Hey Guys,
New to the forum...

The wife and I are at 14 weeks and counting. We already have a 4 year old boy so I kind of know what to expect as far as babies are concerned, but no experience with NICU. Still having a hard time wrapping my brain around handling 3 of them at a time, but with our unbelievable support system I think we can manage.


Main question I've been worrying about lately is the finances. What's the deal with Aflac? I'm sure the info is already out there somewhere, I just haven't run across it yet. If someone could point me in the right direction that would be awesome.

The wife is a teacher so she'll be finishing school here at the end of the month...end of week 18. So if she needs to go on bedrest right away the summer will just be starting for her. She's going to take the 1st semester off so she won't have to go back to work until Feb...with week 36 being in early October we should be ok.

So if anyone has any info on Aflac I'd greatly appreciate any help. Also any other general guidance would be nice...

Thanks,

Colin
NOTE...I just found Pelikan's Post on the Consumer Corner with regards to Aflac...so I'll start there...

Wish I knew more about it -- especially when we were expecting. Our insurance (actually two different policies) covered just about everything, but from what I understand, AFLAC would have given us the cash to set ourselves up better, as it is a lump cash payment, not reimbursment for money one has paid for medical service.

Welcome to the forum, Colin! And Congrats!

Vaughn and the ABC Boys
Alex, Bryce, & Calder
3-31-97 @ 28.5 weeks
http://s515.photobucket.com/albums/t356/vaughn3abc/

I am also a teacher and looked into an Aflac policy that would help us about 10 weeks in. We already had the accidental injury plan, but the babies couldn't be covered under the other plans due to the question that asked about fertility treatments and pregancy.

There are different rules for different states and some people were able to sign up after they were pregnant, but i can't imagine how, outside of insurance fraud, perhaps.

Good luck.

I spent a lot of time worried about finances before the trio was born. I think that is the biggest concern of all triplet dads. My wife is also a teacher and we went from one a double teacher income and 1 child to a single income and 4 children. Aimee hasn't been to work since she became pregnant,(she took a leave of absence to give us every chance to protect those babies)and our trio is going to be 2 in August. It can be done. We are not in debt, other than the mortgage and the minivan. It is just a matter of managing more carefully, accepting the generosity of others, and buying your cribs and other gear on craigslist or the like. We were able to get all the things we needed early by searching daily in the classified ads. It took a while, but saved a LOT.

Colin V,

Hey man, congrats on the trips! My wife Katie is 24 weeks pregnant with our crew and I signed her up on the AFLAC plan around week 11-14 something like that. I am one of these guys that will research the hell out of stuff before I do anything so I dug pretty deep on the AFLAC deal.

Not sure where you live, but I think a big part of the AFLAC deal falls with finding the right agent that will work on your behalf. We live in the Dallas, Texas area, there is a gal in Austin, Angela (Angela Davis at a3_davis@us.aflac.com) that is excellent but she can only write policies in Texas. There are a couple VERY good posts on AFLAC in the main forums. There is one gentleman in Arizona that did a ton of research and has it pretty spelled out. I will look for it and post it here for you. **OK I just did a search and the Pelican post is the one you want, that information is fantastic!** I think it is a pretty good deal and worth a shot. The monthly premiums are reasonable and if your wife or the babies are in the hospital for any lengthy period of time, it could pay off WELL!

I also took a gamble with this whole deal and also did a policy with Combined Insurance. Their policy is as good or better than AFLAC and the premiums are cheaper. It is uncharted waters, in the fact that most people just do AFLAC and I haven't heard much about Combined. I figured, "what the hell" for a few hundred bucks it could pay off nice and I could double my payout.

Like you I am worried as all get out about the finances of this whole deal! Hopefully these backup plans help cover some of the out of pocket expenses and the rather large family deductible that we have on our plan. That is my hope any way!

Congrats again! Keep posting man!!

Todd

Todd

Proud father to BBG triplets, born 33 weeks, 2 days on 7/9/09.
Claire
Matt
Drew
http://themesserletrio.blogspot.com

Hi Colin,

Just wanted to welcome you to the forum. We need more dads!!!

Wish I had information about the AFLAC program, and am impressed that the company will sign people up (as Todd mentioned doing with Katie), after already being more than ten weeks pregnant with triplets. They must be 'banking' on the fact that most people signing up with them to get ahead financially (or keep pace financially) will in turn become lifelong members of AFLAC.... it sounds like an investment that at least one insurance company will offer.

Our triplets were born a week and a half ago. My wife (also a teacher/librarian) can take six months off with full pay..... then she uses her vacation days, another five or six weeks with pay..... then can take three years at a something like half-pay. Most of this is because she's a functionnaire (French word for a state employee), but some of it applies in the private sector as well.

Welcome aboard the forum, Colin. Any questions.... someone will likely have the answer. (Vaughn is VERY experienced in the field of triplet-raising!!!)

Rick (& Carole)
Jonah, Noah, & Erin
We're 11 days old and loving it!

Congrats on your trio!

I'm glad I found this forum. Glad to know their's other hands on dads out there willing to take the time to post and share information.

I read through ALOT of the past posts before posting...just trying to immerse myself in info I guess. You guys have lots of great suggestions. Like the tip on setting up the blog, awesome idea. The wife was talking to like 50 different people after Dr appointments...and I can see that only getting worse. Now we can just say...check the blog, and talk to only who she really wants to talk with.

I'm calling the AFLAC rep here in town this week. He's actually the only one in Wyoming. If they consider pregnancy a precondition I'll have to go the Colorado route. Hopefully one of these two states allows it...if not I'll have to get creative.

Im a mom..LOL..
But I saw the Aflac post from the main page..
Just wanted to tell you ...most agents dont know alot..Id highly recommend Julie Kraus In california. I live in KY and bought my policy from her. KY policy was worthless.

If youd like her number, PM me and Ill give it to you.

I think Aflac banks on no problems..but the pay for and complications..and as we allknow ...most triplet pregnancies are complication full.

Anyhoo..Aflac paid out for my 3months+ of hospital bedrest. And paid all the NICU stays..We paid off our second mortgage and all our other bills, cars, etc..Just off Aflac. Andhad some leftover todo a few things around the house. And some leftover for my DH to take off almost 4 months when we got our trio home. I cant brag about Aflac or my agent enough.

We were going to let our Aflac cancel now that RSV season was over...but we decided to keep it a bit longer. Im looking at surgery in the next month. And all our babies plus one of our older kids had surgery this past month...and one of our trio is having some health issues and has been hospitalized...
We may keep it forawhile....now knowing he may be inand out of the hospital a bit.

It definitely gave me peace of mind.

Congats on your wifes pregnancy!!

~Ashley~
Mommy to the six K's!
Keegan, Kyler, Kenzington and our trio Kaden,Kali and Kobe

Wow, that is amazing! Thank you for the post! That is one heck of a return on investment. I certainly hope my wife does not end up in the hospital or hope that our babies don't have a long NICU stay but it is nice knowing there is some financial backup just in case. It sounds like AFLAC stepped up and was problem free. That is great to know.

I wonder if anyone on the forum has had any luck with Combined Insurance. I took out a policy similar to the AFLAC policy with them. I hope they are as good as AFLAC!

Todd

Todd

Proud father to BBG triplets, born 33 weeks, 2 days on 7/9/09.
Claire
Matt
Drew
http://themesserletrio.blogspot.com

Thanks very much for the info. Very informative. Did you have to travel to California to purchase the policy? Am I able to purchase a policy on my wife's behalf if such a trip is neccesary?

I'm hoping like heck that we don't actually need such a policy, but we all know the odds...

again thanks for any info!


Colin

Our policy in Alabama gave a 30 day waiting period for each baby and didn't cover my wife's hospital stay because she did not have a complication distinct from pregnancy. Those exceptions were in place because the policy was written within 10 months of the delivery.

Our babies were in the NICU about 4.5 to 7.5 weeks (give or take). Aflac gave me trouble with the claim stating that because the babies hospitalization began during the 30 day period, there was no coverage. The policy, however, didn't say that and they eventually paid up (with a reservation of rights) starting with day 31 for each baby. It looks like some people didn't have a 30 day waiting period at all, so maybe the policies differ a little bit state to state.

Good luck.

Gary, Father to Piper, Henry and Rosemary, June 25, 2008 (30 weeks, 0 days)

http://baldguyinplaidpants.blogspot.com

I better not have any waiting period on the babies or I am going to be P.O.'d... What is a "reservation of rights"?

Todd

Todd

Proud father to BBG triplets, born 33 weeks, 2 days on 7/9/09.
Claire
Matt
Drew
http://themesserletrio.blogspot.com

If you have a waiting period, it will be written in your policy - something like a delivery within 10 months of the effective date is subject to a 30 day waiting period for a covered person.

A reservation of rights in this case is where the insurance company says: We reviewed your letter and your policy. We think you are wrong and we are right, but we are going to pay you anyway - just this once. It is a way for an insurance company to pay a claim or advance money without admitting liability that may be used against it in the future. It usually comes up when an insured gets sued for something that may not be covered under a liability policy, but the insurance company defends the suit anyway, reserving the right to deny the claim later. In our case, where the claim was paid in full, it may not technically be a "reservation of rights" in insurance parlance.

Gary, Father to Piper, Henry and Rosemary, June 25, 2008 (30 weeks, 0 days)

http://baldguyinplaidpants.blogspot.com

Got it, thanks for the great explanation! I guess I need to drop Angela a quick email and see if our policy has that provision in it. You've got me wondering about that clause now. I am glad that your deal worked out for you and your family! That is great.

Todd

Todd

Proud father to BBG triplets, born 33 weeks, 2 days on 7/9/09.
Claire
Matt
Drew
http://themesserletrio.blogspot.com

I have extensive details on Aflac in the conumer corner forum. Send me an PM if you have any questions.

Go to the Aflac website and find which policies will work for your family.

Assume you know more than your agent and push for exact details. Do not accept generic answers.

Proud Dad to:
B 22 March 2004
GGGG 4 March 2008 @ 32 weeks

Just thought I'd share my experience with trying to get an Aflac policy...

When we found out about our triplets, we were recommended to Aflac both here and by local friends & family. I called every agent in our state (Utah) and every adjacent state (Nevada, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, Arizona), and they all were either morons or told us that the rules had changed and such coverage was no longer possible once already pregnant. But at the same time, I was reading about others getting policies no problem in other states. I even contacted Julie Kraus in California saying that I was willing to make a long drive to sign a policy, but she just told me she'd try to find a more local agent and get back to me, which never happened (my experience with her was a big exception based on what I've read here).

After a few weeks of calling and getting absolutely no satisfaction, I got frustrated with the whole process and just said "screw it" figuring it just wasn't meant to be for us... and in the end, it saved us the premiums as my wife walked into her scheduled C-section at 35 weeks and our boys skipped the NICU.. and I wouldn't trade that fact for any amount of payout

-- Code (DH of Lease, Father of identical BBB born April 09 @ 35 weeks)

My wife's blog: http://threeatonce.blogspot.com

Little boys in blue! Precious!

Vaughn and the ABC Boys
Alex, Bryce, & Calder
3-31-97 @ 28.5 weeks
http://s515.photobucket.com/albums/t356/vaughn3abc/

They are cute, aren't they?!? I purchased some baseball pj's and things for ours from the states, just because we can't find them here. The little trio above in blue looks like one of their outfits.

Just out of curiousity Vaughn, did you and your wife often dress your boys the same when they were younger? I hear so many people talking about being stared at wherever they go, and of course this would add to the likelihood of that.

Our boys and daughter all are very similar in appearance, but our girl will likely be a bit smaller which might throw-off the triplet aura that could surround them.

Guess we'll have to wait and see.

Rick
Jonah, Noah, & Erin
26 days old and lovin' it!

We tended not to dress them alike -- but often the same type of clothes but different colors. I hav e a photo of the boys right here that has them in the same over-alls but with different colored shirts on. But that was just us. Neither my wife or I minded the attention triplets might bring. It just was not a big deal to us. Ten years later, I still occasionally get, "Are you the guy that use to push the triple stroller all around town?" (I use to go for a 2 to 4 hour walk with the boys every day.)

To each their own, but I have never been able to completely understand the negative reaction parents of multiples can have to comments and attention their kids can draw.

Once the boys were walking (running!) and we went to somewhere where there was a lot of people, we would have them wear the same distinctive shirt, such as black and white stripes, so that we could keep a better eye on them...a quick scan of the room, playground, etc, and we could do a head count.

Vaughn

We only have a few identical outfits.. we're trying to find same style, different colors clothing mostly but we find it hard to find more than 2 iterations of a style in most cases.

-- Code (DH of Lease, Father of identical BBB born April 09 @ 35 weeks)

My wife's blog: http://threeatonce.blogspot.com