (even before the isolation and special meds and attention was required for his NEC infection). He was in for 6 weeks and Brian was in for 2! Scary. God bless you and yours. Hope you all stay extraordinarily healthy!

Tausha said...

Man, so true. Vacation home is definitely the hospital we keep in business.

Brittany said...

My situation is no where near that, but I do feel your pain. It seems like we pay so much every month and then whenever you use it you pay out even more! I am still paying Abi's hospital bills, YIKES!

NatRat said...

My husband switched jobs and I didn't realize how lucky we were with our previous policy and like you said, no one will take on a child with DS...bugger!

It was so fun to talk to you today too. Thanks so much for the info on the flash cards, I am going to get right on it and hopefully it will help with communication for me. :)

Kristinn&Thelma said...

wow that´s alot of money!! we are soooo lucky here in ICeland that all health care is free for our Kristofer...and it´s really cheap for just all babys over here.