Effing Finances

A Rant about money.

Back in January, I had a balance on my OB/GYN account because my insurance didn't pay for a sonogram and my flu shot last fall. Okay, no big deal, I paid it (plus my normal payment) and went on. Not fun but no biggie.

Then I went to the doctor last Thursday. All was good - except during the checkout time. They said I owed them another couple of hundred dollars from my surgery in December plus my normal payment. And even though I pay the extra money in 2007, it applies to 2006's insurance deductible. So I don't even get credit for it now. Ugh.

Then Thursday afternoon, I see that someone has withdrawn $350 from our checking account. Not to mention that rent is due that day and the car payment is coming up the next week, I pretty much freak out. I leave work early to go to the police department (they can't help me) and then to the bank. I fill out the paperwork for a Fraudulent Activity on Account and then wait to get my $350 back. Double ugh.

The next morning (when BOTH Petey & I get paid), Petey goes to the bank and withdraws both paychecks from the bank, just in case it happens again. He then tries to go to our other bank and make a deposit, but they tell him they can't (WTF??) and then he has to come to my work and leave the cashier's check with a co-worker of mine. I then go to the bank during lunch and deposit the money in our other account. We finally get our $350 back Friday afternoon.

Saturday I go to the old bank again and take all the money out and deposit it in the new bank. Now I'm just waiting for 1 transaction to go through in old bank, so I can close the account and wash my hands of that bank. Petey opens another account at brand new bank, so we can have our money at 2 different banks. I know, it's confusing, but it works for us.

Then on SATURDAY I get a bill from the hospital, telling me of the deposit I have to make before I check in and deliver. And this bill is out of control. I have never cried so hard since Petey & I got in a fight 2 weeks before our wedding. I'm talking uncontrollable, deep, hyperventilating sobs. It was awful. I couldn't stop crying. Petey hugged me and held me and told me it was going to be okay, but I just couldn't stop crying. Poor Scout dog, he was depressed just looking at me.

I think I also cried for all the crap I went through the past 3 days as well. All that built up emotions got the best of me.

And of course they send the bill to me on a day where NOTHING is open. I can't call the hospital, the insurance company, NO ONE. I just have to sit and be depressed all freaking weekend.

By the way, I'm not delivering at the Ritz-Carlton of hospitals. I'm not getting a embroidered terry-cloth robe and slippers or 24 hour room service and a masseuse. This is just a plain jane hospital. NOR am I giving birth to Jesus Christ. So why in the heck am I paying an ridiculous amount of money to be in some tiny room with crappy food for 2 nights?

Effing insurance is what I'm thinking.

So I call the insurance company this morning and they tell me to call the hospital. I called the hospital and talked them down to $1300 less than what it was before. It will still hurt, but not as bad.

Of course, I'm thinking it will still hurt, but Petey says it really won't. He's got it all mapped out in his head and he was planning to pay that much (and more) for booper to get here. He's been planning financially since I told him I was pregnant. He just didn't tell me. So here I am crying my eyes out thinking we are eating bread and water for the rest of our lives, and he is just fine.

I guess this is just reality hitting me in the face. Would I have changed my mind about getting pregnant knowing what I know now? No. And I will DEFINITELY SAY NO when that baby boy is here, looking at me in the eyes and cooing and laughing. You can't put a price on that.