How do you keep up with Medical Bills and child care costs?

Question

I realize that if I had children or any medical issues, I would not be able to make it financially without resorting to a government handout.

How do you do it?

Answer 1

Not easy.... the best thing, of course is to have a job that covers benefits. They're there, but you have to look around.

If you're self employed, sometimes you can go through the Chamber of Commerce. It's more on the pricey side - but at least you're covered.

In NYS, we have Child Health Plus which isn't really a handout but allows families to buy insurance on a sliding scale. There is criteria you have to meet, ( X amount of children and family income) but it will cover your children. Then there's Family Health Plus which is the same thing - but covers the entire family. Many states have these types of programs. They are for working people (not on assistance) and helps them get affordable health care.

HOWEVER..... it think it's atrocious that in this "great country", that health coverage is very low on the scale compared to other countries. With all of the baby boomers retiring and losing jobs because everything's gone overseas, we are at 'critical mass'..... Something has to be done. I think every citizen should have the right to buy into a national health plan, the same one all the politicians are covered under.... It's horrible......Or...maybe we need to start negotiating with doctors....some $$ is better than no $$.

It's horrible to think that the doctor will bill a person not covered under insurance the 'full price' when they will "settle" if there's an insurance plan involved. This is so unfair to me....

Answer 2

we would never try to keep up with child care costs. child care is very damaging to young children and family bonding and we've never used it.

we have insurance for medical bills. i wish america had universal heatlh care - i do write and call congress for it regularly.

there are many states that offer health care for children and some that offer health care pools for low income folks.

we went into debt for years when our child was first born. we continued to live modestly, not going for the big house and new cars our peers were. eventually, income increased, investments starting paying off, and we're still pretty much paycheck to paycheck - tho we did get a bigger - fixer upper- house.

Answer 3

Its all about prioritizing your life.

I see parents complaining they don't have money and they are broke. But if you take a look at what they are spending money on they would have the money to pay medical bills, etc. But they made the choice to have car payments, full coverage on their car, a big house, Internet service, cable etc.

I'm not saying all parents do this but I have seen several living way beyond their means of living, but then they complain about being broke.

I do not have a car payment, I do not waste my money on name brand clothes or items.
I live within my means but I'm able to afford child care and medical cost.
I support my son and myself just on my income. I do have to work 2 jobs, but you do what you have to do

Answer 4

Thank God I live in Europe free health and no medical bills. I'm so bless here. Don't know how I do it if I lived in the States

Answer 5

Get a job that has benefits
Go to college so you can get that high paying job with benefits before having kids

We are military so we do not have to worry about medical. Childcare is not an issue because I am a stay at home mom

If you are concerned about this then avoid having kids till you are stable in life to have them.

Answer 6

insurance pays for most and some of us plan our children and know when the time is right. NO hand outs here. My hubby makes enough money for me to stay home with 2 kids, and he has great insurance

Answer 7

Medical bill s ? God bless the UK ... Try a health insurance dude or get read of the kids !

Answer 8

LOL, you just do it. When you have children or health issues you pay much more attention to the insurance options available to you through your employer.

Answer 9

yea it is very very hard i am a single mother and i dont receive any assistance from the state but the child care is the real killer and i hope and pray he doesn't gt hurt, one time he bumped his head bad and the school called the ambulance, all i can say is thank god for payment arrangements

Answer 10

do u have kids? im from uk! my boy was a happy accident, but i used to get £650 per month when i was young free and single, and blitzed it within a week! now, i get 400, plus 10o benefitsand manage bills etc! how do we do it, you just do, thing change when kids are involved, they just do!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PS the benefit i get are bare minimum in uk, and i wk part time!!! if me or my partner didnt wk at all we'd get everything! we're mugs!!!!!!!!!!