Thank you *all* so so much!
I feel a lot better because of your support!
Wow - it's unanimous, too, which gives me a ton more confidence to make this decision - and I'm really starting to agree, I think switching at this point is my best option.
I agree, too, that I need to focus this thing with my insurance company.
Can't help but feel bad, though, for all of those other expectant mom's who are currently with my OB, and have the same insurance I do, and are going into this new fancy hospital without knowing all the facts...it will be MONTHS, maybe even years (it takes forever to actually GET the darn bills) before this issue will surface. That is another reason I become so annoyed with my OB when they say "but we haven't had any problems with your insurance" - duh, because all of the circumstances haven't happened, and bills haven't gone out yet! Tell me that in 5 years!
To quote some of the email's I've received from the "new" facility so far, in response to me pushing to know how I can be assured that I won't have to stop everyone who breathes on me at their hospital and ask, "what is your tax id" they say:
"What (xxx) will do is make sure that we don’t expect more from you than what we would have been paid if we were a participating provider."
Haha - really? that's convienent for you, but what you would have been paid could be THOUSANDS, and it would come out of my pocket!
and the newest promise (note "her group" refers to the un-covered tax id):
" I can assure you that both (xxx) and I will do our very best to make this as painless as possible for you financailly if you do get bills from her group or from the hospital for hospital services which are usually the largest bills that you would get."
Oh, painelss? Really? so just because hospital services is the largest bill, then I suppose the "other" bills will be mere pennies. Thanks! Sign me up! Seriously?
Just a final thought-
After feeling like I have a good handle on this now, and with all of your great feedback and support, and talking it over with DH - I'm now in a much better position for us to make a decision.
However - now, I feel responsible for letting other mom's at my OB know what they could potentially be facing. Not even like a good semaratin kind of thing, but by not saying anything I feel irresponsible. Best I've done so far is let my pediatrician know - hopefully it get at least a rumor-mill going in the medical community. And, at the very least - to all of you, please make sure your hospital is FULLY COVERED and there are no hidden tax id's that can be billed under, which may not be covered. Call your insurance co and get the approved tax id number(s). Then, call the hospital, ask them to "put in writing that they will only bill for tax id xyz." This is what started my whole investigation process.
Hopefully, you will not have any suprises like I did.
Thank you all, again!!! Really.