Go say congratulations to Devan over at All D’s: she’s produced the world’s cutest baby boy for the second time in a row, and he is wearing a little froggy outfit that will make you FREAK OUT and go to OldNavy.com and try to order it immediately and FREAK OUT again when it is no longer available.
I am freaking out over baby clothes to keep me from freaking out over the $3000 worth of dental work Paul needs. THREE. THOUSAND. DOLLARS. Of dental work. Could there be a more boring way to spend money? There goes the ENTIRE tax refund, part of which we’d planned to spend on a new couch. Ours is broken so that it is more like a hammock–if the hammock fell down, pulling the anchoring trees with it, and you sat on the resulting heap. We’d also planned to do something about our windows, which are from the 1960s and many don’t even have storms on them, and some of them whistle you a haunting melody when the wind blows, and all of them ensure that we will never die of carbon monoxide poisoning. While window upgrades are not “fun” per se, they are more exciting than dental work.
And speaking of freaking out, because apparently I still am, Paul’s company is changing health insurance plans. Right now. When I am six and a half weeks away from giving birth. And they regret to say they have no information about maternity benefits, nor about covered OBs, nor about cards or new ID numbers, “at this time.” The last time they switched providers, it took two months for us to get our new information. And perhaps you have had this experience and know how happy health care providers are to take your word for it that you have insurance but that you just don’t have any cards or numbers.
This reminds me of a funny story, not funny-ha-ha, more like funny-burst-a-blood-vessel. Eight days before I delivered my firstborn, Paul’s company changed insurers. To an insurer who would not cover my OB. And who charged a $1000 copay (the old company charged $50) for hospital visits, one copay for me and one for the new baby. Nice, yes? It’s been more than 8 years and I am STILL freaking out about that one.
Brownies tonight, I think. Lots and lots of brownies.
Oh, honey… You just made my day seem a whole lot better! Here I was sulking about Jim leaving me to go play basketball, and the fact that I had to eat dinner alone, and then the fact that I made a disgusting inedible dinner and am now eating bagel bites… But all this pales in comparison.
Brownies sound like a necessity!
Another funny coincidence, my husband’s work is changing insurance, too! Aren’t we both SOOO lucky? Ours goes into effect the first of May and we’ll see how easy it is to get my prepaid deductible back from my OB. Oh joy!
Sorry about the dental work, that just BLOWS!!!
And as far as our babies being born on the same day, you are so on. I can’t imagine making it to 39 weeks 1 day, so your date sounds MUCH better, especially after I just ate a salad and I feel like there is an alien about to pop out of my stomach.
I may very well be wrong, but I thought that if you were past 20 weeks or so they were required to let you keep your OB through your 6-week post-natal appointment.
Oh, I’d be pounding down the chocolate if I were you, for sure!
I agree that dental work has to be THE most boring way to spend your tax refund. We’re getting a huge refund this year, and we just found out our minivan has just about rusted completely away and we must sell it. Guess what WE’LL be buying? And making monthly payments for? Isn’t that the way it goes, though? Just when you get ahead, you take a step back. (You can always count on me to shed a ray of sunshine on any situation, as you can see.)
Well, at least you have your sense of humor. And copious amounts of brownies.
Mmmmm, brownies. Yes, brownies will do the trick. I hate hate hate dealing with insurance and health care and stuff. It is awful.
I’m sorry. Dental work is no way to spend a tax return. That sucks.
Breathe deep. Bring on the brownies.
I think they should (legally, not In Jen’s Mind) let you keep your OB till after your 6 weeker. I had that happen to me but damned if I can remember why.
When I had my first, I was in a similar situation, but we elected to pay one month of cobra to the old place because we just knew if we switched so late in the game, things would get messy.
Shannon: That is weird, we’re so parallel in these pregnancies. Well, that settles it: same birthday for the two babies.
Beth Fish: If they give me any crap, I will look into that very reassuring possibility. That certainly seems like the RIGHT and FAIR way. I mean, the OB gets paid in one lump sum. How are the insurance companies going to handle it if I have to switch at this point? Especially with me shrieking at them while they try to concentrate.
Karen: It isn’t exactly sunshine, is it, but it’s good to think of: there are surprise inflows and surprise outflows, and if they balance out I guess I should consider that sunny, sunny Florida.
Bring on the brownies!!
Also, find out who the company is, call them, ask them a shitload of questions, and make a record of the conversation.
I don’t know if that would actually help in any legitimate sense, but it would make me feel better about that situation. Good luck!!
Oh dear God, you poor thing. However, what Beth says sounds right. I mean, um, really? Switching OBs mid-pregnancy at that point, um, NO.
Also, I just wrapped up a shitload of freelance work – enough that I could have either dumped a honkin’ chunk into our savings account or gone on vacation or done something mildly fun with it. But guess who got every last penny of it instead? THE DENTIST, that fucker.
May the Brownie force be with you!
Scott was laid off when I was nine months pregnant, and his last day of work was the day before Eli was born. We were covered for another month, and my OB didn’t charge anything extra for my six week checkup. I’m just saying, things have a way of working out.
But I like the tape-record-the conversation idea. Time to re-read Catherine Newman’s “Waiting for Birdy” chaper about Joe Boy.
If we lived close-by, I’d be on my way with the Brownies right now!
Seriously? $3000? That’s ridiculous. Nothing should cost that much. Except maybe a house. Or a car. Nothing else. Hope you get some good news tomorrow!
My insurance switched two months before my due date when I was preg with Daughter. I was informed that most OB’s won’t take on a new patient that far into the pregnancy even if they have been getting care elsewhere.
When I asked the HR dept what I was supposed to do, they informed me that if I filled out a form, I could stay on the old insurance (for OB only) until after the baby was born. That is what I did. Daughter switched to the new insurance the moment she was released from the hospital. I stayed with the old insurance until after my 6 week checkup.
It went fairly smoothly for me….good luck!
Oh yes friend, you need brownies!!
Sheesh, are they just waiting for you to get pregnant again so they can change insurers – AGAIN?!