I'm 36 weaks pregnant and today i recieved a phone call from my doctors office saying that i needed to find a new doctor because the 4 doctors that were contracted with them decided to leave and start their own practice together (i'm slef employed and my husbands insurance won't cover me yet since i was already pregnant before we got married. So the only insurance i can get is Medical assistance through the state) I called the 4 doctors
(the only doctors in the area that accept assistance) main offices to see if they would see me in their office instead of the pregnancy clinic and i was told that all 4 of them were not taking new ob patients. I asked if i could just pay for the office visits and not bill anything to the insurnace and they all told me no. So now i have no doctor and i'm almost ready to have my baby. I'm scared and i don't know what to do.
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Well, if worse comes to worst, you can walk into any hospital when you're in labor, and they can't turn you away. A doctor will deliver your baby. It just won't (most likely) be someone you have a relationship with.
Unless, of course, the OB on call that day happens to be one you know!
Double-check the insurance thing. I know about the whole pre-existing condition clause. However, there's usually an express exception to that clause for pregnancy. (It's the law in CA!!)
And if all else fails, apply for the state insurance. (You might actually want to do that first.)
I had my baby delivered by a stranger because my doctor retired in my 9th month. (I was 36 weeks.) No, it wasn't what I'd choose. But remember: If you're in labor, the hospital cannot legally turn you away. They WILL admit you, the OB on call WILL deliver your baby, and the state insurance WILL cover it. (Even if they wouldn't normally cover that doc.)