Guaranteed Healthcare

In 2005, I moved my 7-year old daughter from Virginia to Northern Ca to be with my husband who had taken a contract position with hefty paychecks implementing the new electronic medical records for Kaiser. We gave up our happy life as we knew it in Virginia.

In June 2005 we discovered that we were expecting a baby. We were elated. I was just about to turn 40 and was and had always been very healthy. We did not have maternity insurance and were shocked to find out that to have a baby in California without maternity insurance would end up costing us between $17,000 and $32,000 out of pocket (if everything was normal). Kaiser offered my husband a salaried position during this time that would fully cover the birth of our baby. My husband took a HUGE paycut so we would have benefits.

My pregnancy progressed well and I went past my due date. Once I passed my due date the Dr. attempted to schedule me in for an induction that would have put me 15 days past my due date. Never mind the fact that I was 40 at the time. I asked him if we could get in sooner as I thought there is no way I would make it that long. I went in for an NST one morning and they kept me there longer (alot of details here). When I left that day they told me not to be surprised if my little one came by that evening.

Later in the day I had a really bad headache and felt agitated and restless and hadn't been feeling the baby move as much. I also started having upper abdominal pressure that was really uncomfortable. We drove to labor and delivery without calling first. I was treated very rudely and was told to go home and don't come back unless I was bleeding or my water broke. The nurses there that night were clearly agitated and were anxious to get me out of there. They were so rude that I was in tears. I knew that I should not leave that night. I feared for the safety of my baby.

My baby died in utero the very next day because no one cared enough to do the right thing which was to get my baby out with a timely c-section. I have since learned that this is their way of doing business. Avoid c-sections at all costs to increase profits. This is standard operating procedure for this "non-proft."

I wanted answers and accountablility as to why my baby died. What I got instead was a conveniently lost fetal heart monitor strip from my NST. I have yet to see this since it has vanished. We would have been FAR better off to not have health insurance at all. I would have much rather have spent the $35,000 for a c-section than to walk out of that "hospital" with no baby and missing medical records on top of it. Our baby might very well be alive today. No one should have to die so that a corporation can maximize profits. NOT ONE, LIVING, SINGLE, HUMAN BEING.