Navigating the Insurance System - Homebirth Coverage

Here are a few things I have learned in my efforts to get our homebirth covered by our insurance company. Home birth is covered under our policy, but no providers of home birth services were listed as "in-network."

We haven't had the baby yet, so there is more to learn, but this is what I have discovered so far while working with Blue Cross Blue Shield.

1. Get pre-approved. If home birth is covered but your provider isn't, get them pre-approved to be covered as if they are in-network.
2. Work to submit claims directly to your own Blue Cross Blue Shield, particularly if the service is being provided in a different state. You only want to deal with one insurance company, not two.
3. Call to check up on the status of your claims within a week of submitting them
4. Ask for the assigned claim number, then you know that it is actually being processed and not filed incorrectly as a medical record.
5. Use the Health Insurance Claim Form, which can be downloaded online. Ask a customer representative to help you find it online.
6. Ask for the fax number to submit claims. BCBS of Ill is 217-592-7301. Include a cover sheet with your information.
7. When you find a customer representative who you feel is really working for you, ask for their extension so you can deal with them each time you call.
8. Be persistent! Call regularly to correct misfilings and partially paid claims.
9. Follow up, follow up, follow up.