Insurance advice? Medicare/medicaid anyone?

Doritoss · January 2016

Hello lovelies! I am looking for some advice on what to do about insurance.

First pregnancy here. I work on-call at a hospital in southern California so I don't get insurance through my work and I get my insurance through my husband. Also, having on-call status at work means that I get more control over my schedule which will really help with this new baby! I over heard one of my co-workers talking about how she went on medicare/medicaid disability for her last pregnancy. I would ask her but I am just not ready to spill the beans just yet!

So, I just wanted to see if anyone else is on the same boat and what are you going to be doing to supplement your income during your leave from work? Does medicare/medicaid help with that?

searchingforameaning · January 2016

When I had my first we had just moved back to the US and did not have a dime and got on medicaid. I think you have to meet the financial income requirements to qualify, but if you do, then it is helpful in that it covers all yours and babies medical expenses. Always worth looking into. Not sure how much things have changed since I was on it 8 years ago.

618mom22boys · January 2016

As PP mentioned you have to meet the income requirement to get Medicaid And the only thing it is is health insurance. You don't get any money to supplement your income via medicaid.

With my 2nd pregnancy I had AFLAC STD and I got 60% of my pay. BUT you have to have that for a year, I think that is it, before you get pregnant.

ETA: Totally didn't even notice I wasn't on my BMB. Goes back to lurking.

lalalorelai · January 2016

Medicaid is a state-run program that provides health insurance for people who make below a certain income (it varies by state). If you're eligible for it, it can certainly help, but it sounds like you have insurance through your husband's job? I don't know the rules about using Medicaid as supplemental insurance, but it's worth looking into. Regardless, your LO may be eligible for health insurance after birth.

Medicare is health insurance for older adults. Unless you're above 65 (I think) it wouldn't apply for you.

Neither Medicaid nor Medicare would actually supplement your income--they're both just health insurance. If your family is below certain income limits, you may be eligible for assistance such as SNAP (food stamps) or WIC (Women, Infants, and Children, special nutrition assistance for pregnant women and young chilren). Your county health department should be able to help you with applying for these if you're interested. Do you have short term disability insurance by any chance? Maternity leave would be covered by this.

MSUgrad12 · January 2016

What PP said, but I'm also pretty sure SNAP and WIC only provide food assistance, as well as formula and diapers.

Edit: if you are in these programs you are also eligible for assistance in paying for day care. You could look at the Emergency Relief Fund for cash assistance, but it's more for if your house was being condemned they would help pay to fix the damages so you could remain in the home.

There is cash assistance through the state, you most often have to have a disability that prevents you from working. Since people get paid through short term disability when on maternity leave, this may be the route for you to take.
https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/0,5885,7-339-71547_5526---,00.html

tmk0325 · January 2016

When I checked into purchasing additional short term disability insurance for this reason I was told from all insurance companies that the only way you can get it is thru your employer. So if you took it out thru your employer before you were pregnant you should be able to use that. Most have a waiting period before you can use it for pregnancy though.

In the state of WI, where I am, we have Badgercare which is the equivalent to medicaid. You can only make $900 or less in a month to qualify for it, however I believe if you are pregnant you can qualify for it regardless. I am recently unemployed and paying for my own insurance, so I have looked into it a lot. What I would recommend is check your own state and the requirements that they have and go from there.

1faceinacrowd · January 2016

I used to be an insurance specialist, so here's the lowdown:
Medicaid - PPs are correct that it's income-based. You CAN have Medicaid as well as primary insurance, but your income has to be pretty low to qualify, and they will consider your combined income with your husband, as well as any assets you have.

Medicare - This is health insurance provided for disabled adults. You do not have to be a certain age, but you do have to be approved for disability benefits through the government, and you do not receive Medicare until you've been disabled for two years. Your colleague probably got Medicare and Medicaid confused (I, for one, didn't know they were two different things until I entered into the healthcare billing/insurance industry).

lalalorelai · January 2016

1faceinacrowd said:

I used to be an insurance specialist, so here's the lowdown:
Medicaid - PPs are correct that it's income-based. You CAN have Medicaid as well as primary insurance, but your income has to be pretty low to qualify, and they will consider your combined income with your husband, as well as any assets you have.

Medicare - This is health insurance provided for disabled adults. You do not have to be a certain age, but you do have to be approved for disability benefits through the government, and you do not receive Medicare until you've been disabled for two years. Your colleague probably got Medicare and Medicaid confused (I, for one, didn't know they were two different things until I entered into the healthcare billing/insurance industry).

Totally off topic, but Medicare is actually for adults age 65 and older. It does cover some younger disabled adults and some adults with end stage renal failure, but the biggest part of the program is for older adults.

Just something we should all be aware of as our parents age!!

1faceinacrowd · January 2016

@lalalorelai That's true, you automatically qualify at the age of 65. I should've mentioned that. But anyone on disability through the government also qualifies, once they've been disabled for two years.
Getting signed up for Medicare is the easy part. If you or your parents suffer an illness or injury that renders them disabled, it's getting disability that can prove to be a challenge.

Doritoss · January 2016

lalalorelai said:

Do you have short term disability insurance by any chance? Maternity leave would be covered by this.

No, I don't think I have short term disability insurance..

Doritoss · January 2016

Thank you everyone for all your help!

Want a personalized experience?

Insurance advice? Medicare/medicaid anyone?

Re: Insurance advice? Medicare/medicaid anyone?

Choose Another Board

Search Boards