Do birthing centers take insurance?
Yes! Fika Midwifery & The Coit House Birth Center can bill most health insurance companies and is in network with Highmark WNY. BCBS Medicaid is our preferred Medicaid Managed Care plan, and if you have a different Medicaid Managed Care plan, you can usually switch your Medicaid plan to BCBS Medicaid. If you have insurance such as Cigna, Aetna, NYSHIP or many other plans, you can utilize your out-of-network benefits for your care at Fika Midwifery & The Coit House, or we can attempt to obtain prior authorization. We also accept HSA and FSA cards and have had success with clients seeking reimbursement from a Christian health-sharing plan.
Fika Midwifery also has affordable self pay rates–a flat rate for all of the prenatal care, delivery, and postpartum care and a set fee schedule for wellness care–for those clients with no insurance, out of network insurance, or a high deductible plan.
All lab work, hospital fees, and ultrasounds will be billed to your insurance independently of Fika Midwifery.
All clients have access to our sliding scale fee schedule based on family size and income. No client will be denied access to services due to inability to pay.
What is the difference between a midwife, doula, and doctor?
Midwives are trained to provide highly individualized, evidence-based care to low-risk womxn across the lifespan. The midwifery model of care is grounded in the normalcy of life events such as pregnancy, birth, and menopause. While many think of community birth when they hear about midwives, the truth is that many midwives don’t provide prenatal care or delivery services at all, and those that do primarily practice in the hospital.
Doulas provided non-medical support for pregnancy, labor, and postpartum. Here at Fika we work closely with doulas and highly recommend you consider one to support you if you are planning your first vaginal birth.
Doctors are trained to provide highly specialized care to women who may have risk factors. While many doctors in the US care for low risk people, in most other countries, only high risk people use the services doctors provide. Collaboration between doctors and midwives is an important part of providing safe care, and Fika has a close working relationship with several area physicians and hospitals.
When doctors, midwives, and doulas work together, birthing people and their families can have the best outcomes.
Where can I choose to give birth?
At this time, the midwife attends all births at The Coit House, our Fika Midwifery birth center. As of 2024, we are no longer offering home birth. We often provide care at The Coit House for those who reside in Rochester or other areas of WNY who have limited access to community birth options.
We do not provide hospital birth but clients who require transfer to a hospital are, in most cases, transferred to a local midwifery practice with hospital privileges.
Is Fika Midwifery the right fit for me?
Midwives care for low risk people, so not all people are candidates for midwifery care. Some common examples of conditions that might risk people out of the care of a midwife include:
- Diabetes
- Twins (or more)
- Preterm delivery
- High blood pressure
- Some medications
We welcome any person in need of wellness care regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Our individualized approach means that we will get to know your pronouns, what terms you would like utilized for your anatomy, and other important aspects of inclusive healthcare.
Our practice is committed to antiracism. We acknowledge the adverse outcomes that BIPOC experience due to systemic racism within and outside of the healthcare system. We look forward to getting to know your specific needs and how we can best care for your family.
