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Lisa Lisa, Thanks so much for your story. This sounds exactly like what i'm dealing with through United Healthcare right this minute. I cannot get a straight answer out of anybody at that company. I also have to work with them on a daily basis at my office...fun, fun! It's nice to hear that you were able to work it out & we will have our ducks-in-a-row now too hopefully. So, if you don't mind me asking, did you only have to pay for the medical bills then prior to the placement out of pocket? Nichole

The Medicaid stuff is getting significantly harder to negotiate, what with recent federal budget cuts that are tightening the rules on what gets paid by whom and when. I've been researching this lately in an effort to "break the logjam" that's been occurring lately in cases that cannot be finalized in a timely manner because there are astronomical bills for which Medicaid coverage is being denied or having to be refiled again and again. Here's some of what I'm finding... At the website of Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, see Third Party Liability, which underscores the "alternative source of payment" argument doctors and hospitals frequently use to argue that the adoptive parents/adoption agency should be charged all medical costs related to the birth of a baby who is placed for adoption. See also Mandatory Eligibility Groups, where it specifies that an infant born to a Medicaid-eligible mom only remains eligible for coverage under her policy "throughout the first year of life so long as the infant remains in the mother's household." (Since relinquishment terminates her legal relationship with her baby, it stands to reason that any Medicaid coverage for that child ends at that point, as well, which is why adopting parents must be prepared to cover the medical bills incurred on behalf of their baby, whether or not their insurance provides coverage from birth or from placement.) Adoption agencies have no way of predicting (1) how much hospital bills may run, nor (2) what insurance will or will not cover, nor (3) how long it may take for Medicaid/insurance claims to be processed after the discharge/placement has been done. But as Angela was saying yesterday, this makes it that more crucial that all adopting families be fully aware of the potential bills they might face should insurance deny coverage after the fact. We do try to emphasize in orientation that there are no guarantees, and that's why our estimates include all anticipated medical costs (regardless of the birthparents' Medicaid status). But it's up to each family to know their limits and to have a Plan B, if faced with catastrophic expenses for which there is no coverage (just as they would if they had birthed a biological child for whom the bills exceeded available coverage.) Elizabeth, Is it possible to take a short-term plan that only covers the baby from birth to the 'legal adoption'? Our plan states that the child is only covered once they are 'legally adopted'. However, they also say that if it is in the court order that they must cover the child from the date of birth then they will also consider that fact. We want to cover our bases of course and not be left un-insured for the baby's inpatient stay. Thanks a lot for your insight! Nichole

Nichole, the girls at Abrazo will send you some sample profiles in your Orientation packet. I'm sure they would be happy to fax one to you or perhaps send you a copy prior to then. In short, think of it as about 5-6 pages (3 sheets/duplex), color copied, and a scrapbook kind of feel with some possible 'theme'. Then the FUN part...trying to condense your life into 6 pages of pictures and text. --Adam Thanks Adam. That's something to go off of at least. haha, Joe and I have been together 13 + years so that is a LOT to condense down. Should be fun though. Nichole

The Pack will be watching the Big Game from the same place my Cowboys will be....the comfort of their own home. Favre went to college and has a farm in my hometown. He's big down there too. I'm personally not a fan of his, but I do give credit to all he has accomplished. Congrats to the Packers on finishing 8-8 (especially on taking out the Bears in the last game). I think that surprised most everyone based on how the season started. There is a place in the Hall of Fame for Mr. Fav-ree. Oh boy, we LOVE Brett up here. My husband and I have met him a few times, extremely nice, down to earth guy. Sorry to hear about the Cowboys...that last play was heartbreaking for them! Favre has his own street named after him here, and of course will be in the Packer HOF too. We just hope for 1 more year!!

Thanks Kristin! I'm working on them right now actually. My doctor would be more than happy to write a letter..and he'd probably even right a letter of reference for us! We've become pretty close over about 5 years of infertility treatments. Do you have your profile done already as well? I'm not entirely sure of everything to include in ours yet. How long should it be, how should it look, etc? Whew!! I'm just excited for us to be on our way here!! Best of luck to you too! Nichole

Welcome Nichole! It's great to see another family from the Midwest!!! What part of Wisconsin are you from? Paula Hi Paula, We are from the Green Bay area...GO PACKERS!! hehe

Thanks Elizabeth. I will start working on those things ASAP. I appreciate your help very much. We actually just built our home (my husband did i should say). We just moved in on December 2nd so we've got a definite floor plan done and photos. That's 2 steps done . Hope you have a wonderful weekend and thanks again for the help. Nichole Hi Suebee! Thanks for the welcome. I have to laugh because nearly everyone i know spells my first name wrong. hahaha I don't correct them either! When did you & your husband adopt? Nichole

I wish we were one of those couples that could possibly attend the end of January orientation, but we haven't received our packet yet. I'm sure the holidays and the mail delays did not help that at all. I'm getting nervous at all the mounting paperwork though! Yikes! It just seems very overwhelming at this point. We've gotten all our home study papers in the mail and i try to do a little every night after work. On pins and needles till we hear back from Abrazo. Nichole & Joe

Thank you all so very much for the warm welcome! We spent so much time focusing on infertility treatments over the past 5 years that it's nice to now have something more tangible in our future. We just cannot wait to get this all underway. And believe me, we are more than ready to handle whatever is thrown our way, whether it be smooth or CRAZY...hehe. Hope you all have a wonderful New Year's as well and I hope to get that packet in the mail in the next 2 weeks i guess. Nichole

Kristin & Rich, We are brand new to this too. It'd be fun to be buddies along this process. I hope & pray for guidance through this with all the other Abrazo members too. I love that you all have a wonderful forum here. We just sent our inquiry in a few days ago too & are on pins & needles till we get our packet in the mail. We are out of state (WI) so we have to do our home study here. Have you done that yet? Best of luck on your journey!! Nichole & Joe