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1st Trimester
Just found our prego.... w/ no health insurance!!
oh my... so i had a feeling for awhile, but wasn't for sure... so I
took a test!!! I'm pregnant and now trying not to freak out cause my
husband and I are w/o health insurance!!!! My husband had to switch
jobs due to the economy a couple of months ago and our health insurance
wasn't going to start for a couple more weeks... so because I am 5 to 6 weeks pregnant no one will accept me for insurance....well now we need plan
B. We make to much to get help from the gov. so that is out!
Other than Women, Infant and Children's does anyone in the area know of anywhere I can go????
I've heard of some hospital's offering a payment plan with all your visits included and labor, etc. But i don't know where to go???
Please if anyone has any information... please send it my way... thank you!!!!!!!!!!!This discussion has been closed.
Re: Just found our prego.... w/ no health insurance!!
Your husband insurance (as long as its group insurance) should kick whether you are pregnant or not in a few weeks still. ?There are no pre-exisitng condition in group insurance. ?No worries, just have your first appt a little later.
If its not group insurance, contact your doctors office and see if you can work out a deal. ?My friend did for 1700 for prenatal and 5k for delivery. ?
WIC only provides nutrition. ??
Not sure how much you make but I know my OB's office allows you to pay for their services in pieces, I think without insurance its somewhere around 3K for your entire pregnancy, including their services in the hospital. That does not include the hospital stay, epidural, etc though and that part of it can be VERY expensive. I'd recommend calling a local hospital and asking around.
On a side note why on earth would you ever be uncovered from insurance? Even with changing jobs you can do cobra for the inbetween or buy private insurance for far less than what you're going to wind up spending on having this baby.
It sounds like you don't have a problem... ? You don't need to see a doctor for several more weeks and by then your health insurance will kick in.
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A doctor may be willing to see you on a fee per see basis if you want to get in earlier and since you'll have it soon.
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That said, my friend just had a baby this year without maternity health insurance. ?It was (prepay) $3700 TOTAL ?DOCTOR, HOSPITAL, EPIDURAL! ?She said that if she would have needed a c-section then her regular insurance would have kicked in.
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Good Luck and Congratulations!
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PS Here are the guidelines for Ohio Healthy Families. ?It looks like you can make $3052/month if this is your first child...
https://jfs.ohio.gov/OHP/consumers/docs/FPLs_general.pdf?
So it's early and maybe I'm feeling sensitive, but I find this to be very harsh and judgmental. Not everyone can afford cobra or other coverage even if it is less that what surprise expenses will cost.
OP- most states will cover a pregnant woman and her unborn child no matter her economical status. I know there are limits, but they are pretty high and those above it wouldn't need help even in an emergency.
Good luck!
I was also thinking that insurance companies were not allowed to consider pregnancy a preexisting condition and deny someone coverage. Obviously I'm not an insurance expert.
A lot of women wouldn't even know yet that they were pregnant, so there's no reason they have to be told. Unless they do the math on their own, of course.
Finding a CNM (Certified Nurse Midwifery) group would be good, like a pp recommended. You could also try your local health department. Like other pp's said, also talk to your OB if you need to. Most docs I know are willing to work with patients who are actually willing to pay their bill.
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Are you serious?! ?You do know about the millions of working class Americans that are uninsured? ?They don't do it by 'choice.' ?Our private insurance costs us over $12,000/year. ??
I've never responded to a thread before, but I'm a health and benefits consultant so I feel like I can offer you some insight into this issue.
First, if your husband's insurance will be group insurance through his new job, you will qualify. There are no pre-existing condition clauses on group insurance. (Unless he is working for a VERY small employer, say 10 or less employees, you might have to fill out a risk questionnaire.) Once you are on the group insurance you are good to go.
Second, did you husband leave his last job 60 or less days ago? You can elect COBRA coverage retroactively up to 60 days. If he did leave less than 60 days ago just have him call his company and let them know you want COBRA. Note: For COBRA, you will pay not only your share (the amount your husband used to pay monthly when he worked there) but also the company's share (what the company paid on your husband's behalf while he worked there). For this reason, COBRA is an expensive option, but a group plan is often best.
Third, you are correct, you cannot now qualify for individual health insurance or an individual disability policy.
I think you said you are 5-6 weeks along, so you do need to get to the doctor. Unless you can sign up for COBRA today I would go ahead and call a provider, make an appt and just pay out of pocket for this one appt until you get insurance figured out.
THANK YOU!!!! Holy judgment Batman! If an employee leaves my firm, COBRA is $800/mo for an individual and $1200/mo for a family. If you're unemployed and have to pay rent/mortgage, utilites, food, car, car insurance, etc., chances are you don't have that kind of money to pay for insurance.
I was laid off 7 years ago and got a private policy for $100 a month. It was crap coverage - it didn't cover any office visits, testing or prescriptions - just hospitalization with a $15,000.00 deductible.
Every state has different insurance laws so don't listen to anyone on here. Insurance is regualted by the states, not the federal government. First, check with your husband's employer/insurer to see if PG is considered a pre-existing condition and if preexisiting conditions are excluded. If it is - depending on how long you've been uninsured, you might be able to get a really bad policy just to cover the lapse.
Honestly I would call and elect COBRA. Yes its expensive but it covers you. I had COBRA once and it was 600/month x 3 months until my new insurance kicked in. Also do not get the battery of blood tests done until you are covered, my bill (covered at 100%) was 1400k just for the blood.
Also I know the the Cleveland area you can see WomanKind for start of prenatal care they stop seeing you in the 3rd trimester.
Good luck
I'm not intending to change the subject too much, but since you're an expert, I'm taking advantage
Hopefully there are other women who can benefit....
I'm also without insurance...actually, haven't had it in years. I don't see a doc or take meds, and I just pay cash for my annual pelvic, as that is cheaper than paying monthly premiums for the one visit a year. I just set up to meet with an Aflac guy to talk about an accident plan and possible maternity leave pay. I get a great discount through work, I guess they are pretty expensive?
So my questions are....
I'm planning a homebirth, but wondering if anything like Medicaid or MiChild would pay for the hospital in the event that I needed to be taken in? Even if I haven't seen an OB for prenatal care etc...And, since we aren't married, is it possible that my boyfriend's insurance will at least cover the baby after the birth, and I can just worry about covering myself for the moment?
oh my gosh Thank You so much for picking me to respond to your first thread!! I am so greatfull!!!!
So I called and asked my husband's employer about the insurance, cause they were in the process of also switching insurance company's due to the cost. And she had told me there is a meeting TODAY for the insurance and we could go and get signed up for it!!! Oh my gosh I couldn't believe my ears!
Now I just have to control my emotions at the meeting, they are crazy right now!!!
Again THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!
medicaid will only work if you are qualified for it! We cant use it since we make too much!
since your not married you may be able to qualify for it, so i would deff. look into that.
if that dont work alot of places will do payment plans.
it's okay if your taking advantage, were all in this together
I was kind of expecting to utilize a payment plan...we are comfortable enough to take care of doc's bills and such, it's just the thought of an unexpected surgery that I'm scared of, you know?
Sheesh...
Thanks for lending your thoughts! I'm new to this site but already it feels good to have an outlet, and see so many women asking similar questions
I am sure you will ask, but based on my experience the Aflac policy has to be made 10 months prior to the birth of the baby. In other words, it would be too late to cover this maternity leave. It may have changed since I looked into it, but clarify to be sure you don't pay for something you can't use. Good luck!
Medi-cal... or whatever state you are in I'm sure they have insurance.
Dont' go without though, your baby needs it.
https://www.insure.com/articles/healthinsurance/pregnancy.html
Pregnancy is not considered a pre-existing condition according to this article. You should be find once you go on your husbands health insurance. Maybe go for one visit as a self pay patient until the insurance kicks in. Ask for a Self Pay rate (the legal ruling on this is that doctors are not allowed to automatically offer it [although many do], but if you ask for it they can adjust on a case by case basis).
To those who are being judgmental...count your lucky stars that you have health insurance. Surely this cannot be the first you have heard of people of working class not being able to afford insurance?
This helped so much!
Since we aren't married, it does explain that I most likely will not be covered by his insurance, which we expected, but the baby will be easily added to his policy
The premiums just go up a bit.
Whew!
That's my biggest concern at the moment...I mean, of course I wouldn't go without coverage for my baby.
Thank you for the link!