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We are in the middle of an adoption but the baby was born 8 weeks early. We live in pa and are adopting an Ohio baby. The adoption was arranged by the birth parents and my husband and I. We have been using an agency to do the paper work. The only thing that we have left to do is sign the adoption agreement. We are nervous about signing it because it states we will be responsible for the medical. I know in pa the agency gets a medical card for the baby until finalization. But in Ohio the agency said we are responsible for medical after placement. Which is fine our insurance will pick them up at time of placement . But placement can not happen until they are discharged from the nicu. I have sent the agreement to the attorney over a week ago with 2 follow up calls. I have been told as soon as she gets a chance to look at it she will. My question is will we be responsible for the medical bills if we sign the agreement (nicu bills) medicare is paying it now. I know that if we sign it gives us the right to make medical decisions, which would be what the doctors recommend anyway. And possibly start the process of interstate placement. If you have any information that could help on this matter please let us know.
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Hi, Hpoefull!
Congratulations on the birth of your son! Our son was also born 8-9 weeks early. He was placed with us at 29 hours old. Here in Indiana for the purpose of medical coverage, placement begins at birth so our insurance took care of all of his bills from the moment that he entered the world :D He was in the nicu for 44 days which added up to ~$65,000. We paid ~$5,000 out of pocket.
It sounds like your son already has medicare? If so, I think that they will cover the entire cost. I would talk with the hopsital social worker, they should know how these things work.
Good Luck!!
Mommy2amiracle :)
3lb 1oz, 17in on 11/07/02
13lb 12oz, 25.5in on 4/11/03
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That's probably a question for your insurance company--ask what they define as "placement". It may not be that the child has to physically placed in your house--it may mean that the child is legally placed in your family.
Be specific, ask about a child still in the hospital out of state (don't detail the problems, they don't matter at this point), but that you are ready to sign the agreement to take legal custody of the child.
MOST insurance companies will accept the child onto your policy the minute you become legally responsible for the child, which is usually at the minute you sign the paper (or the paper is received by the child's agency and entered into the computer).
Come back and ask again if your insurance company balks at the idea of covering the child before he/she is released from the hospital--use "insurance company refuses to cover my child" or something as the subject line and you'll get the attention of a lot more people who can help you research the law. Good luck!