i think im an idiot...

so maybe im just having a hard time grasping this... the babies obviously will need a ped. while in the hospital, and i have to pick a ped. before i deliver. SO...do i go and find a ped. in my plan and tell the OB that? and do they have to work out of the hospital im delivering at? im new to the whole insurance thing and i feel so confused and overwhelmed. on top of the fact that the babies will have my husbands military insurance, and i'll still be on my work insurance, unless by some lucky chance by OB takes the military insurance. blah anyone willing to spell it out for me, im lost. tia.

 

My ped and my hospital happen to be in the town I live in, so it was not an issue for me. One of the docs in the office makes rounds every morning at the hospital.

My sister chose a ped where she lives, but the hospital that she delivered in was not (nor for this one either), it's about 45 minutes away. So in the hospital, a staff pediatrician checked on the baby, did the circ, etc. I would check with the hospital and ask any ped's you might be looking at what is the norm. I'm not really familiar with military insurance so hopefully one of the military moms will check in here, too.

 

can i just say your babies are adorable!!!

 

Thank you. That picture is from the fall of 2005. I have it up because they are wearing their Pats outfits in it. They are going to be 3 in 2 weeks.

 

Not sure of this will help or not but its what I know.

You (normally) don't have to tell your ob who your ped. is. The pre-registration form from the hospital will normally ask you for this. Or the hospital will get that info from you when you check in. I would get one in your hubbies military plan for sure. Just check with the ped. to see if they have privileges at your hospital. If they don't check to see if they have a staff ped. you can use while at the hospital.

My ped. doesn't work with the hospital I'll be delivering at so we are using a staff ped. But they told me I had to have a ped. setup before they would release the babies. You normally have a ped. appt 2 days after you leave the hospital (I think, it's been a while!!)

Okay I may have talked in circles and answered nothing but hopefully you'll find something helpful!!

 

I didn't really plan this out either I guess I was just expecting to find one in my neighborhood once they were born. When I was asked in the hospital I said I was going to go with a Pedi in my neighborhood, really for convenience. We took them to their first Pedi appt after they were born right around the corner from my house, which was very convienient but I wound up going back to the Pedi where they were born and it was the best decision. So basically at the hospital before you are released is where they will ask you this info. You can survey where offices are near you and if you find you don't like their services you can always go back to where you feel comfortable, also you can ask around so that you have a plan. If I remember I think I called the one around the corner from my home and told them my delivery date and asked if they were accepting new patients and they basically said yes and told me to call back when I delivered, which I did but then switched back.

 

Where I am, you tell the hospital beforehand who your ped is. But, they have to have privileges at the hospital. All the peds in my insurance group do have privileges at my hospital, so I just have to choose.

 

As far as military insurance goes, I am assuming you are referring to Tricare. Just call ahead to see who accepts it. Unfortunately, not everyone does. Goodluck!

 

Plus you can always ask your OB to refer you to a few peds that they know of for you to check out. That's what I'm going to do this time around. Then you can call them and ask if they take your insurance. Or you could get a list of covered providers and ask your OB if they recommend any of them. Just a couple of ideas.

 

My hospital gave me a list of Peds. who have priveleges at that hospital. We took the list and called one who was convenient to our home, and then called him for an interview. We liked him, so that was it for us. After meeting him, I found out that my OB used him as well as my RE--that sealed the deal for us. We just told the hospital when we registered.

 

If the babies will be on Tricare, you will more than likely be seeing a Ped on base, even if you just have a clinic. We just had a clinic, and I delivered in a civlian hospital. We used a Staff Ped for the 3 days I was in the hospital. 2 days later we went on base for their check-up. After THAT experience (PM me if you want the details) we requested an off-base Ped. Well where we were there was only ONE Peds office in town, so they ALL accepted Tricare, no issues. Now, where we are now, there's about 5 military bases, and our babies go to one of them (not the one we live/work on) to see the Ped. Here we can't even request to have a civlian Ped, but that's becuase we are both AD.

So, really you can probably just use a Staff ped, and as far as filling out paperwork, just tell them the babies will be seen on base. That worked for us.

Good Luck!

 

i just went for a meet and greet with my ped...he does not call on the hospital i am delivering at (which is fine with him) but has recommended 2 ped's for me to ask for once the boys are delivered! call around for some meet and greets if no one has recommended a ped to you! all my girlfriend's use the same ped so i knew exactly who i wanted to use but just met with him for about 20 minutes..introduced myself, etc.