peacenigeria:


Discount is an excuse being used by the US Embassy. Discounts are not govt subsidized and are available to all non-insured self paying patient whether they are local or international.

@peacenigeria that's incorrect. I asked the hospital i was going to use in Texas and the lady i spoke with kept beating about the bush. I asked her directly whether they have a way of billing these discounts back to the government and she said "to be honest, yes we do get the discounts back from the government"

It is unfortunate that the hospitals never mentioned this when offering the discounts to us. Also unfortunate that we are being held responsible for accepting the discounts but hey it's their country, their rules!

Please which hospital was this?

Iamajoyfulmothe:


@peacenigeria that's incorrect. I asked the hospital i was going to use in Texas and the lady i spoke with kept beating about the bush. I asked her directly whether they have a way of billing these discounts back to the government and she said "to be honest, yes we do get the discounts back from the government"

It is unfortunate that the hospitals never mentioned this when offering the discounts to us. Also unfortunate that we are being held responsible for accepting the discounts but hey it's their country, their rules!

This is not true you should do more research. Any hospital or doctor that gives you a letter thats states, in writing, that no govt funds are used is more valid than heresay. I understand we Nigerians cannot be trusted, but lying, as would be in the case of the hospitals and doctors that confirm this, is a serious offense. The only way the hospital has the option to bill Medicaid is if you dont pay, whether it be the discounted rate (which should have been paid before the delivery) or the cost of the complication (if any).

Thank you so much.

I'll Google the passport application process and address.

iykmon:


You need to get the baby birth certificate first at Vital record and the baby SSN at the social security administration office . But the SSN card will be delivered to your address.

This are the two most important documents you need to apply for passport. If your husband is there with you, both of must appear for the baby passport application.

Seems this is your 3rd right?

julzz:
June L.A bound mama’s please holla

peacenigeria:


This is not true you should do more research. Any hospital or doctor that gives you a letter thats states, in writing, that no govt funds are used is more valid than heresay. I understand we Nigerians cannot be trusted, but lying, as would be in the case of the hospitals and doctors that confirm this, is a serious offense. The only way the hospital has the option to bill Medicaid is if you dont pay, whether it be the discounted rate (which should have been paid before the delivery) or the cost of the complication (if any).

So you really believe that these hospitals are doing close down sales promotion? A bill of $30,000 will be discounted down to $2500 just because you are paying cash?

They actually have a way of getting the discounted rate back from the government. My friend who works in the hospital confirmed this to me. Guess that's why they are more particular about the discount and the honest ones who won't probably have very high price even for self paid.

peacenigeria:


This is not true you should do more research. Any hospital or doctor that gives you a letter thats states, in writing, that no govt funds are used is more valid than heresay. I understand we Nigerians cannot be trusted, but lying, as would be in the case of the hospitals and doctors that confirm this, is a serious offense. The only way the hospital has the option to bill Medicaid is if you dont pay, whether it be the discounted rate (which should have been paid before the delivery) or the cost of the complication (if any).

Hello Leez 29...Pls I'd like to ask you a question on the laboratory tests required by doctoresparati.Please kindly reach me on etrobee@yahoo.co.uk if you don't mind.Thanks.

Leez29:
Hello Mommas , hope everyone is doing fine. My trip went on quite smoothly - came in through JFK from Lagos with airfrance . Then took Delta flight to Elpaso through Atlanta, it was quite a tirey journey but glad I went through JFK .
My visa had expired but I dint do Dropbox as I saw from this thread that most people got called for interview so I quietly donated myself for a fresh interview without dropbox to save time and stories .
Using Doctoresparati letter (same I used in 2015 when I had my son) I applied with my sister (since am going with my son and will need help) but she was rejected. So I was scarred to apply for my mum cos of someones experience here as well.
My mum's visa was approved no much question only asked why she was going , my visa page, how many kids and grandkids she had.
When we got to JFK, I showed the officers my son America passport and she asked I join the citizen line and go ahead to do the self machine stuff. I stayed on the line for five mins and the officer asked me only one question - how long are you here for and I told him 3months and he stamped me and said have a nice stay . That was it , no agriculture though I had few food items and had a little below $10k as I dint want to waste time declaring.
I bless God for His favor cos we were treated like we just came back to our country. No hassles , no questions , nothing .
Am in Elpaso now in a very comfy accomodation I secured through airbnb -
Sorry for my long writeup. I wish everyone going for interview and those who have gotten visa a safe trip and safe delivery for all of us. May God grant us favor and above all Wisdom in making any decision.

Omosholape80:
They actually have a way of getting the discounted rate back from the government. My friend who works in the hospital confirmed this to me. Guess that's why they are more particular about the discount and the honest ones who won't probably have very high price even for self paid.

I’ve heard same too. I honestly don’t know how cheap hospital services are for them to charge $2500, $3500 for birth. I just had an uncomplicated, uneventful and induced childbirth and my insurance was billed $33K. Insurance eventually paid about $19K because of their prior negotiated rates I think. $19K and $3500 is a huge, huge discount, IMO. So something is fishy about the hospital charging super low rates, methinks.

justwise:


So you really believe that these hospitals are doing close down sales promotion? A bill of $30,000 will be discounted down to $2500 just because you are paying cash?

It's not a loss, the hospital simply bills you the amount that some insurance companies and Medicaid would have paid them if the patient would have applied for this (hospitals don't lose money). The only difference is the hospital now gets it up front (without risk).

Do you really think that the hospital gets paid $30,000 if insurance companies or Medicaid bill that amount?!? LOL.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CeDOQpfaUc8

Na wah o “Medicaid era” phew
But whats d solution to innocent benefactors of this.
Should we be blamed or issued warnings cos my point is ok they deny those people visas so are you later going to grant them visas or u have banned them for life ,thats my curiosity .
How long does this refusal pumishment last for!!

Also ve gone online ve not seen these hospitals we used charged for insurance fraud which is d normal practice cos there are strict rules about who qualifies for medicaid.

We need more clarity but then how do we get it!!!

Also remember that monthly some staff are paid wherher they work or not so this may just be a way of breaking even not that its a fraud thats what ve thought also insurance companies decapitate we dont,most pple there pay monthly we pay bulk cash these are factors to consider!!

Vlesparza:


It's not a loss, the hospital simply bills you the amount that some insurance companies and Medicaid would have paid them if the patient would have applied for this (hospitals don't lose money). The only difference is the hospital now gets it up front (without risk).

Do you really think that the hospital gets paid $30,000 if insurance companies or Medicaid bill that amount?!? LOL.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CeDOQpfaUc8

Of course not. They don’t get paid $30K. But neither do they get paid $2500 too! My deductible and co-insurance itself was almost, it not more than $2500. And that’s me with insurance. So how come self pay patients pay what I pay as my patient portion even after insurance has paid their part? How are the hospitals breaking even?

Here’s a screenshot from my insurance portal, to put things in better perspective for you.

Omosholape80:
They actually have a way of getting the discounted rate back from the government. My friend who works in the hospital confirmed this to me. Guess that's why they are more particular about the discount and the honest ones who won't probably have very high price even for self paid.

Is this applicable to all hospitals? I hope we know this discount is not applicable to Nigerians but all self pay patients. I know of two white ladies, one british, the other chinese who had their baby in the US and they were billed the same amount i was billed because they are paying cash.

I dont know how true this claim of getting discount back from govt is but i dont believe its applicable to all the hospitals. The eligibility officer in the hospitalr i had my baby said they pegged their self pay price at the rate it was for competitive purpose. This was just on one of our chats while i was there. Besides, if you cant afford their self pay pacakge, they give you the optuon to use medicaid or apply for some low income programmes the state has for low income earners. Infact you will need to show evidence of what you earn before you can qualify for this program.

MamaOO:

Of course not. They don’t get paid $30K. But neither do they get paid $2500 too! My deductible and co-insurance itself was almost, it not more than $2500. And that’s me with insurance. So how come self pay patients pay what I pay as my patient portion even after insurance has paid their part? How are the hospitals breaking even?

Here’s a screenshot from my insurance portal, to put things in better perspective for you.

You said it best, that is YOUR insurance. Not all insurances pay what you think you paid, and Medicaid, which is the benchmark that is used as to what not to bill under, pays even less than the self pay packages that hospital and doctors charge.

I understand how you must feel because you've faithfully been paying your insurance payments only to realize that you could have saved a lot of money just paying out of pocket. If you dont know now how insurance companies in the US "work", Im not surprised that you cant grasp this.

Ultimately you can keep your insurance, pay your premiums, and your deductible, and continue having your babies the way you are doing, this topic is really not for you since you are insured and has nothing to do with you.

aye88:



Is this applicable to all hospitals? I hope we know this discount is not applicable to Nigerians but all self pay patients. I know of two white ladies, one british, the other chinese who had their baby in the US and they were billed the same amount i was billed because they are paying cash.

This is what has been mentioned several times. They are available to all, and visas are being approved in all other countries, only Nigeria is "having issues".

Vlesparza:


You said it best, that is YOUR insurance. Not all insurances pay what you think you paid, and Medicaid, which is the benchmark that is used as to what not to bill under, pays even less than the self pay packages that hospital and doctors charge.

I understand how you must feel because you've faithfully been paying your insurance payments only to realize that you could have saved a lot of money just paying out of pocket. If you dont know now how insurance companies in the US "work", Im not surprised that you cant grasp this.

Ultimately you can keep your insurance, pay your premiums, and your deductible, and continue having your babies the way you are doing, this topic is really not for you since you are insured and has nothing to do with you.

Respectfully, you don’t get to decide who this topic is for and not for. This is the World Wide Web and a free forum, hence anybody is free to talk, including myself.

The topic under debate is whether some hospitals pass on payment for these childbirth to Medicaid or not because of some ridiculously low bills that we’ve been seeing and causing innocent people to get denied initial or subsequent visas which is absolutely no fault of theirs.

Yes, not all insurances pay whatever rate my insurance negotiated with my healthcare providers but I’ve said it several times here, I work for a medical insurance company who are contracted under Medi-Cal (California’s Medicaid) and I have seen claims for OB services and childbirth, I know what Medicaid pays and it’s not as low as what I’ve seen here.

I would understand your stance tho, you also provide childbirth/medical services and would defend your charges.

MamaOO:

Respectfully, you don’t get to decide who this topic is for and not for. This is the World Wide Web and a free forum, hence anybody is free to talk, including myself.

The topic under debate is whether some hospitals pass on payment for these childbirth to Medicaid or not because of some ridiculously low bills that we’ve been seeing and causing innocent people to get denied initial or subsequent visas which is absolutely no fault of theirs.

Yes, not all insurances pay whatever rate my insurance negotiated with my healthcare providers but I’ve said it several times here, I work for a medical insurance company who are contracted under Medi-Cal (California’s Medicaid) and I have seen claims for OB services and childbirt, I know what Medicaid pays and it’s not as low as what I’ve seen here.

I would understand your stance tho, you also provide childbirth/medical services and would defend your charges.

Since you work in California, don't you think what you have seen is only peculiar to your company? We've seen people got approve for "some ridiculous low bills"

Hello Leez 29...Please kindly reach me on etrobee@yahoo.co.uk I'd like to get some info on Del-sol.Thanks and God bless.

Leez29:
Hello Mama.
Am using Del-Sol Medical Center. For the airbnb I will send you information via email because it's not a fixed rate based on number of people you are coming with but it's sure cheaper than intown suite and others I've researched around .
See you soon in elpaso���

folmus:


Since you work in California, don't you think what you have seen is only peculiar to your company? We've seen people got approve for "some ridiculous low bills"

Not really. We’re contracted through Medi-Cal which is California Medicaid. My company actually pays kinda low compared to health plans in say, LA county because healthcare there is kinda more expensive.

Bear in mind, Medi-Cal administered plans actually don’t pay the providers and practitioners that accept them really well because it’s a government subsidized plan and the money paid out is based on what the government allocates to the health plan per year so a lot of these health plans negotiate the cheapest rates and this leads to why a lot of doctors and hospitals don’t accept patients with these kinds of insurances.

But still the amount paid out is much higher than what I’ve seen quoted here. Much more higher.

Please changing state from Houston to Atlanta does it pose as a problem,I mean to change it on d ds160 after filling Houston for dropbox,I want to change to Atlanta for interview,I’m tired of Houston wahala

MamaOO:

Not really. We’re contracted through Medi-Cal which is California Medicaid. My company actually pays kinda low compared to health plans in say, LA county because healthcare there is kinda more expensive.

Bear in mind, Medi-Cal administered plans actually don’t pay the providers and practitioners that accept them really well because it’s a government subsidized plan and the money paid out is based on what the government allocates to the health plan per year so a lot of these health plans negotiate the cheapest rates and this leads to why a lot of doctors and hospitals don’t accept patients with these kinds of insurances.

But still the amount paid out is much higher than what I’ve seen quoted here. Much more higher.

But then, only Nigerians resident in Nigeria are suffering this. I know a lot of people living in Europe that paid same amount or even leas and got their visas renewed via Dropbox. I guess that's why most people are asking questions. If it's a hospital fraud, it should apply to everyone that paid the discounted price and not just people living in Nigeria. Even my friend in Ghana had her visa renewed easily and she paid $3500 for both hospital and doctor for a vaginal delivery.
So back to the question of what our offence is.

mumzt:




But then, only Nigerians resident in Nigeria are suffering this. I know a lot of people living in Europe that paid same amount or even leas and got their visas renewed via Dropbox. I guess that's why most people are asking questions. If it's a hospital fraud, it should apply to everyone that paid the discounted price and not just people living in Nigeria. Even my friend in Ghana had her visa renewed easily and she paid $3500 for both hospital and doctor for a vaginal delivery.
So back to the question of what our offence is.

Lol!...May be the offence is that most Nigerians are making this birthing in the US a do or die affair...even when they say they are not.

Canada that Nigerians are now running towards to out of more desperation because the US has become more stringent with their visa for birth tourism should also be asked the same question why they are denying Nigerians from birthing in their country.

mumzt:




But then, only Nigerians resident in Nigeria are suffering this. I know a lot of people living in Europe that paid same amount or even leas and got their visas renewed via Dropbox. I guess that's why most people are asking questions. If it's a hospital fraud, it should apply to everyone that paid the discounted price and not just people living in Nigeria. Even my friend in Ghana had her visa renewed easily and she paid $3500 for both hospital and doctor for a vaginal delivery.
So back to the question of what our offence is.

Exactly.

People with blank appointment pages ... have you been able to schedule .. this is becoming fustratinh

Hello house I really need advice on this question. So am trying to apply for medical visa b2 my last visa expired a while ago so I have to go for interview am due in June and I know getting any early date on my own is almost impossible but a friend told me about people you can buy interview time from. Am wondering if that’s possible and hopefully it’s not a scam where they would get you expedited date

I just received an acknowledgement mail. What next please. With it suffice.

ozymes:
Did you receive an acknowledgement mail?

Mumtwins2:
People with blank appointment pages ... have you been able to schedule .. this is becoming fustratinh

Still on the matter...really upsetting

BOmum:


Still on the matter...really upsetting

And they keep giving generic answers

[quote author=iykmon post=76707249]

You need to get the baby birth certificate first at Vital record and the baby SSN at the social security administration office . But the SSN card will be delivered to your address.

This are the two most important documents you need to apply for passport. If your husband is there with you, both of must appear for the baby passport application.

I just had my baby last Monday as well. Thanks forvthis info.
I was given a form at the hospital & asked to take to an address next week for the birth certificate. Pls am i on track?

Na wah o its one of 2 things
1) dey want everyone to just schedule an interview and forget drop box

Or

2) they purposely delay interview date so d woman will be to advanced to fly or deliver before then .....
Imagine doing drop box at 32 weeks with this drama nah wah oooooo.....

3) Na to collect visa for childbirth before concieving o

[quote author=Elo2020 post=76780043][/quote]

Yes you are on track, please use your Nigeria address in filling the form and then mailing address you can the US address. This US address is where they will mail your baby SSN card to.