In my last post I discussed Washington state’s Family Medical Leave Act. That post started some good discussions via the comments section and in e-mails I received from readers. Basically, our current system here in America isn’t really what it should be. I find this odd since, at some point, every single one of us was born. (Okay, there is still some question whether this happened with some people.)

Not only are we not protected after we’ve given birth, but some of aren’t even protected before we’ve given birth.  And so today we’re going to talk about insurance companies.  (Now I haven’t seen “Sicko” yet.  But I know enough to understand that we’re getting duped by the insurance companies of America.)

One of the readers of my last post shared her insurance story from her last pregnancy with me.  It’s so alarming and I asked her if I could share it with the SeattleMomBlogs readers.

And so today, may I present with why insurance companies suck:

Would you like to hear my sad, sad story? My husband decided to go back to college, and so began a major life change and move to his home state to finish his education. And we decided this when I was 4 months pregnant. That meant selling our house, moving all our stuff, AND finding new doctors, preschools, Target locations and friends. I was currently insured, taking all my pre-natals, seeing a doctor & doing all that “responsible” stuff. Our insurance company didn’t have any affiliates in the state we were moving to, so I needed to find a completely new insurance.

This is where the drama begins.

No one would cover me and my “pre existing condition” called pregnancy. NO ONE. I tried everything. I was told by TWO insurance brokers that I should stay put until I had the baby. We had already sold our house! We were moving! I heard rumors that it was illegal to discriminate against pregnant women, but apparently the law hadn’t gone into effect. My first delivery was a c-section with a really hard recovery, and I was worried that if I had to do that again we would be financially devastated (my meager freelance income + major medical bills = bad bad BAD!).

After a few calls I found out I didn’t qualify for any government help (apparently our new state takes your assets into account, not just your income. And since we were very blessed when we sold our home, we had some assets). Now here’s where you’re probably thinking, “Whatever, you made money on your house, just be happy & pay for your d*@n medical costs.”

I just wanted to be covered by insurance. Please.

Eventually we found out I would be covered by my husband’s student insurance. That was a relief. (It took us till the WEEK before school started before they could confirm I’d be covered because they were overhauling their insurance program). I did some research and found a doctor that could do a VBAC (vaginal birth after c-section). And he was even in network! Yay! But there are two hospitals in town, and only one allowed VBACs. And it was out of network. Crap. So, after 3 months of weekly calls, jumping through hoops, letters and calls from my doctor, filling out forms, faxing forms, refaxing forms, and refaxing forms, we finally found out THE WEEK before baby was born that they’d allow me my cheaper, healthier delivery at the out-of-network hospital. (I blame them for my dangerously high blood pressure, by the way. Hear that Claims Department!?!)

Now fast forward to the crazy, emotionally charged morning of the delivery. When we got to the triage room, there were 2 other ladies getting assessed. I was in the throes of labor, and my poor husband was as white as a sheet. We were both…distracted…but not distracted enough to miss what was going on behind the “privacy curtain”. A woman in labor was telling HER sad, sad story. And it was sad. She was on a huge list of medications. She didn’t know exactly where her other six children were, she thought most of them were with friends. Oh yeah, and she’d recently been in a mental hospital. She was having her SEVENTH CHILD! And no, she did not have insurance. But that’s ok, because it would be paid for by medicare.

In between contractions, I gritted my teeth. Here we were, trying to do everything “right”, and we are paying out over $10,000 in medical costs before even having the baby (including our premiums, that’s the awesome insurance we have…) Don’t get me wrong, I WANT this poor, sad woman to have proper medical care. I WANT her to find happiness & fulfillment in her life. I want her and her seven children to be happy and healthy. But can we get a bone over here too? I wasn’t asking for a free ride, I was just asking for an insurance plan without an ulcer!

So that is my sad story. It all turned out ok in the end ($12,000 and counting later…), and we have a beautiful, amazing, sweet little baby girl. But dude. That was not right…

And I hate insurance companies.

Isabel is a pseudonym for this Seattle-based blogger. She’s been working since the day she realized soda and lip gloss weren’t free. Isabel became a mom in 2006 and continues to work full time, outside the home, since diapers and mortgages aren’t free either. You can read far too much about her personal life at hola,isabel.

If you have questions, anecdotes, or topics for “Double duty. One paycheck.”, email Isabel at holaisabel [at] gmail.com.