Think you're covered? Think again. Obamacare could bite you in the ass too.

The day I found out I was pregnant with my first son, I was in shock. He wasn't planned or expected, but he is certainly the greatest joy in my life. When my husband and I decided to expand our family with another child, I assumed I would have the same easy experience in conceiving a baby as I did with my first. Not so, and I spent a year of our lives on an emotional roller coaster waiting for those two little pink lines to appear, month after month. Finally, this last spring, it happened. We were overjoyed. It had been a long year. 

All the while, a storm was brewing. A political storm in far away Washington DC, that I couldn't do anything to stop. Decisions were made, deceptions sold, and now we are dealing with the fallout. Earlier this month, I received a letter from our health insurance company letting me know that my current plan was being canceled, but I was being rolled over into an equivalent plan beginning January 1, 2014. I was surprised, but had already seen changes to our insurance over the previous two years due to Obamacare. I was most surprised and disappointed to learn that we would be paying much more money for a plan with less coverage. I only wish this was where my surprises and disappointments would end. 

I am due to give birth to our second son on January 7, 2014. After hearing a report that many doctors are not accepting certain insurance plans, I decided to look up my own new plan to see where we would be covered. I just assumed that because my doctor currently accepts my insurance company, that wouldn't change. But, like a slap in the face, I was wrong. In fact, not only does my doctor not accept my insurance company, neither does the hospital I am scheduled to deliver my baby, nor does my older son's pediatrician. Come January 2014, we may as well not be insured. Was it easy to find this information? The answer is...sort of. I really had to do some digging to find out where we would be covered as well as what insurance companies are accepted with our current doctors and hospitals. I wonder, how many people will seek out this information on their own? Or will they too assume they are covered with their current insurance company?

I don't want to turn this post into a liberal vs. conservative political debate, so I'll refrain from expressing too much disgust. I simply want to encourage everyone to start asking their doctors, hospitals, urgent care centers and specialists what insurance companies they accept. You may be surprised to learn it is not yours. 

For my family, we will be changing insurance companies beginning January 1, 2014. Which means we begin all new deductibles and cross our fingers the transition goes as planned. It's not a great way to enjoy bringing a new life into the world, but baby, get used to it.