+ PAYMENT + FAQ
6720 FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT
MIDDLETON, WI 53562
608.821.0123
Are Madison Birth Center services covered by insurance?
Most traditional indemnity health insurance companies, and several local HMOs that offer point-of-service ("POS") plans, will cover our care. We will work with you to determine if your insurance company covers our services. Please contact the birth center for more information.
My insurance plan will not cover childbirth unless it is attended by a physician. What should I do?
Since a birth center birth costs 30-50% less than a normal hospital birth, we believe that it is good health care policy to provide maternity coverage for healthy women experiencing normal pregnancies who desire the birth center experience. Certified nurse-midwives are experts in labor and delivery and are licensed by the State of Wisconsin to attend births in a variety of settings without the supervision of a physician. We encourage consumers to inform their insurance providers directly about their support for midwifery care and the birth center option. To view a sample letter that you can modify for your own use, click here.
Why should I be willing to pay for birth center care when my HMO would fully cover a hospital birth?
The prenatal care offered by the Madison Birth Center midwives is exceptional. Office visits typically last one hour, allowing you to develop an authentic relationship with your midwife and allowing her to fully explore your state of health and educate you on how to best prepare for a healthy childbirth.
Birth centers have much better health outcomes than hospitals for healthy women experiencing normal pregnancies. Hospital cesarean section rates in our community and throughout the nation have been rising steadily over the past several years. The national c-section rate in 2003 was over 27%! In contrast, the average rate among birth center clients was only 4%. Cesarean section is major abdominal surgery, with significant long-term health consequences. It also provides a significant barrier to breastfeeding success, which also has a major impact on the long-term health of mother and baby.
I do not have insurance that covers maternity care at Madison Birth Center. Do you offer financing terms?
About 30% of our clients choose to pay out-of-pocket for birth center care because they believe in the model of care we provide. We support you in this choice by offering flexible payment terms, and we will determine with you a payment schedule that can accommodate your needs.
One way to fund birth center care is to through your medical savings account or flexible spending plan. Utilizing these "pre-tax" dollars can result in substantial savings.
