CIGNA dropping the hospital my OB uses for birth

Hello,

I am currently pregnant and due December 26th. I received a letter in the mail last month, stating that Cigna may be dropping a large hospital network in my city starting October 1st. The letter stated they would be trying to negotiate up until October 1st, but if it was dropped, I would need to file a Continuance of Care.

It is such a large hospital network, and after reading many things online, I assumed they would come to negotiations before October 1st. However, I did let my OB office know and have been calling Cigna to check-in regularly. Well, October 1st is now tomorrow, and there still has not been any decisions made. So I am now coming to terms with the fact that the only hospital my OB office delivers at will no longer be in-network for me. My OB office is still in network, so I can continue to receive up until birth for my understanding.

My thing is, even if continuity of care gets approved, is it not only effective for up to 90 days? My due date is almost 3 months away at this point, so the only way to be fully covered would be to purposefully induce my baby early, as they could try to bill me for out of network costs if my hospital stay or postpartum care bleeds past 90 days. I am majorly stressing out and also dealing with a recent gestational diabetes diagnosis, so this is not helping my insulin levels. It's also my busy season at work too and I just want to cry.

My coverage is also terrible. I have a PPO plan, and as an individual, my out-of-pocket maximum is still almost 5 Grand. I've already paid $1,500 in deductible for the year, my OB office is requiring another $1,500 up front for the birth by October 3rd to remain a patient, and now I'm not even sure if I'll be able to use my OB for the birth. To add to this, I live in Texas, so it's highly unlikely another OB would take a higher risk patient on at this point. I could start trying to call again, but I know that's going to be a very long process and I'm just so stressed.

Does anyone have any recommendations of what I should do? Very overwhelmed right now.

submitted by /u/brir_b
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