Babble

Has anyone had a baby on medicaid? Has anyone gotten pregnant while uninsured?

 I got pregnant while uninsured.  I applied and qualified for Medicaid, but we've been able to get me on BF insurance, through liberal domestic partner rules (Thank you, thank you, thank you!)

To me, as long as you are using it as a hand up, not a hand out, you are fine.  I am in college, trying to create a better future for myself (not that college is a neccesary, just for what I want to do it is...), and while I first felt shame, I remembered that I have been paying taxes for about ten years and since Social Security will be dried up, why not grab a piece of the pie if you are able.  They cover an enormous amount of doctors and OB/GYN, they cover 100% of the costs, and more importantly, insure your baby for the first year.  At the same time you apply, you can apply for WIC, and a number of other programs.  I didn't apply for anything other than Medicaid, so I don't know anything about those. 

Think about the alternative.  Don't be ashamed.  And most importantly, if you do recieve help, use it as a stepping stone to get a better place for yourself and your baby. 

Good luck! 

My wife and I had to get Medicaid when she was pregnant with our first. We had very little income and no option for insurance. It's a tragic reality of our society that this is our only option sometimes but certainly nothing to be ashamed of or apologetic about. As life has changed we now have insurance from an independent carrier but could not afford maternity and unexpectedly got preggo again! This time however we made too much money to receive Medicaid and opted for a mid-wife. We were very pleased with the whole experience. Though it did cost us out of pocket it was a fraction of an OB/GYN and hospital and having been through both I must say it was a much more fulfilling experience. Please keep in mind this is not a person hired to clean up and be a coach (though they do assist with these things). That is a doula. Also you would want one that has a birth center available. We chose to have a home birth but to have that option available was valuable to us. She had a 100% natural birth using the Bradley Method which we went to class for. My wife would agree this was far more pleasant and we were very much in control of the situation. The important thing is having a healthy baby safely by whatever means necessary. I don't know where you are but if you are interested in this option there are some useful links on the Wikipedia entry for 'midwife'. Hope the best for you.

Thanks so much for the advice. I am in graduate school, and my husband is also a student. we both work part time, but don't have insurance. I'm in Florida, and it seems that there are places where I can go and get a free pregnancy test and then bring those results and an application to DCF to apply for Medicaid. It's just scary b/c you can't apply until you're pregnant, so it's almost too late if you find out that you don't qualify.. We're both really ready for a baby, we've been together for eight years-married for three and dated for five, and by the time the baby would be born I would be done with classes and just writing my thesis and my husband will be graduated and a full time employee by then as well...

 I found out at 20 weeks pregnant that the insurance plan i'd been paying into DIDN'T COVER MATERNITY! Talk about a blow. Applied for Medi-Cal. In CA they pretty much don't want you walking around without insurance if you're pregnant so thank the lord for that! It was really stressful in the beginning, but everything was taken care of. good luck.

I live in Texas, and although my hubby and i both work full time we have no medical coverage. When i got pregnant late 2005 i applied for medicaid and was very pleased with my experience. 100% coverage, and i got to pick my doctor and hospital like anyone else would.  while i was dismissed after my 6 week check up, they covered my son for his first year of life and made sure he got all his shots and check ups. it is a very humbling experience to go apply, but i take it that we work hard and pay taxes all the time, and if all we ever ask for is for them to pay for the birth of our 2 kids, well thats just fine in my book. Accept the help when you need it, and pass it along as soon as you dont!

good luck!

jennak317@aol.com

Thanks for all the advice. We just found out that we are pregnant, I went to a walk in clinic to get the results ($150) and I'll see about applying for medicaid this weekend. Wish me luck!

 Good luck!  I'm a graduate student and pregnant.  I had no choice but Medicaid (I didn't do any of the other programs like WIC though) and my program (in NY state it's called PCAP) is covering a midwife birth at a birth center.

I hate to use a 'hand out' but am grateful to be able to have my baby safely and the way I want to.