I am very worried and scared. I cannot get in to see a OB-GYN doctor till the end of February, since that is when we are going to have some money to buy insurance. Is this an ok thing to do? I have no other option at this point. I am not going on some welfare program.
2007-01-08 08:01:53 · 22 answers · asked by Foxtrot 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Pregnancy
Medicaid is your best bet. The government offers programs to help you while you are pregnant, why not take advantage of them? It doesn't mean that you are a freeloader. Several insurance companies won't accept you while you are pregnant.
However, if you're not prepared to swallow your pride and take a good opportunity that is available to you, go to your local health department and get checked out for now. If you have an appointment this month, you probably would not have another one until February anyway. That way you can see the doctor but not feel like you are dependent on government assistance for the entirety of your pregnancy. Then, when you get insurance, you can go to the OB of your choice. They'll have you to sign a release form giving them permission to get your records from the health department, and then you can continue getting your prenatal care there.
2007-01-08 08:13:47 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I just went through a pregnancy with NO insurance. At this point if you are pregnant you cannot get insured for the pregnancy - sorry to break your heart. If you can get a medical card, don't be too proud to do so - PLEASE.
I made too much money and was unable to get one. I had to pay the doctor every month (around $2,900 in the end) just for prenatal care and delivery. That does NOT include all the blood tests (around $700 total), ultrasound (around $800), and I did NOT get the downs syndrome test done (which I was told was around $600). I just got the bill for the delivery, which I had no problems and was in the hospital for one day and the bill for me and the baby was $3,600 (which I have to make arrangements to pay). Plus none of that includes all the baby items I bought before he got here - crib, car seat, swing, clothes, diapers, formula, changing table, etc.
Ask yourself if you have that kind of money to spend??? A medical card might not look so bad right now - trust me.
Don't let your pride get in the way here. Having a baby is a LOT of money. Plus after you have the baby the child will need insurance (which I am paying $100 a month for), doctor visits, shots, and other stuff. If I could have gotten help, trust me I would have. I was even told to quit my job and I would have got almost a free ride. However with a house payment and another child to take care of that was not an option for me.
If you need to talk to someone who knows about this type of situation, just email me at mlu4120@yahoo.com.
2007-01-08 08:20:20 · answer #2 · answered by Michaela 4120 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Usually you have to have insurance for at least a year with the company before they will cover a pregnancy. Call around to different insurance companies for details.
The pricing for private pay (no insurance) where I live is:
$1500 for the doctor (this includes all office visits)
$275 for lab fees
$100 for sonogram (optional)
$265 for epidural
$1500 for hospital for regular delivery and a room for 24 hours
$850 for the nursery for 24 hours (or the baby can stay in your room free)
C-section is $3500 and includes 48 hours in a recovery room
plus, $365 for anesthia for the c-section
Plus, the hospital will let you set up a payment plan and you can pay towards it the entire pregnancy and after the pregnancy. So don't stress out!
A lot of ppl answering this are wrong...Just because you are pregnant does not mean you can get on medicaid. It is based on income. I tried to get on Medicaid and WIC and I was turned down because my husband makes just over the limit of too much.
Good Luck!
2007-01-08 08:04:01 · answer #3 · answered by steffers4979 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
in california there is no cost medi-cal for pregnancies and a mid-income program where you have to pay a percentage of your annual household income. other states may have similar programs. it doesn't hurt to try. alot of times you can find a great provider in the programs. its better than paying $1000+. i have private insurance but i plan on going for the mid-income program since i would only have to pay around $500 for the doctor visits, labor and delivery.
i'm 18 weeks now and saw a doctor 2 times. when i was 5 weeks and then 9 weeks. people tell you that you should go right away but unless you sense nothing wrong its really just too early and alot of money you may not have to spend. now alot will see you the earliest as 12 weeks which is generally a good time in my opinion. enought time to do blood tests and all that good stuff.
2007-01-08 08:17:03 · answer #4 · answered by LaRae L 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sacrificing proper prenatal care is never a good idea (though you probably would be fine if you waited until late February for your first exam). You need to look into Medicare or something, so you don't keep running into this problem throughout your pregnancy. I think it's great that you want to do this on your own without the help of the state, but sometimes you need to weigh priorities. You health and your unborn baby's health is more important right now. You don't have to have subsidized healthcare forever - just right now while you need it.
Good luck.
2007-01-08 08:06:33 · answer #5 · answered by annieohbee 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What if you were to go on the welfare for just until you get insurance. That way you will take care of the baby until you get insurance. Obviously, they will have no problem if you don't want benefits anymore....
I understand though about you not wanting to go to Medicare, but it is really important for you and the baby to get at least 2 visits in before now and the end of February......
Just an idea....
2007-01-08 08:05:12 · answer #6 · answered by Tiff 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
They have pregnancy medicaid and they will pay for your doctor visits and meds and your labor and delivery. Then after words, they pay for all your baby's doctor visits for at least a year. I don't think its welfare, but I know that if it wasn't for medicaid, I would be in debt bad because they are very expensive. Hope I helped and I wish you the very best. Congrats. Oh and most doctors wont see you untill between 8-12 weeks anyways. Hope everything works out for you and again, Congrats!
2007-01-08 08:11:45 · answer #7 · answered by kristin h 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Make sure you disclose to the insurer that you are pregnant before you buy the policy. That may make you ineligible for coverage, but that is better than buying a policy, thinking you have coverage, going to the doctor, then having your claim DENIED. Be honest upfront and get a policy that you know for sure will cover your pregnancy. Some policies have a maternity waiting period or exclude pregnancies that began prior to the inception of the policy.
2007-01-08 08:06:13 · answer #8 · answered by Emily B 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most doctors won't even see pregnant women til they are around eleven weeks pregnant unless they are considered to be at high risk. Besides even if you wanted to do medicaid you would be looking at two weeks til an appointment to qualify and then about a month to turn in paperwork, get approval and set up a doc appointment. You will be fine. Worrying comes with pregnancy.
2007-01-08 08:15:35 · answer #9 · answered by Erin B 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Go to your local health dept and ask if they have any programs you might be able to get into. Im afraid insurance usually requires you to be on the insurance for a certain amount of time before getting pregnant. You should qualify for WIC and maybe children first.
2007-01-08 08:25:40 · answer #10 · answered by elaeblue 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋