Credit Card Payments

We are able to accept credit card payments through PayPal using the link from the bottom of this page. Partial or full payments may be made using this method. However, we do charge a small 2.9% one-time fee to cover what Paypal charges us for this service. (We are charged because we have a commercial account with them.)

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The following is just an overview of our insurance and self-pay fee schedule. To view our complete fee schedule in PDF format, please click here. (It also includes our policies concerning deposits and late fees as well as a contract and payment plan worksheet.)

Private Insurance Coverage

Many private insurance companies pay Licensed Certified Professional Midwives. But not all companies are entirely familiar with midwifery care and state licensure. So they may initially say “no” to coverage out of their ignorance of Texas state laws. However, after they have been given the appropriate information, most (but not all) will agree to pay. So before you ask your insurance company if they will cover a Licensed Certified Professional Midwife, don't hesitate to ask Gentle Beginnings for some helpful tips on what to say when you talk to them.

Required Deposit or Deductible and Co-Pay for Private Insurance

$500.00 or your deductible must be paid by 30 weeks gestation (whichever is the larger amount). Of this, $400 is due at your first prenatal visit.

Note: If your insurance does not cover 100%, you must pay any amount they do not cover. For example, if your insurance only pays 80%, you are responsible for the other 20%.

You are also required to pay any co-pay that your insurance company requires of you.

Self–Pay or "Cash–Pay" Plans

We offer special rates to clients who plan to pay the whole fee before their babies are born. In addition to this, we offer an extra discount to all of our repeat clients. We also offer a discount to anyone who is transfers care from another provider when they have their records concerning the current pregnancy transferred to us. Some of these discounts may even be combined. Check out our full fee schedule for details.

The following "Self-Pay" Plans are based on the entire fee being paid prior to the birth of the baby.

Plan A

$2400.00 – (see below) – This fee applies if you live within 50 miles of Corpus Christi.

$2400 pays your global fee ($1450 less than our full price global fee)– This amount must be paid in full by 36 weeks gestation.

The following is an example of a payment schedule for this plan. In this example, the payments are made every 4 weeks (monthly) with care beginning around 6 weeks gestation –

• 6 weeks gestation - $400.00 (deposit)
• 10 weeks gestation - $286.00
• 14 weeks gestation - $286.00
• 18 weeks gestation - $286.00
• 22 weeks gestation - $286.00
• 26 weeks gestation - $286.00
• 30 weeks gestation - $286.00
• 36 weeks gestation - $284.00

Plan B

$2550.00 – plus hotel expenses (see below) – This fee applies if you live more than 50 miles from Corpus Christi.

$2550 pays your global fee ($1450 less than the full global fee)– This fee must be paid by 36 weeks gestation.

Hotel Expenses For The Midwives – If you live more than 50 miles from our office, we require that you find a hotel near your home and set aside money for a room for our personal use. If the distance to your house hinders us from taking a break at home during a long early labor (as we would if you lived in town), or if we are too exhausted to safely travel on the road after a long birth, we will choose to stay in the hotel. If it turns out that we do not need the hotel room, the money of course is yours to keep. Please discuss specific arrangements with us prior to your birth if you live more than 50 miles away.

The following is an example of a payment schedule for this plan. In this example, the payments are made every 4 weeks (monthly) with care beginning around 6 weeks gestation –

• 6 weeks gestation - $400.00 (deposit)
• 10 weeks gestation - $307.00
• 14 weeks gestation - $307.00
• 18 weeks gestation - $307.00
• 22 weeks gestation - $307.00
• 26 weeks gestation - $307.00
• 30 weeks gestation - $307.00
• 36 weeks gestation - $308.00

Plan C (Using a Student Midwife as primary under the supervision of a Licensed Midwife)

$1850.00 – (see below) – If you have proof of Medicaid or can prove financial hardship you may choose to use a student midwife as your primary midwife. Instead of the usual $400 deposit, you will only be required to pay a $300 deposit. Note: Our student midwives are always fully supervised by the Licensed Midwives.

$1850 pays your global fee – This fee is paid to the primary supervising midwife and must be paid by 36 weeks gestation.

The following is an example of a payment schedule for this plan. In this example, the payments are made every 4 weeks (monthly) with care beginning around 6 weeks gestation –

• 6 weeks gestation - $300.00 (deposit)
• 10 weeks gestation - $225.00
• 14 weeks gestation - $225.00
• 18 weeks gestation - $225.00
• 22 weeks gestation - $225.00
• 26 weeks gestation - $225.00
• 30 weeks gestation - $225.00
• 36 weeks gestation - $200.00 (second midwife/assistant fee)

Medicaid

Medicaid does not pay the fees of Licensed Midwives in Texas. However, if you are using a midwife, Medicaid will still cover any labwork and sonograms that are done while you are under the midwife's care. They will also cover you and your baby for any other medical needs should they become necessary. So if you need to see a doctor at any time while you are under the midwife's care, or if there is a transport to the hospital, Medicaid will cover these additional expenses.

It is our desire that you will consider "Plan C" if you are on Medicaid. We set up this plan for two reasons. One is because a senior student needs the experience of caring for her "own" clients. Otherwise, she will not be well equipped for the clients she cares for once she is on her own. But we also desire to help make midwifery a little more affordable to those who need and deserve our help.

If you have any special needs that you would like us to consider, please feel free to contact us directly.

Please use this button to make a single payment on your credit card. You will be asked to designate the specific amount by PayPal. NOTE: You will automatically be charged a "shipping fee" of 2.9% which covers the cost of the fees PayPal charges me for this service..