Appointments: 11/9-11/13

[nitecheese]

For most insurances, pregnancy and birth supersede enrollment terms. You should be covered as long as you are already on said plan.

[packerfan4life]

So glad we found out pre-open enrollment. I was kicking myself for choosing not to get the short term disability since I'd never get pregnant anyways...

[cattuccino]

This enrolment talk stresses Me out. I don't even know what it means!
I'm glad Canada has universal healthcare, despite its drawbacks.

[bgkc4]

Open enrollment starts at my job next week and continues until early December. I don't need to change my medical, but I might participate in flex spending. I just have no idea how much to put into it. I've never had a medical flex spending account so I need to read up on it.

[vlinder]

Follow up ultrasound went well today. Measured 8w3d and HR 172 and we got to see a wiggly little gummy bear

It doesn't seem like we'll get another u/s for awhile though, which stresses my PgAL brain a bit. I don't get one at my next appointment in four weeks, just the Doppler. Although last week the doctor made it sound like we could do both the Verifi test and the NT scan, this week the nurse practitioner that I saw said I had choose one route or the other, so I went Verifi. Not sure how much I want to push to also do the NT scan.

[frecklesnbrains]

Nov 13, 2015 13:30:18 GMT -5 vlinder said:

Follow up ultrasound went well today. Measured 8w3d and HR 172 and we got to see a wiggly little gummy bear

It doesn't seem like we'll get another u/s for awhile though, which stresses my PgAL brain a bit. I don't get one at my next appointment in four weeks, just the Doppler. Although last week the doctor made it sound like we could do both the Verifi test and the NT scan, this week the nurse practitioner that I saw said I had choose one route or the other, so I went Verifi. Not sure how much I want to push to also do the NT scan.

Glad your ultrasound looks good!

This surprises me, because I've always been under the impression that the Verifi test (or MaterniT21 or Harmony) doesn't replace the NT scan. It DOES replace the other first trimester serum screening tests (the "quad screen"). An increased NT (nuchal translucency) is classically associated with chromosome disorders that the Verifi test looks for (Down syndrome and Turner syndrome being the two big ones), but increased NT can also be seen in association with other genetic disorders and birth defects that are NOT detected by the Verifi test. It may be worth clarifying this with your OB office. They may have a policy of doing one-or-the-other because the biggest causes of increased NT (chromosome disorders) are picked up by the Verifi test, and the other causes can be ruled out when you go for your anatomy scan at 18-20 weeks.

I am scheduled for both an NT scan and MaterniT21. I'd be curious to hear what the rest of you have been offered?

[soultrane]

Glad to hear you had a great appt vlinder!

[ArgyleEnigma]

I was offered both, although I opted out of MaterniT21. Doc did not feel they were mutually exclusive.

[soultrane]

As far as tests go, my doc only talked to me about the NT, the quad, and the anatomy scan. I meant to ask about the other options but forgot to yesterday because I was so giddy about the good u/s.

For those of you who were offered the other tests, are you AMA or high-risk otherwise (if you don't mind me asking)?

Kind of related, but I just scheduled my NT scan and A/S, so I'm kind of excited to have those on the books!

[Kevinmac]

I'm AMA which is why the MaterniT21 was offered to me.

[ArgyleEnigma]

I am not AMA or otherwise high-risk; I was told about the tests because my OB wanted to be sure I knew about all the options out there. If I'd gone for it, it would have been OOP.

[ArgyleEnigma]

I should add that I live near where the tests were developed and are done, I believe, so there may be regional differences in doctors' attitudes about them.

[shoogars]

I'm AMA and will be having the NT scan as well as Verifi at my 12 week appointment.

[frecklesnbrains]

soultrane, MaterniT21/Verifi/Harmony etc are only covered for high risk/AMA patients by most insurance companies, so I'm guessing most of us getting them fit in that category (I qualify because I'm AMA). If you're under 35 and have no other risk factors for chromosome disorders then many practices may not even mention the test to you knowing that you will have to pay out of pocket (and they are NOT cheap), while some will offer it to you with that caveat.

[soultrane]

Thanks for the answers ladies! I'll be a few months shy of AMA when I deliver and I'm not considered high-risk so I was just curious where everyone else fell. I may look into the other tests for peace of mind and to keep my pgal brain at bay, but it's helpful to hear about everyone else's experiences!

[Flair Underwood]

I was offered and am doing the NT scan and the quad screen.... i'm not AMA or high-rish. They said if anything comes out of those we would discuss other tests. I've never heard of some you mentioned, frecklesnbrains.

[frecklesnbrains]

Nov 13, 2015 21:08:49 GMT -5 Flair Underwood said:

I was offered and am doing the NT scan and the quad screen.... i'm not AMA or high-rish. They said if anything comes out of those we would discuss other tests. I've never heard of some you mentioned, frecklesnbrains.

It doesn't surprise me that they didn't mention them to you if you're under 35 and low risk, because insurance doesn't cover them. If the NT or quad screen raise any concerns (hopefully not! But don't freak out if they do - they give a high rate of false positives) then the MaterniT21/Verifi/Harmony tests will probably become an option for you.