It's costs a lot to have a baby, even if you only have one and you do it the "old fashioned" way. But when you do IVF and end up with three babies, it costs even more. This was a major factor in deciding whether or not we would pursue this route. When it costs you about the same amount you paid for your new Hyundai in 2005, you want to make sure you really want to travel down that road. But we have steady jobs with good pay and thought, what the heck!? Let's do it!
But this isn't to say that paying these large bills wasn't (and isn't) painful. Each check written and credit card swiped was taken with a grain of salt and we're still looking at many of those bills. But one of the first amounts I had to pay was for lab work at Clovis Community Hospital. I had heard through my specialist's office that, if I had to get the blood work done on a weekend, that they often won't run it through the insurance. Instead, they will charge you the full amount. This seemed preposterous, but the office reassured me that it was fairly easy to get your insurance to refund the difference. Armed with that information, the time came when I needed that blood work done and, wouldn't you know it, that day was a Sunday. So, off I went to the lab via the ER and was told it would be right around $600. It was a really good thing I had been warned about this because otherwise I probably would have jumped through the little window, scurried over the stout balding man who was just doing his job, found his manager and demanded s/he get on the phone to my insurance company. But I didn't. I handed the man my card, took the receipt and went on to the lab. This was back in late August.
Today, I finally received my reimbursement check. Yup. We're talking five long months for a refund of around $500. That's not chump change, my friend! And, despite what my doctor's office had told me, it did not come easily. I made at least 20 phone calls and spoke with at least five different people before my phone demeanor apparently bumped me to the higher-up who could actually do something for me. When she called me last week to tell me she was cutting a check as we spoke (hallelujah!) she said that my persistence revealed a whole slew of bills that were erroneously rejected by our insurance carrier and that if I hadn't been so pushy (my words, not hers) I wouldn't have been the only person paying far more than they should have been. Instead, they were correcting these problems and cutting checks. So, it pays to be persistent!
Now we can put that money where it belongs - on our credit card - and focus on all of the other expenses associated with having triplets, like doctor visits every other week, three cribs, a very expensive triplet stroller, etc. But, at least we got our money's worth with the IVF! Who would have imagined we would get the three for one deal on our first run. And that's why it's important to be thoughtful about your decisions, but not to let money stop you from the things you really want. I'm not saying you should hock your wedding ring for some cool new gadget, but when it's really worthwhile, things seem to work out in the end. At least that's the song I'm singing now with that lovely check in my hands. :)
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