Australian family to pay $1m after baby born in Florida hospital

bbbx3 · April 2012

3sthecharm:
I read a medical article recently that said pregnany women in AUstralia in som earead are mpre often to deliver on a gurney in a hallway than in a birthing room due to over crowding and an overworked "free" medical system. I think shes pretty lucky that baby was born here. And since it is a us citizen the baby will qualify for medicaid under current rules most likely

Let me clarify: Obviously it would have been better for the baby to have been born full term iin a hallway in Australia than in the best possible circumstances premature in the us. Just wanted to calrify I wasnt saying better born any time in us than elsewhere

Erm, no. And we don't have kangaroos bouncing down the street either.

maggie78 · April 2012

MeredithE:

bbbx3:
I feel bad for the family as they are obviously dealing with a lot at the moment. As a pregnant Aussie though, I have to say that this couple must have known the gamble they were taking. Travel insurance policies are perfectly clear about not covering pregnancy, it's not some detail hidden in the fine print. Furthermore it is the child that is making the bill close to $1 million. There was no travel insurance policy for the child (nor could there be).

This makes things very interesting

In my experience it is very clear, we've had three seperate policies this year for travel, and I have no intentions on ever getting pregnant, but it's a clear question they ask before you get to the payment options.

BTW since we are esentially covered by a governement system you must apply for travel insurance, to my knowledge you cannot be covered by medicare (the Aust system) except in specific countries (UK, NZ, Italy and a few others)

maggie78 · April 2012

bbbx3:
3sthecharm:

I read a medical article recently that said pregnany women in AUstralia in som earead are mpre often to deliver on a gurney in a hallway than in a birthing room due to over crowding and an overworked "free" medical system. I think shes pretty lucky that baby was born here. And since it is a us citizen the baby will qualify for medicaid under current rules most likely

Let me clarify: Obviously it would have been better for the baby to have been born full term iin a hallway in Australia than in the best possible circumstances premature in the us. Just wanted to calrify I wasnt saying better born any time in us than elsewhere

Erm, no. And we don't have kangaroos bouncing down the street either.

Umm bbbx3 is right, the system here is pretty good, I'd like to know where you get your facts from. Not only that most women here think going back to work in less than 6 months is crazy talk, my understanding is 6 weeks in the US is the norm.

Publius · April 2012

This is clearly not that important of a question, but is Gracee pronounced Grace or Gracie?

tartaruga · April 2012

3sthecharm:
I read a medical article recently that said pregnany women in AUstralia in som earead are mpre often to deliver on a gurney in a hallway than in a birthing room due to over crowding and an overworked "free" medical system. I think shes pretty lucky that baby was born here. And since it is a us citizen the baby will qualify for medicaid under current rules most likely

Let me clarify: Obviously it would have been better for the baby to have been born full term iin a hallway in Australia than in the best possible circumstances premature in the us. Just wanted to calrify I wasnt saying better born any time in us than elsewhere

I don't understand your logic here at all. Why was the baby better off born in the US than in another developed nation with an advanced, modern healthcare system that wouldn't have put the parents over a million dollars in debt?

tartaruga · April 2012

Also, um...what happens if they go back to Australia and just don't pay the bill?

3sthecharm · April 2012

tartaruga:
3sthecharm:

I read a medical article recently that said pregnany women in AUstralia in som earead are mpre often to deliver on a gurney in a hallway than in a birthing room due to over crowding and an overworked "free" medical system. I think shes pretty lucky that baby was born here. And since it is a us citizen the baby will qualify for medicaid under current rules most likely

Let me clarify: Obviously it would have been better for the baby to have been born full term iin a hallway in Australia than in the best possible circumstances premature in the us. Just wanted to calrify I wasnt saying better born any time in us than elsewhere
I don't understand your logic here at all. Why was the baby better off born in the US than in another developed nation with an advanced, modern healthcare system that wouldn't have put the parents over a million dollars in debt?

IF the baby couldhave been born at homenot premature that would have been best/ Obviously a million bucksin debt sucks, Im just refering to an article I read stating overcrowding in Australian ers often time finds women delivering in hallways rather than rooms. If a premie baby was delivered under a circumstance like that that wouldnt be good. thats all im saying. For those who live in AUstralia , is that the exception (overcrowding) more so than the norm? Maybe I am misinformed.

tartaruga · April 2012

3sthecharm:
tartaruga:
3sthecharm:

I read a medical article recently that said pregnany women in AUstralia in som earead are mpre often to deliver on a gurney in a hallway than in a birthing room due to over crowding and an overworked "free" medical system. I think shes pretty lucky that baby was born here. And since it is a us citizen the baby will qualify for medicaid under current rules most likely

Let me clarify: Obviously it would have been better for the baby to have been born full term iin a hallway in Australia than in the best possible circumstances premature in the us. Just wanted to calrify I wasnt saying better born any time in us than elsewhere
I don't understand your logic here at all. Why was the baby better off born in the US than in another developed nation with an advanced, modern healthcare system that wouldn't have put the parents over a million dollars in debt?
IF the baby couldhave been born at homenot premature that would have been best/ Obviously a million bucksin debt sucks, Im just refering to an article I read stating overcrowding in Australian ers often time finds women delivering in hallways rather than rooms. If a premie baby was delivered under a circumstance like that that wouldnt be good. thats all im saying. For those who live in AUstralia , is that the exception (overcrowding) more so than the norm? Maybe I am misinformed.

Ok I see. But I doubt if a woman came in in labor at 23 weeks they would have her delivering in a hallway.

Knitty · April 2012

maggie78:
bbbx3:
3sthecharm:

I read a medical article recently that said pregnany women in AUstralia in som earead are mpre often to deliver on a gurney in a hallway than in a birthing room due to over crowding and an overworked "free" medical system. I think shes pretty lucky that baby was born here. And since it is a us citizen the baby will qualify for medicaid under current rules most likely

Let me clarify: Obviously it would have been better for the baby to have been born full term iin a hallway in Australia than in the best possible circumstances premature in the us. Just wanted to calrify I wasnt saying better born any time in us than elsewhere

Erm, no. And we don't have kangaroos bouncing down the street either.

Umm bbbx3 is right, the system here is pretty good, I'd like to know where you get your facts from. Not only that most women here think going back to work in less than 6 months is crazy talk, my understanding is 6 weeks in the US is the norm.

12 weeks is the norm in the US, 12 months in Australia.

And shut up about the kangaroos! They deliver the mail, jump down hallways in hospitals, then we eat them.

Knitty · April 2012

tartaruga:
3sthecharm:
tartaruga:
3sthecharm:

I read a medical article recently that said pregnany women in AUstralia in som earead are mpre often to deliver on a gurney in a hallway than in a birthing room due to over crowding and an overworked "free" medical system. I think shes pretty lucky that baby was born here. And since it is a us citizen the baby will qualify for medicaid under current rules most likely

Let me clarify: Obviously it would have been better for the baby to have been born full term iin a hallway in Australia than in the best possible circumstances premature in the us. Just wanted to calrify I wasnt saying better born any time in us than elsewhere
I don't understand your logic here at all. Why was the baby better off born in the US than in another developed nation with an advanced, modern healthcare system that wouldn't have put the parents over a million dollars in debt?
IF the baby couldhave been born at homenot premature that would have been best/ Obviously a million bucksin debt sucks, Im just refering to an article I read stating overcrowding in Australian ers often time finds women delivering in hallways rather than rooms. If a premie baby was delivered under a circumstance like that that wouldnt be good. thats all im saying. For those who live in AUstralia , is that the exception (overcrowding) more so than the norm? Maybe I am misinformed.
Ok I see. But I doubt if a woman came in in labor at 23 weeks they would have her delivering in a hallway.

Also, the article she's talking about was referring to the UK, and was in the daily mail. The actual problem was that (in the UK) some women weren't getting a private room early enough in labour, and some were delivering in the ward. But you know, the UK is exactly the same as Australia, just with fewer kangaroos.

3sthecharm · April 2012

Knitty:
tartaruga:
3sthecharm:
tartaruga:
3sthecharm:

I read a medical article recently that said pregnany women in AUstralia in som earead are mpre often to deliver on a gurney in a hallway than in a birthing room due to over crowding and an overworked "free" medical system. I think shes pretty lucky that baby was born here. And since it is a us citizen the baby will qualify for medicaid under current rules most likely

Let me clarify: Obviously it would have been better for the baby to have been born full term iin a hallway in Australia than in the best possible circumstances premature in the us. Just wanted to calrify I wasnt saying better born any time in us than elsewhere

I don't understand your logic here at all. Why was the baby better off born in the US than in another developed nation with an advanced, modern healthcare system that wouldn't have put the parents over a million dollars in debt?
IF the baby couldhave been born at homenot premature that would have been best/ Obviously a million bucksin debt sucks, Im just refering to an article I read stating overcrowding in Australian ers often time finds women delivering in hallways rather than rooms. If a premie baby was delivered under a circumstance like that that wouldnt be good. thats all im saying. For those who live in AUstralia , is that the exception (overcrowding) more so than the norm? Maybe I am misinformed.
Ok I see. But I doubt if a woman came in in labor at 23 weeks they would have her delivering in a hallway.

Also, the article she's talking about was referring to the UK, and was in the daily mail. The actual problem was that (in the UK) some women weren't getting a private room early enough in labour, and some were delivering in the ward. But you know, the UK is exactly the same as Australia, just with fewer kangaroos.

if that is the same article I read then maybe I have early dementia. I could have swore it was referring specifically to Astralia, ill have to go dig for it now.

mysticporter · April 2012

bbbx3:

Erm, no. And we don't have kangaroos bouncing down the street either.

Unless you're in Canberra Stick out tongue .

3sthecharm · April 2012

the article I was referring to http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/hundreds-of-mothers-in-emergency-trolley-births-20111012-1ll74.html

Knitty · April 2012

mysticporter:
bbbx3:

Erm, no. And we don't have kangaroos bouncing down the street either.

Unless you're in Canberra .

I blame Burley Griffin.

bbbx3 · April 2012

3sthecharm:
I read a medical article recently that said pregnany women in AUstralia in som earead are mpre often to deliver on a gurney in a hallway than in a birthing room due to over crowding and an overworked "free" medical system. I think shes pretty lucky that baby was born here. And since it is a us citizen the baby will qualify for medicaid under current rules most likely

Let me clarify: Obviously it would have been better for the baby to have been born full term iin a hallway in Australia than in the best possible circumstances premature in the us. Just wanted to calrify I wasnt saying better born any time in us than elsewhere

Okay I've read the article you posted. Are you serious?

1. The Age is a newspaper, not a medical journal. This is not a medical article.

2. This article discussed births that have taken place in emergency beds, not gurneys.

3. There is no reference whatsoever of hallway births. Where are you getting that from? I've been to the emergency section a few times in my life. The beds are sectioned off in the ward.

4. The strain on the public system refered to in this article is in regards to antenatal scans. This is a completely seperate issue to delivery.

alisha243 · April 2012

Knitty:
mysticporter:
bbbx3:

Erm, no. And we don't have kangaroos bouncing down the street either.

Unless you're in Canberra .

I blame Burley Griffin.

It's all the round-abouts. They confuse the kangaroos.

Knitty · April 2012

alisha243:
Knitty:
mysticporter:
bbbx3:

Erm, no. And we don't have kangaroos bouncing down the street either.

Unless you're in Canberra .

I blame Burley Griffin.

It's all the round-abouts. They confuse the kangaroos.

And the tourists.

TefLepOM · April 2012

hindsight's_a_biotch:
casmgn:

While I feel terrible that the baby is facing so many problems, as far as the money is concerned, this family took a gamble and they lost.

Also, if their Medicaid application is accepted, they won't end up owing anything, right?

I'm pretty sure this is the case wrt Medicaid. It's backdated to the time you qualify, which for this baby would have been the instant she was born. I can't imagine what part of her care wouldn't be covered. There *might* be some co-pays but I doubt it.

shhh, it is more fun to overlook this fact about the US.

polling · April 2012

3sthecharm:
the article I was referring to http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/hundreds-of-mothers-in-emergency-trolley-births-20111012-1ll74.html

Did you actually read this article? Nowhere does it say that women are giving birth in hallways on gurneys. And, it is clearly referring to one area and one hospital in particular.

Knitty · April 2012

TefLepOM:
hindsight's_a_biotch:
casmgn:

While I feel terrible that the baby is facing so many problems, as far as the money is concerned, this family took a gamble and they lost.

Also, if their Medicaid application is accepted, they won't end up owing anything, right?

I'm pretty sure this is the case wrt Medicaid. It's backdated to the time you qualify, which for this baby would have been the instant she was born. I can't imagine what part of her care wouldn't be covered. There *might* be some co-pays but I doubt it.
shhh, it is more fun to overlook this fact about the US.

Of course, no one ever has a medical bill in the US! You realise that if this woman had been in Australia, not only would she have gotten top tier medical care, but she would have been about $5000 in the black from having this baby (yes, cash for babies).

TefLepOM · April 2012

Knitty:
TefLepOM:
hindsight's_a_biotch:
casmgn:

While I feel terrible that the baby is facing so many problems, as far as the money is concerned, this family took a gamble and they lost.

Also, if their Medicaid application is accepted, they won't end up owing anything, right?

I'm pretty sure this is the case wrt Medicaid. It's backdated to the time you qualify, which for this baby would have been the instant she was born. I can't imagine what part of her care wouldn't be covered. There *might* be some co-pays but I doubt it.
shhh, it is more fun to overlook this fact about the US.
Of course, no one ever has a medical bill in the US! You realise that if this woman had been in Australia, not only would she have gotten top tier medical care, but she would have been about $5000 in the black from having this baby (yes, cash for babies).

when they apply for Medicaid, they do not.

Signed adoptive mother who did not receive a bill or have to apply to have costs covered for my son's stay in NICU.

The cash for babies...what is this for?

ridesbuttons · April 2012

re: cash for babies

I wonder if it like the universal child care allowance I receive in Canada for my kids. $100 per month per kid from birth to 5 years of age.

meshaliu · April 2012

bbbx3:
Erm, no. And we don't have kangaroos bouncing down the street either.

I can't tell you how disappointed I am to hear this.

alisha243 · April 2012

Knitty:
alisha243:
Knitty:
mysticporter:
bbbx3:

Erm, no. And we don't have kangaroos bouncing down the street either.

Unless you're in Canberra .

I blame Burley Griffin.

It's all the round-abouts. They confuse the kangaroos.

And the tourists.

Tourists who then go on TV and tell the world how horrible Canberra is.

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/guy-pearce-im-a-dickhead-20120413-1wyik.html

alisha243 · April 2012

The cash for babies...what is this for?

It's called the "Baby Bonus". It's meant to offset the costs of having a new born baby. It was paid as a lump sum but has been changed to 13 fortnightly instalments now. You can either claim the Baby Bonus or claim Paid Parental Leave instead which is used to extend your paid maternity leave time.

It was introduced by a previous government to increase population growth. The Treasurer at the time stated "One for mum, one for dad and one for the country".

Knitty · April 2012

ridesbuttons:
re: cash for babies

I wonder if it like the universal child care allowance I receive in Canada for my kids. $100 per month per kid from birth to 5 years of age.

No, it was a lump sum cash payment. Government had a surplus, and it needed spending. Started as something like $2000, went up to $5,000 and then got turned into a fortnightly payment until you reach the $5,000.

hindsight's_a_biotch · April 2012

alisha243:

It's called the "Baby Bonus". It's meant to offset the costs of having a new born baby. It was paid as a lump sum but has been changed to 13 fortnightly instalments now. You can either claim the Baby Bonus or claim Paid Parental Leave instead which is used to extend your paid maternity leave time.

It was introduced by a previous government to increase population growth. The Treasurer at the time stated "One for mum, one for dad and one for the country".

In all fairness, I'm pretty sure the US has zero problems with population growth.

Australian family to pay $1m after baby born in Florida hospital

Re: Australian family to pay $1m after baby born in Florida hospital

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