To be honest, we’re not NOT doing it because it costs too much. We’re not doing it because I really don’t think there’s a point. The screening doesn’t tell you if your baby has a problem, it just says that there’s an either tiny, small, or medium sized chance of there being a problem. And, shouldn’t hospitals be equipped for complications during labor and birth? I don’t buy the only possible to correct if you do all these expensive tests first. Doctors are paid to be ready.

I don’t think it’s skimping. I think it’s avoiding unnecessary tests that only fuel paranoia rather than alleviate it. All of the studies I’m reading point to the fact that these screening don’t decrease the likelihood of complications, they only increase the chance of introducing new risks.

But yes, health insurance is a mess. At the same time, we shouldn’t waste money simply because it’s possible to. I am guessing that the way to save health insurance is by reducing the number of high tech, expensive, unproven tests and screenings and drugs and whatever that we opt into merely because we feel like we’re entitled to since we have to pay a ton for health insurance.

Also sad because it seems like this little test shouldn’t costs that much (IMHO). It saddens me to think of skimping on standard health care procedures just because your insurance isn’t that great. I don’t blame you at all, just the screwed up system that says you need a lot of money or a lame corporate job to get decent health care in this country.