Income + Resource Based Pricing

Includes:
Insurance Coverage for Doula Support
Price Reduction Application Process
Cost of Services by Tier
Income Guidelines

Download Income + Resource Based Pricing APPLICATION. (IBP)

Families have different income and resources, and so we offer four different payment tiers for all services at Open Circle.

STANDARD PRICING: Not applying for a reduced rate payment tier? You can scroll down to Chart A, below, and view Tier 4 pricing to see our standard fees.

INCOME-BASED RATE REDUCTION: If you are applying, your payment tier will depend on your family’s income and resources (savings, investments, retirement plans and home equity), as well as your specific circumstances. When filling out the application, please include income information for all adults contributing to household living expenses and living in the home. Submit it by email or mail with 4-weeks of paystubs or a copy of last year’s tax return. Detailed instructions can be found in the expandable boxes to the right of this section. Please black out your social security number and address before emailing.

You can also call us to schedule 15 minute phone interview for help completing the application.

Chart A (below) will help you understand the costs for services in each tier. Chart B will help you explore out which tier your family’s income may qualify you for (after a review of income and resources by our team).

Learn more about why we offer Income-and-Resource Based Pricing.

Wondering about Insurance Coverage?
Beginning in December 2022, many Rhode Island Families will be able to access prenatal + postpartum doula care through their insurance policies. You can find out more here.

We do not directly bill insurance for services other than doula support, but are happy to provide you with an itemized invoice that you can submit to your insurance company for possible reimbursement. Some companies will pay for childbirth and/or breastfeeding or parenting classes.

Finding a place that I could comfortably afford was wonderful! Being pregnant comes with many adjustments both physically and emotionally. I’ve utilized the prenatal massage a couple of times and it’s absolutely amazing. The time and dedication does not lessen because you’re utilizing the tiered payment. I’ve always felt comfortable and treated with the utmost respect!

KG, Providence

1. Application Process

The process to apply is quite simple.

If you need help, please call and we will be happy to help you over the phone. If you have paystubs or taxes ready, the application usually takes 15 minutes. You may also mail or email your documentation in and we will get back to you within one week with your payment tier.

For families applying for tiers 1-3: Complete our Reduced Rate Application. We will also ask to see a copy of your last year’s income tax return or 4 consecutive pay stubs (for all people contributing to household costs).
For tier 4, no documentation is required.

2. Please Read Before Submitting Application

Income + Resource Based Pricing

Open Circle services provide families with holistic health care and education that can support a healthy lifestyle, birth, and parenting choices.

The addition of a child to a family is a major life transition – its significance cannot be understated for its impact on every family member, now and into the family’s future. For this reason, we believe that support during this time should be given high priority in a family’s budget planning.

We ask families to carefully consider the level of financial support they may need. Please ask only for what is truly inaccessible after prioritizing the services being provided and utilizing the supports of your family and community. Our ability to provide these services to families of varied financial means and social resources depends on each family paying for as much as they are able.

We are not currently funded by grants or philanthropic donations. Our reduced rate pricing comes directly out of an organizational commitment to acknowledging and addressing unequal access to care for many Americans, as well as the donation of time and services by all of our practitioners.

When evaluating whether a family qualifies for Income + Resource Based Pricing, we consider a household’s income (this includes the income of anyone working in the home and/or partnering in the care of the baby and mother), their resources (these include: homeownership, savings, retirement funds, trust funds, etc). We also consider a family’s cultural and educational privileges, i.e., “social capital.”

For families who do not qualify for our Income + Resource Based Pricing, we recognize that specific life circumstances (university study, moves, job transitions, fertility treatments, and unforeseen expenses) can impact the ability to pay. These circumstances will be considered in your application and we may be able to offer reductions. When we are not able to offer you reduced rate pricing, we are often able to provide payment plans over a 3, 6, or 12 month period to support access to our services. Over the years, we have also heard many creative ways that families have raised money for birth and postpartum services, and we include some of those creative solutions under the Creative Funding tab.

Open Circle is committed to acknowledging and addressing inequalities in American culture that impact infant, mother, and family health. These disparities encompass wealth, access to medical care and community resources, and equal and just treatment. The founding of this country through colonialism, hundreds of years of structural racism, and the effects of corporate interests on government policy and cultural values, both created and continue to stand at the root of these modern-day inequalities.

If you would like to learn more about any of these topics and their direct impact on mother, baby, and family health, we welcome you into the discussion. We are happy to provide resources to learn more and become active within our local community.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions, and we hope you will join us on the path of creating greater equality and justice in our communities and country.

3. Don’t qualify? Look at these creative funding ideas!

CREATIVE SOLUTIONS
For Funding Prenatal and Postpartum Education, Wellness Services and Medical Supports Not Covered by Insurance

1. Baby Shower and Registry Requests
In spite of all the gifts we often receive for a baby shower, babies have very few material needs. More than anything else, they need healthy parents to care for them. Ask your friends to support your healthy transition into parenthood by adding items such as wellness services (acupuncture, massage, chiropractic, physical therapy), doula support, educational classes, home-birth midwifery, healthy postpartum meals, etc. to your registry.

2. Goods to Barter?
Perhaps you, your family or friends produce goods that could be bartered for services.

3. Silent Auctions | Fundraising
Individual or business donations of goods to sell online or at events are often effective fundraisers.

4. Baby Support Dinner Parties
Host (or have a friend host) a small dinner for friends. Invite each friend to bring one service or product to sell. Ask each friend to purchase one service/product, and donate the money “to the health of the new family.”

5. Direct Asks
Ask friends and family directly for donations to support your growing family.

6. Other ideas that have worked for you?
Please email and let us know so we can share with other families!

MEMBERSHIP OPTIONS + Terms of Service

Service	Tier 1	Tier 2	Tier 3	Tier 4
Educational Classes
7-week Birthing Series	$75	$125	$225	$325
9-week Birthing Series	$100	$175	$285	$395
3 hour Childbirth Education Workshop	$25	$35	$50	$75
2.5hr Private Birth or Parenting Education	n/a	n/a	n/a	$200
Yoga + Fitness Classes
Six Week Class Series	$30	$50	$95	$120
Drop-ins	$3	$8	$18	$25
Doula + Parenting Consultations
Doula or Parenting Consultation (60-90min)	$35	$45	$80	$100
5-week Infant Massage Series	$25	$55	$100	$150
Private Infant Massage Class	$20	$40	$60	$100

Income Guidelines (Chart B)

(To determine your tier, Open Circle staff will evaluate both income and resources. When applying, include income information and documentation from anyone contributing money to living expenses.)

Number of Family Members (including baby in womb)	≤100% FPL (Tier 1)	≤138% FPL (Tier 2)	≤200% FPL (Tier 3)
By Annual Income
1	$12,880	$17,774	$25,760
2	$17420	$24,040	$34,840
3	$21,960	$30,305	$43,930
4	$26,500	$36,570	$53,000
5	$31,040	$42,835	$62,080
6	$35580	$49,100	$71,160
7	$40120	$55,366	$80,240
8	$44,660	$61,631	$89,320
By Monthly Income
1	$1,073	$1,481	$2,147
2	$1,452	$2,003	$2,903
3	$1,830	$2,525	$3,660
4	$2,208	$3,048	$4,417
5	$2,587	$3,570	$5,173
6	$2,965	$4,092	$5,930
7	$3,343	$4,614	$6,687
8	$3,722	$5,136	$7,443