Any Self Pay Pregnacies?

linz32818 · June 2015

We don't have insurance through our jobs and unfortunately Obama care doesn't really care about us. Any self paying mom to be's out there with good advice or know of any loop holes? Thanks in advance!

camusoh2011 · June 2015

Does your state not offer medicaid for pregnant women? That would be something I would look into. When I tried to apply for insurance through the healthcare.gov site (because I am a full time student and don't have insurance through work and hubby is self employed and exempt from needing it) they wouldn't even give me an option to pay for my own. They only wanted me to go through the state. We're still checking into other options, but you might try that out.

linz32818 · June 2015

I live in Florida and I thought for sure that I could get Medicaid? I just got the response letter in the mail stating that they would cover any medical bills over $3000/month once I pay the first $3k each month! Insane. Not sure if I filled something out wrong or what? I don't even make 3k a month!

VitaLuna · June 2015

I'd definitely follow up on the Medicaid thing.

Midwives tend to be cheaper than OBs, most clinics and hospitals will give you a discount for self pay if you ask. Home birth is obviously the cheapest option.

Just for reference, my pre-insurance billed cost for my last pregnancy was over $50,000.. And that's way less than some friends paid. I'd really be hitting the phone hard to see what kind of coverage you can get.

Bracecurran · June 2015

Obamacare allows you to get subsidized health care but it's based on income and you have to select that you want assistance on the site. I by myself make 54,000 when I was a contractor and got awesome top of the line insurance for $89 a month through Obamacare. $15 co pays too... I work in healthcare now and get free insurance through my work so I don't have to deal with Obamacare but if you fill out the app correctly you can get reasonable insurance.

MarcoMama86 · June 2015

Something really doesn't sound right with everything you have shared. I deal fairly extensively with health insurance in general including ACA Marketplace and Medicare/Medicaid. It sounds like either you have filled out something incorrectly or your household simply makes too much money to qualify for a subsidy in the marketplace and same with Medicaid since both of those are income based. I will say I would rather have Medicaid kick in after 3k a month AND get the discounts Medicaid has with hospitals vs. nothing at all. Most of your bills shouldn't reach 3k a month until delivery.

egraves4 · June 2015

This might be confusing but is it worth it to try if you are still a dependent of your parents? My dad makes enough income so I'm already assuming I won't get it, but it won't cover the baby. SO and I have considered getting married just so I can be independent (I wouldn't want to be single and independent) but I'm scared it would be a leap of faith that they would cover me.

bbax44 · June 2015

egraves4 said:

This might be confusing but is it worth it to try if you are still a dependent of your parents? My dad makes enough income so I'm already assuming I won't get it, but it won't cover the baby. SO and I have considered getting married just so I can be independent (I wouldn't want to be single and independent) but I'm scared it would be a leap of faith that they would cover me.

I'm dependent as well, and sort of wish I was independent because of this reason, but I also don't want to be single and independent. Confusing deal.. sort of stuck!

linz32818 · June 2015

No, I'm actually married. But my husband is self employed- And I was still declined?

linz32818 · June 2015

MarcoMama86 said:
Something really doesn't sound right with everything you have shared. I deal fairly extensively with health insurance in general including ACA Marketplace and Medicare/Medicaid. It sounds like either you have filled out something incorrectly or your household simply makes too much money to qualify for a subsidy in the marketplace and same with Medicaid since both of those are income based. I will say I would rather have Medicaid kick in after 3k a month AND get the discounts Medicaid has with hospitals vs. nothing at all. Most of your bills shouldn't reach 3k a month until delivery.

That's what I was thinking too? But I guess you're right about it helping after the 3k when it comes to the birth. I'm hoping the dr office can help out with the visit charges in the meantime. Thanks for your advice!

linz32818 · June 2015

Bracecurran said:
Obamacare allows you to get subsidized health care but it's based on income and you have to select that you want assistance on the site. I by myself make 54,000 when I was a contractor and got awesome top of the line insurance for $89 a month through Obamacare. $15 co pays too... I work in healthcare now and get free insurance through my work so I don't have to deal with Obamacare but if you fill out the app correctly you can get reasonable insurance.

Wow. That's crazy good. Not sure if it's because we are married with I children or what but My husband and I applied and were quoted $400+ a month and a $10k deductible! I couldn't believe it. So I opted to pass on ins and am kicking myself now obviously.

wassuphoes · June 2015

linz32818 said:
No, I'm actually married. But my husband is self employed so put that he doesn't work, to hopefully help out our odds. And I was still declined?

That's fraud you know.

camusoh2011 · June 2015

Yeah, if your husband has income (even from self employment) you are required to report it.

starsinnight · June 2015

I don't have insurance either yet. I didn't qualify for Medicaid before I was pregnant, but now that I am I reapplied. I haven't gotten an answer yet but I'm crossing my fingers. I'll be starting a new job in August with insurance, anyone switch insurance/jobs mid-pregnancy? I'm so worried about this.

linz32818 · June 2015

Since you're not working I'm sure you'll be approved.

Good luck.

linz32818 · June 2015

wassuphoes said:

linz32818 said:
No, I'm actually married. But my husband is self employed so put that he doesn't work, to hopefully help out our odds. And I was still declined?
That's fraud you know.

Yeah I know. Doesn't really matter anyways, now. It's just a little shitty that I've been paying into Medicaid since I was 16, yet because I'm married and have a job while bringing a child into the world- I'm punished. Such is life I guess.

chitownparent · June 2015

You should use your husband's income and try again. There is free help to assist you in navigating the website and I would take advantage of that. If you put that your husband isn't working, and the two of you file taxes, you are going to have major issues. Also, hoping that the doctor's office will "help you out" is probably a long shot. You're setting yourself up to have to file bankruptcy after your little one is born.

camusoh2011 · June 2015

I'm going to guess you may have filled out the wrong thing. I would try googling a number for your county's office and asking them about it.

wassuphoes · June 2015

linz32818 said:

No, I'm actually married. But my husband is self employed so put that he doesn't work, to hopefully help out our odds. And I was still declined?
That's fraud you know.
Yeah I know. Doesn't really matter anyways, now. It's just a little shitty that I've been paying into Medicaid since I was 16, yet because I'm married and have a job while bringing a child into the world- I'm punished. Such is life I guess.

Or maybe you don't qualify because you don't financially need it. Maybe all you really need is to budget better. Insurance isn't this magical thing you pick up right before you need it, that's not how insurance works.

I'd be inclined to try and help, google fu or asking people who have gone through similar situations, but quite honestly I don't want to help you. You're not the only person whose been working since you were 16, and quite honestly I was so HAPPY when I was finally making enough money that I didn't qualify for any kind of government assistance. Get out of here with that faux martyr complex. "Oh no, life is SO HARD I have job that makes too much to qualify for public assistance even when LYING about my husbands income! Woe is me having TOO MUCH MONEY to use social safety nets for people with less money then me!"

Put on your big girl panties. It's time to grow up.

Mamabeagle · June 2015

*Lurking from January because my due date is late enough I could go either way*

You don't deserve a hand out. And you shouldn't *want* one either. There are those who truly need it and you don't need to suck up resources from those families.

If you have a cell phone with data plan, cable, home internet, a car, go out to eat, go out for happy hour, or go shopping with any regularity then I'm sure you can cut your budget of these frivolous things and pay for a necessity for your childs health.

starsinnight · June 2015

Thanks! But I am working - 2 jobs but I still make under 30k with hubby's salary (it's an internship type job). Hubby is about to quit his job to move with me to my new job. Is pregnancy a pre-existing condition?? Or will the new insurance at my new job cover it (I'll be in 2nd trimester then)?

starsinnight · June 2015

There are ways to get around not having insurance. I think you guys need to be a bit more sensitive to the op about not meeting Medicaid qualifiers. Yeah it sounds a bit entitled but as someone whose hubby was unemployed for 3 years, I needed food assistance and used it wisely and graciously. Now I'm lucky enough to be in the bracket where I don't qualify for any govt assistance but I also can't afford obamacare. So instead for 4 years, I've been without insurance and been lucky enough to pay out of pocket for all medical and dental procedures at affordable community clinics. Id look into that if you don't qualify for Medicaid. It's not anything fancy but it'll beat paying 50k out of pocket. Google local affordable clinics - they are usually in low-income neighborhoods. I've found 2 in my tiny rural town & they've been amazing!

starsinnight · June 2015

I'm not entitled at all, despite working 3 jobs, Im also thankful I can afford to pay $150 for 2 cavity fillings, etc rather than relying on others taxes that go to Medicaid. I think we all should be more thankful & appreciative of what we have and what's available rather than asking for handouts.

MarcoMama86 · June 2015

@starsinnight pregnancy is no longer a pre-existing condition.

wassuphoes · June 2015

starsinnight said:

There are ways to get around not having insurance. I think you guys need to be a bit more sensitive to the op about not meeting Medicaid qualifiers. Yeah it sounds a bit entitled but as someone whose hubby was unemployed for 3 years, I needed food assistance and used it wisely and graciously. Now I'm lucky enough to be in the bracket where I don't qualify for any govt assistance but I also can't afford obamacare. So instead for 4 years, I've been without insurance and been lucky enough to pay out of pocket for all medical and dental procedures at affordable community clinics. Id look into that if you don't qualify for Medicaid. It's not anything fancy but it'll beat paying 50k out of pocket. Google local affordable clinics - they are usually in low-income neighborhoods. I've found 2 in my tiny rural town & they've been amazing!

Honey, I'm practically a socialist. As far as I'm concerned everyone should have healthcare access and it should be as low cost as possible, especially for lower income people.

But I have a BIG problem with someone brazenly committing fraud and thinking that they are "owed" help from social safety nets, which we have to constantly fight to maintain in this country, while snidely commenting that she doesn't qualify because she has a job and a husband.

linz32818 · June 2015

MarcoMama86 said:
Something really doesn't sound right with everything you have shared. I deal fairly extensively with health insurance in general including ACA Marketplace and Medicare/Medicaid. It sounds like either you have filled out something incorrectly or your household simply makes too much money to qualify for a subsidy in the marketplace and same with Medicaid since both of those are income based. I will say I would rather have Medicaid kick in after 3k a month AND get the discounts Medicaid has with hospitals vs. nothing at all. Most of your bills shouldn't reach 3k a month until delivery.

You're so right! I didn't think about that. I can handle the Drs visits, I was just more worried about being denied proper health care during labor because I'm self pay or what not. But if they cover anything over 3k, I shouldn't need to worry. Thank you for clearing this up for me and for being so understanding.

linz32818 · June 2015

starsinnight said:
There are ways to get around not having insurance. I think you guys need to be a bit more sensitive to the op about not meeting Medicaid qualifiers. Yeah it sounds a bit entitled but as someone whose hubby was unemployed for 3 years, I needed food assistance and used it wisely and graciously. Now I'm lucky enough to be in the bracket where I don't qualify for any govt assistance but I also can't afford obamacare. So instead for 4 years, I've been without insurance and been lucky enough to pay out of pocket for all medical and dental procedures at affordable community clinics. Id look into that if you don't qualify for Medicaid. It's not anything fancy but it'll beat paying 50k out of pocket. Google local affordable clinics - they are usually in low-income neighborhoods. I've found 2 in my tiny rural town & they've been amazing!

Thank you for this.

brushesnbrunch · June 2015

My sister in law suggested I call the hospital I will be delivering at and speak with an account representative to try to help with the burden of it (and I have insurance, just not very good). Try to speak with the same person every time. They can help set up payment plans and schedules. Since you won't have insurance, they have options and I believe grants that can help you.

NoelBird · June 2015

linz32818 said:

Obamacare allows you to get subsidized health care but it's based on income and you have to select that you want assistance on the site. I by myself make 54,000 when I was a contractor and got awesome top of the line insurance for $89 a month through Obamacare. $15 co pays too... I work in healthcare now and get free insurance through my work so I don't have to deal with Obamacare but if you fill out the app correctly you can get reasonable insurance.
Wow. That's crazy good. Not sure if it's because we are married with I children or what but My husband and I applied and were quoted $400+ a month and a $10k deductible! I couldn't believe it. So I opted to pass on ins and am kicking myself now obviously.

Umm, $400 a month is not crazy expensive for insurance. I do have insurance through my work and my portion of the premiums for my family is a little over $400 a month. Through my life changes I have slowly added to my insurance (Single ~$150, Married ~$250, Family ~$400) So it never seemed like a huge jump and it comes directly out of my paycheck. Having insurance is a grown up responsibility and you need to figure out a way to work this in your budget.

linz32818 · June 2015

Hence why I said I'm kicking myself now. Sheesh. You guys are all so perfect on here.

linz32818 · June 2015

Bfavors said:
My sister in law suggested I call the hospital I will be delivering at and speak with an account representative to try to help with the burden of it (and I have insurance, just not very good). Try to speak with the same person every time. They can help set up payment plans and schedules. Since you won't have insurance, they have options and I believe grants that can help you.

Thank you very much! I have my first appt next Monday and the nurse said they can work it all out with me. I will def take your advice. Thanks again.

linz32818 · June 2015

Mamabeagle said:
*Lurking from January because my due date is late enough I could go either way*

You don't deserve a hand out. And you shouldn't *want* one either. There are those who truly need it and you don't need to suck up resources from those families.

If you have a cell phone with data plan, cable, home internet, a car, go out to eat, go out for happy hour, or go shopping with any regularity then I'm sure you can cut your budget of these frivolous things and pay for a necessity for your childs health.

Wow. You're right! If I can afford a Starbucks then I shouldn't have any issues with the cost of birthing a child! Thank you!

linz32818 · June 2015

wassuphoes said:

linz32818 said:

wassuphoes said:

linz32818 said:
No, I'm actually married. But my husband is self employed so put that he doesn't work, to hopefully help out our odds. And I was still declined?
That's fraud you know.
Yeah I know. Doesn't really matter anyways, now. It's just a little shitty that I've been paying into Medicaid since I was 16, yet because I'm married and have a job while bringing a child into the world- I'm punished. Such is life I guess.

Or maybe you don't qualify because you don't financially need it. Maybe all you really need is to budget better. Insurance isn't this magical thing you pick up right before you need it, that's not how insurance works.

I'd be inclined to try and help, google fu or asking people who have gone through similar situations, but quite honestly I don't want to help you. You're not the only person whose been working since you were 16, and quite honestly I was so HAPPY when I was finally making enough money that I didn't qualify for any kind of government assistance. Get out of here with that faux martyr complex. "Oh no, life is SO HARD I have job that makes too much to qualify for public assistance even when LYING about my husbands income! Woe is me having TOO MUCH MONEY to use social safety nets for people with less money then me!"

Put on your big girl panties. It's time to grow up.

Yikes. Hope you feel better after letting all of that out on a complete stranger! Have a great night!

wassuphoes · June 2015

linz32818 said:

linz32818 said:

No, I'm actually married. But my husband is self employed so put that he doesn't work, to hopefully help out our odds. And I was still declined?
That's fraud you know.
Yeah I know. Doesn't really matter anyways, now. It's just a little shitty that I've been paying into Medicaid since I was 16, yet because I'm married and have a job while bringing a child into the world- I'm punished. Such is life I guess.

Or maybe you don't qualify because you don't financially need it. Maybe all you really need is to budget better. Insurance isn't this magical thing you pick up right before you need it, that's not how insurance works.

I'd be inclined to try and help, google fu or asking people who have gone through similar situations, but quite honestly I don't want to help you. You're not the only person whose been working since you were 16, and quite honestly I was so HAPPY when I was finally making enough money that I didn't qualify for any kind of government assistance. Get out of here with that faux martyr complex. "Oh no, life is SO HARD I have job that makes too much to qualify for public assistance even when LYING about my husbands income! Woe is me having TOO MUCH MONEY to use social safety nets for people with less money then me!"

Put on your big girl panties. It's time to grow up.
Yikes. Hope you feel better after letting all of that out on a complete stranger! Have a great night!

I hope you don't get arrested for fraud. Lawyers are expensive.

Mamabeagle · June 2015

wassuphoes said:

linz32818 said:

wassuphoes said:

linz32818 said:

wassuphoes said:

linz32818 said:
No, I'm actually married. But my husband is self employed so put that he doesn't work, to hopefully help out our odds. And I was still declined?
That's fraud you know.
Yeah I know. Doesn't really matter anyways, now. It's just a little shitty that I've been paying into Medicaid since I was 16, yet because I'm married and have a job while bringing a child into the world- I'm punished. Such is life I guess.

Or maybe you don't qualify because you don't financially need it. Maybe all you really need is to budget better. Insurance isn't this magical thing you pick up right before you need it, that's not how insurance works.

I'd be inclined to try and help, google fu or asking people who have gone through similar situations, but quite honestly I don't want to help you. You're not the only person whose been working since you were 16, and quite honestly I was so HAPPY when I was finally making enough money that I didn't qualify for any kind of government assistance. Get out of here with that faux martyr complex. "Oh no, life is SO HARD I have job that makes too much to qualify for public assistance even when LYING about my husbands income! Woe is me having TOO MUCH MONEY to use social safety nets for people with less money then me!"

Put on your big girl panties. It's time to grow up.
Yikes. Hope you feel better after letting all of that out on a complete stranger! Have a great night!

I hope you don't get arrested for fraud. Lawyers are expensive.

Actually this may be the best case scenario. If she goes to jail her medical care will be completely free!

BabySeaTurtles · June 2015

linz32818 said:

You're so right! I didn't think about that. I can handle the Drs visits, I was just more worried about being denied proper health care during labor because I'm self pay or what not. But if they cover anything over 3k, I shouldn't need to worry. Thank you for clearing this up for me and for being so understanding.

That would be majorly illegal on the hospital's part. The Emergency Medical and Active Labor Act prohibits lesser/refusing care to patients without insurance. The hospital would have to pay a huge fine and the government may stop reimbursing them for their Medicare/Medicaid patients (that's like a death sentence for hospitals).

linz32818 · June 2015

BabySeaTurtles said:

linz32818 said:

You're so right! I didn't think about that. I can handle the Drs visits, I was just more worried about being denied proper health care during labor because I'm self pay or what not. But if they cover anything over 3k, I shouldn't need to worry. Thank you for clearing this up for me and for being so understanding.
That would be majorly illegal on the hospital's part. The Emergency Medical and Active Labor Act prohibits lesser/refusing care to patients without insurance. The hospital would have to pay a huge fine and the government may stop reimbursing them for their Medicare/Medicaid patients (that's like a death sentence for hospitals).

Perfect. I feel better knowing that. Thanks again.

Bracecurran · June 2015

I work in human resource for a non- profit healthcare org. Try to find and deliver at a non- profit hospital as many have "bill forgiveness" for certain situations. You have to apply after all the bills come in... Or They are also much better at setting up reasonable payment plans. I'm sorry so many women are being petty over this... It's just not needed at all. We all do what we need to and I'm sure all you judgy ladies have don't or said your fair share of questionable things - no ones perfect here. Let's all just be respectful!

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