As could have been expected, I've been having a very difficult time getting my insurance company to cover my unconventional maternity care. When I started the authorization process back in July (when I first started seeing Candace), the information I received from BCBS seemed too good to be true: midwives are completely covered as in-network providers! Yipee! It seemed to cut-and-dried...I should have been suspicious.
Just yesterday I found out that because Candace is not a CNM, I have to request an exception for my care from her to be covered. This will be considered out-of-network, which I've deduced means that we'll be paying more and our insurance will be paying less. Between yesterday and today (in all my copious end-of-semester spare time) I've talked to about eight different employees who have all passed the buck to someone else. After all these conversations, I'm still not sure that the authorization process has officially begun. What's worse is that because I've been seeing Candace since July, I have to obtain retroactive authorization as well as authorization for future care. Gah! Obviously, they want to discourage me and make this process impossible so I just give up and pay the full amount (which will still be less than if we were to have Karis in the hospital).
Is it just me, or have you experienced major frustration when it comes to communicating with insurance companies? Don't get me wrong; I'd rather experience this kind of frustration with a private insurance company of my own choosing than have to jump through bureaucratic hoops of the sort I'm sure our new president-elect will establish in the coming years....but that's beside the point. I'm an educated person! Yet somehow the insurance jargon confounds me. I feel like I should know far more than I do, but am prevented from even understanding the basics of my coverage.
Plus, the insurance world simply doesn't appreciate unconventional maternity care. Although my plan covers CNM's, three people I spoke with required education regarding the difference between CNM's and CPM's (Candace's certification), nor will they accept the fact that there ARE no CNM's within a 30 mile radius who will attend homebirths, even if I wanted to be cared by one!
Anyway, I wanted to share a disturbing but hilariously ironic conversational interchange I had with one of the BCBS employees yesterday afternoon. This came after a long explanation of my situation and desire for my maternity care to be covered:
Employee: "Ma'ma, what is your diagnosis? Pregnancy?"
Me: (Taken-aback laugh) "Uhh...yes. That's a funny question."
Employee: (Embarrassed chuckle) "Well, I just assumed..."
Regardless of whether or not our insurance pays us back, I wouldn't have traded Candace's midwifery care for a traditional ob's "care" for anything. I've felt so confident and calm throughout this pregnancy because I have been cared for by a professional who is accessible, knows me, has taken the time to listen to my dreams for this birth, and has exceptional expertise and experience. This is worth almost any price...although I'm still hoping that BCBS comes through for us!!!
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Friday, October 31, 2008
Cutest kid ever
Here are some pictures of our Halloween. Enjoy!
Abbie as Abby Cadabby!
Karis went as a jack-o-lantern :-)
Our pumpkin: The Bat Signal!
Abbie as Abby Cadabby!
Karis went as a jack-o-lantern :-)
Our pumpkin: The Bat Signal!
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Crappy.
For a few weeks now I've been in a lot of pain. My lower back, hips, and shoulders have been achy so that it hurts to walk and especially to pick Abbie up. Yoga helps for a little while, but because of my class schedule, I've only been able to go once this month. The worst is trying to sleep at night. Normally (when I'm not pregnant) I LOVE our matress. But pregnancy is a different story; no matter how many support pillows I use, and no matter which position I try, I wake up in pain.
So I decided to try chiropractic for the first time in my life. Heck, it couldn't hurt, right? I had to wait a week and a half to see the doctor, so I was really looking forward to my appointment yesterday afternoon (even though I had to bring Abbie with me, and I wasn't sure how she would do). The appointment itself went great! I liked the doctor and felt confident that she knew what she was doing. The most bizarre feeling was when she cracked my neck! I left the office feeling awesome—I could walk without looking like I was 90 years old!
The doctor warned me that things might go back to (painfully) normal shortly after the adjustment since it was my first time and my body wasn’t used to it. So we made another appointment for next week. However, she didn’t warn me about what excruciating pain I might experience as a direct RESULT of the adjustment. Not only did I feel like I got hit by a train last night (I woke up 3 times, and even 2 Advils didn’t have any effect!), but I also got a wicked cold that hit me like a bag of bricks about 2 hours after I got home. At first I thought it was just a weird coincidence (my colds never come on that fast), but my midwife told me that after an adjustment, sometimes toxins are released into your body and you have to drink a couple gallons of water to flush it all out. Ugh! Why didn’t I know this?!
Needless to say, I haven’t left the couch except to change diapers today. And I’m skipping class tonight to go to yoga to hopefully stretch out my very very sore muscles. More than anything I’m just frustrated. I have at least three more weeks (and possibly up to nine weeks or more!) before Karis would be born a full-term baby, and my school work is piling up. I have so much to do in the next few weeks, and I need energy to get it all done. Ugh.
So I decided to try chiropractic for the first time in my life. Heck, it couldn't hurt, right? I had to wait a week and a half to see the doctor, so I was really looking forward to my appointment yesterday afternoon (even though I had to bring Abbie with me, and I wasn't sure how she would do). The appointment itself went great! I liked the doctor and felt confident that she knew what she was doing. The most bizarre feeling was when she cracked my neck! I left the office feeling awesome—I could walk without looking like I was 90 years old!
The doctor warned me that things might go back to (painfully) normal shortly after the adjustment since it was my first time and my body wasn’t used to it. So we made another appointment for next week. However, she didn’t warn me about what excruciating pain I might experience as a direct RESULT of the adjustment. Not only did I feel like I got hit by a train last night (I woke up 3 times, and even 2 Advils didn’t have any effect!), but I also got a wicked cold that hit me like a bag of bricks about 2 hours after I got home. At first I thought it was just a weird coincidence (my colds never come on that fast), but my midwife told me that after an adjustment, sometimes toxins are released into your body and you have to drink a couple gallons of water to flush it all out. Ugh! Why didn’t I know this?!
Needless to say, I haven’t left the couch except to change diapers today. And I’m skipping class tonight to go to yoga to hopefully stretch out my very very sore muscles. More than anything I’m just frustrated. I have at least three more weeks (and possibly up to nine weeks or more!) before Karis would be born a full-term baby, and my school work is piling up. I have so much to do in the next few weeks, and I need energy to get it all done. Ugh.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Equally Skilled
I just wanted to share the lyrics of a song I love. It's called Equally Skilled and it's on Jon Foreman's album Fall. Enjoy!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
How miserable I am
I feel like a fruit picker who arrives after the harvest
There's nothing here at all
Nothing at all here that could placate my hunger
The godly people are all gone
There's not one honest soul left alive here on the planet
We're all murderers and thieves
Setting traps here for even our brothers
And both of our hands
Are equally skilled
At doing evil
Equally skilled
At bribing the judges
Equally skilled
At perverting justice
Both of our hands
Both of our hands
The day of justice comes
And is even now swiftly arriving
Don't trust anyone at all
Not your best friend or even your wife
For the son hates the father
The daughter despises even her mother
Look! Your enemies are right
Right in the room of your very household
And both of our hands
Are equally skilled
At doing evil
Equally skilled
At bribing the judges
Equally skilled
At perverting justice
Both of our hands
Both of our hands
No, don't gloat over me
For though I fall, though I fall
I will rise again
Though I sit here in darkness
The Lord, the Lord alone
He will be my light.
I will be patient as the Lord
Punishes me for the wrongs I've done against Him
After that He'll take my case
Bringing me to light and to justice
For all I have suffered
And both of His hands
Are equally skilled
At ruining evil
Equally skilled
At judging the judges
Equally skilled
At administering justice
Both of His hands
Both of His hands
Are equally skilled
At showing mercy
Equally skilled
At loving the loveless
Equally skilled
At administering justice
Both of His hands
Both of His hands
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
How miserable I am
I feel like a fruit picker who arrives after the harvest
There's nothing here at all
Nothing at all here that could placate my hunger
The godly people are all gone
There's not one honest soul left alive here on the planet
We're all murderers and thieves
Setting traps here for even our brothers
And both of our hands
Are equally skilled
At doing evil
Equally skilled
At bribing the judges
Equally skilled
At perverting justice
Both of our hands
Both of our hands
The day of justice comes
And is even now swiftly arriving
Don't trust anyone at all
Not your best friend or even your wife
For the son hates the father
The daughter despises even her mother
Look! Your enemies are right
Right in the room of your very household
And both of our hands
Are equally skilled
At doing evil
Equally skilled
At bribing the judges
Equally skilled
At perverting justice
Both of our hands
Both of our hands
No, don't gloat over me
For though I fall, though I fall
I will rise again
Though I sit here in darkness
The Lord, the Lord alone
He will be my light.
I will be patient as the Lord
Punishes me for the wrongs I've done against Him
After that He'll take my case
Bringing me to light and to justice
For all I have suffered
And both of His hands
Are equally skilled
At ruining evil
Equally skilled
At judging the judges
Equally skilled
At administering justice
Both of His hands
Both of His hands
Are equally skilled
At showing mercy
Equally skilled
At loving the loveless
Equally skilled
At administering justice
Both of His hands
Both of His hands
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Cool things a'happening
1. It’s starting to get chilly in Kentucky! Now of course, as always, we are only flirting with Fall; there are some chilly days interspersed between 80 degree days, but we’ll take what we can get. This of course means jeans and long sleeves…and super cute fall clothes for Abbie! Since she’s walking proficiently now, clothes look even cuter on her (I was excited about her fall clothes last year, but to be honest she still looked pretty schlumpy).
2. This week marks the 30th week of my pregnancy (a.k.a. 7.5 lunar months, or ¾ of the way done). It’s so hard to believe that we’ll be meeting Karis in about 10 weeks (maybe more like 8 weeks if she follows her big sister’s example)! This is super exciting, but also a bit unnerving. We’ve already taken our one-time, two-hour couple’s labor workshop which served to jog our memories about breathing techniques, positions to labor in, and the phases of labor, but aside from that we haven’t done much as far as physical preparations for this birth. Things that helped prepare me for Abbie’s birth were taking about 15 minutes every day to relax and deep-breathe, practicing relaxation while Matt touched my arm or back with an ice pack, squatting, Kegel exercises, and walking every day. I am pretty ashamed to say that even though I know these things help, I haven’t been diligent at all in actually doing them this time. Is 10 weeks enough time? Fortunately, I have been pretty faithful with going to yoga every Saturday morning.
3. Matt and I decided that we wanted to do a 3D/4D ultrasound of Karis after all. So, I scheduled it for next Tuesday afternoon! I can’t wait to see her little face!
4. Mid-terms are already upon us. Where is this semester going?! I feel like I’m breathlessly trying to keep up with my work, but successfully for the most part. I am enjoying my classes, and I’m happy that I decided to take the 9-credit plunge this fall.
5. My mom is coming down to KY this weekend! We’re planning to make Christmas presents (in accordance with our rather tight budget this year) and just hang out. This will be my mom’s last visit before she comes to take care of Abbie while Karis is born….that’s crazy!
6. Our church family retreat is coming up in three weeks. More than ever, I am looking forward to it; the past two years have been so much fun that my expectations are definitely high! I love being in the Kentucky mountains with the awesome fall colors, drinking hot chocolate near the open fire in the lodge, chilly mornings, eating and worshipping with our church family, and snuggling with Matt at night. A bunch of the 20-somethings are going and bringing their little kids who are around Abbie’s age, and I’m really looking forward to seeing them all play together.
2. This week marks the 30th week of my pregnancy (a.k.a. 7.5 lunar months, or ¾ of the way done). It’s so hard to believe that we’ll be meeting Karis in about 10 weeks (maybe more like 8 weeks if she follows her big sister’s example)! This is super exciting, but also a bit unnerving. We’ve already taken our one-time, two-hour couple’s labor workshop which served to jog our memories about breathing techniques, positions to labor in, and the phases of labor, but aside from that we haven’t done much as far as physical preparations for this birth. Things that helped prepare me for Abbie’s birth were taking about 15 minutes every day to relax and deep-breathe, practicing relaxation while Matt touched my arm or back with an ice pack, squatting, Kegel exercises, and walking every day. I am pretty ashamed to say that even though I know these things help, I haven’t been diligent at all in actually doing them this time. Is 10 weeks enough time? Fortunately, I have been pretty faithful with going to yoga every Saturday morning.
3. Matt and I decided that we wanted to do a 3D/4D ultrasound of Karis after all. So, I scheduled it for next Tuesday afternoon! I can’t wait to see her little face!
4. Mid-terms are already upon us. Where is this semester going?! I feel like I’m breathlessly trying to keep up with my work, but successfully for the most part. I am enjoying my classes, and I’m happy that I decided to take the 9-credit plunge this fall.
5. My mom is coming down to KY this weekend! We’re planning to make Christmas presents (in accordance with our rather tight budget this year) and just hang out. This will be my mom’s last visit before she comes to take care of Abbie while Karis is born….that’s crazy!
6. Our church family retreat is coming up in three weeks. More than ever, I am looking forward to it; the past two years have been so much fun that my expectations are definitely high! I love being in the Kentucky mountains with the awesome fall colors, drinking hot chocolate near the open fire in the lodge, chilly mornings, eating and worshipping with our church family, and snuggling with Matt at night. A bunch of the 20-somethings are going and bringing their little kids who are around Abbie’s age, and I’m really looking forward to seeing them all play together.
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