Health department questions?

Question

My wife and I just found out about a week ago that she is pregnant. It was kind of sudden and we have no insurance (you have to have the maternity rider added on before you get pregnant!) Anyway we cant really afford the doctor bills. A friend told me to go to the Health department. But is that safe? Will she and the baby be taken care of properly? I want the best for her while watching our money. Will she get ultrasounds? Any help would be great. Thank you

Answer 1

I know it's different in other states, but I live in Utah. They give you a card (If you qualify) That gives your wife and the baby medical care for free. It doesn't cover you but you will not have to worry about the cost of the baby. Go to the health department they will give you all the info you need to make a good decision. And just because you go does not mean you have to complete any programs. Good luck!

Answer 2

As far as I know, you've got a couple of options...

1. If you qualify, Medicaid may pick up all or most of the cost of maternity care. Medicaid will provide everything from prenatal to the delivery...ultrasounds, labs,etc. And yes, it is safe. It's a normal OB that sees your wife and delivers the baby at the hospital (I had a friend that had a baby on Medicaid). Qualifying depends on the state, but you should be able to find some information online. I'd check out your state AND county health department website to find out what the income levels are. If you can't find anything online, call your local health department and ask or make an appointment to go talk with them.

2. If not having an OB/GYN deliver your baby and provide your prenatal care doesn't concern you, consider going with a certified nurse-midwife (CNM). These are nurses who are specially trained at the graduate school level in maternity and prenatal care. Nurse-midwives are generally much, much less expensive than paying out-of-pocket for an OB (some OB's won't even see you if you're not insured). Generally, the earlier she starts providing care, the less expensive it is. There are several benefits to using a midwife. For one, the level care is generally much more personal and even better. They typically spend 45 minutes to an hour with you at your appointments compared with the 10 minutes you get with your rushed doctor. You get to actually develop a relationship with your care provider. Also, you can also have more control over the delivery, which you don't always get with OB's. In some states, nurse midwives can deliver babies in the hospital. Some will also deliver in birthing centers or even at your home, if you choose. Midwives also have a consistently lower c-section rate than OB's do. Laws governing what CNM's can and can't do depend on your state. Some states are very liberal, others are not. You can search for a midwife in your area online or use the search function at the American College of Nurse-Midwives: http://www.midwife.org/find.cfm
Keep in mind, though, that CNM's usually will not take on high-risk pregnancy cases. They will generally only deliver low-risk, normal pregnancies, but it never hurts to ask because some midwives make exceptions.

3. Even if you don't have insurance, you can still get some discounts. I checked around. www.maternitysavings.com is a company that can save you up to 60% on your medical bills.

Good luck and congratulations!

Answer 3

Apply for Medicaid in your state. Often times, people make too much for Medicaid, and not enough to afford regular insurance. Why don't you or your wife email me at [e-mail]? I can let you know about a medical savings plan that you could benefit from.

Answer 4

yes the health dep will help yu ! It will pay for all her doctor appionments and yu can get food stamps and wic for her and the baby

Answer 5

You will have to prove your income. If you make anything above poverty level, there will not be much financial help. It will be ok - having a baby is not rocket science.