Insurance Help

How about having a homebirth with a midwife? The out of pocket expense is much less than a hospital birth.

Have you looked in to homebirth? A lot of women don't realize that it's actually safer (statistically) than hospital birth because of the interventions that doctors use. The cost of a midwife is around $2000 depending on where you are. Please feel free to PM me for more info. I could give you a couple of great books to read if you are afraid that it isn't a safe option. I always thought that doctors and hospitals were the best way to have babies and I have done a lot of research and found that I was quite wrong.

There are also discount programs available, if you don't qualify for Medicaid - AmeriPlan is the best discount program in the country: http://FamilyBenefitsLive.com.

-T.
http://MamaWorksFromHome.NET

It all depends where you live. In Cincinnati there is a clinic run by tri-health (Bethesda North and Good Sam) where you pay a set fee and it includes everything from your prenatal visits, tests, delivery, and nursery/hospital charges. It was (almost 4 years ago) $2200 for a vaginal birth and $2900 for a C-section. I have no idea what the rates are now. I would imagine that most large cities have something along those lines because it is not unusual for those with insurance (self included) not to have maternity coverage. I would ask your OB/GYN. He/she probably knows of such clinics in your area. Good luck.

Isn't this a weird subject? Or is it just me? I thought that as parents, you do your best to be prepared to support a child when it's a planned pregnancy. Even considering that if a job falls through you can just apply for welfare and let the taxpayers pay for your "planned pregnancy" is absurd and irresponsible. If you want a baby, plan now, get a second job, start buying supplies, THEN when you're ready and have money saved up in the bank to cover living expenses for any unexpected job loss, THEN try to get pregnant.

I've seen a couple people say go ahead, you'll get Medicaid. Who do you all think Medicaid is? It's me, your neighbors and anyone who pays income tax! Our nation was built on the principle of taking care of yourself. Set a good example for the baby you have and the baby you will one day have, and wait until you are as certain as you can be that you will be able to support two children on your own.
Don't get me wrong, I know there are times when people need extra help through no fault of their own, and I believe in that help being available from the government. But to take advantage of that when you have the option not to is irresponsible.

I realize that you have already had a ton of responses about this subject...and many told you to go the medicaid route. I have a suggestion thats a little different. You'll have to do a little research yourself, but I do know that one of my dear friends had much success with this. There are several insurance options, organizations, etc that could be beneficial in your position...in the event of a layoff. There are maternity cards, maternity plans that will help you negotiate low costs for health care. Try researching at maternityadvantage.com or maternitycard.com. I'm sure there are others... my friend used the maternityadvantage one when she was in your situation and saved a lot of money.

Call your local department of job and family services and ask to apply for Healthy Start, which is state covered medicaid. It will cover your pregnancy, delivery and your current children and the baby once is it born. Don't listen to any negative talk about welfare or medicaid. I work w/families that have medicaid through the state. Many of them have good jobs that don't offer health insurance so they have to turn to the state for help with covering their children. For a family of 4 you can earn up to 3534 a month to qualify your children for insurance. You will also qualify for WIC while you are pregnant and for formula for the child after birth. The help is out there and is there for you to use. If you have any questions message me.

J.,
I feel for you, but would not consider having baby #2 right now if there is a risk of your husband being laid off. I would just wait another year or two..I'm sure that this will be disappointing to you, but if I were you I would think about doing the fiscally responsible thing. You can't always count on "things just working out" or the kindness of others. Of course you should do whatever you think is best for your family, but I would choose to be responsible and wait until you are financially stable. Best wishes.

Is there any reason you can't wait. Do you really want to bring a child in this world not knowing if you can support it? Someone once told me to expect the unexpected. If you can't save enough to live off of in case of layoff then wait. Save, save, save. Maybe get a part time job. JUst imagine the stress that would effect you and your spouse if something like that would happen and the strain it would put on your marriage. A lot of good marriages have crumbled do to less. THere are always consequences to our decisions. Weigh out the physical, emotional, and mental consequences before making any decisions.

I'm not positive but if your husband gets laid off he should be able to get unemployment bebefits.It isn't nearly as much as you are use to having.However if you get pregnant and things are rough "The Department of Job and Family Services" may be able to help with medical coverage as well as possibly a food stamp card and I would also look into WIC. However if it really looks like he may get laid off maybe you could put off having another child for awhile.
Good Luck.

I saw some responses about home birth. Let me just say I don't want to start a debate about home vs hospital. If you do go with a home birth, make sure you have a certified midwife who works with a physician. I have seen there are midwives wh aren't certified, and while some are good, some are not. I have seen a baby near death brought to the hospital because of GBBS infection that the family didn't test for. Had the family waited much longer, the baby would have died.
Best of luck to you. Sometimes, the fees are less if you pay in advance for your medical care. If your husband does get laid off while you are pregnant, just speak to yur doctor/hospital about the options available to you. Either one of both should be able to help you. I agree, you can't put your life on hold forever waiting for 'what if?'
R.

I was 27 when I had my daughter, we already had 2 boys 7 and 8. Our company at that time had written out pregnancy/maternity from the insurance policy. So, I was kinda almost in the same shoes. We went ahead and had the baby then as the bills came in we negotiated them. It was amazing how much each person settled for. I think the highest settlement was 40%, now if I had had any complications that may have been a lot worse on us. If you would get laid off, I know that hospital has a department that would work with you on that. Good luck and having making baby number 2!!

Hoosier Heathwise!! And it will help cover any expenses made between the time you sign up and when you are accepted. Good Luck and Merry christmas

with a change of income, such as being laid off you should qualify for pregnancy medicaid. This covers everything to do with the pregnancy then the child is automatically on medicaid after they are born. This happened to me and medicaid covered the second half of my pregnancy and for my son to be cercumcised and well-visits after thatm until my husband returned to work. Good luck

CareSource (Medicaid) will cover all the costs for you, your husband and all your children for quite a while if your husband gets laid off...and may even continue to cover your children after he returns to work (depending on his salary). I have had to use this resource in the past and it is BEYOND a God-sent!!

As the others stated, if he were to get laid off you may also qualify for food stamps, and you should certainly qualify for WIC, which you can get for yourself while you are pregnant and/or nursing, and any child under the age of 5 years old.

You might check into hoosier healthwise...

If your husband were to lose his job after you get pregnant, have him get a letter from his employer stating that he is no longer working. Then go to your local Department of Families and Children or whatever it may be called and get an application to fill out for foodstamps, cash assistance (you can only have so much in assets, etc. to qualify for the cash program), and medicaid. If you qualify, you will be covered under medicaid, and they cover everything. This is one option you have.
D.

I am 31 and have been married for 12 yrs. My husband and I have 3 boys ages 11, soon to be 8 (Christmas Day), and 4.

Medicaide Medicaide Medicaide! Same thing happened to us... It saved our bottoms! And it wasn't as tragic as you may think. The people were all very friendly. The process was pretty simple. And, they will back pay (if you qualify). So, that is the very next place I would try. They cover everything for you at 100%. That's all your ob visits, ultrasounds, tests etc... Then the delivery is covered. Your post care for 6 weeks and the baby's visits. Good luck!

If your income is below a certain level you can always apply for Medicaid. That's what it's there for. I didn't have insurance when I had my son and it covered everything.
Good luck!!

There is never a good time to bring a child into this world. BUT people do it all the time. There will always be wars (somewhere) and poor economys nothing is ever promised to us. SO don't listen to people who say now is not a good time.

That said, yes you can get medicaid if your husband is laid off. You will need to get a form signed saying that you don't have that as a source of income anymore. The qualifications for getting on medicaid are much easier for pregnant people. The income required to get on it for pregnancy is higher (in Ohio) than for regular medicaid. The same goes for WIC.

Thanks to our wonderful country and the lack of health care available I had to be on medicaid for the birth of my first. I was in college (married) and got pregnant BEFORE my insurance ran out. I went to get more insurance and they told me even though there was not going to be a lapse in my insurance I couldn't get anymore that would cover the pregnancy because it was a "pre-exsisiting" condition. So I had to quit my new job (which didn't have insurance) and get on medicaid. Sad right? So long story short we were on Medicaid just till my hubby graduated and got a job with insurance. Medicaid still paid even though after he got a job we didn't qualify. It covered up to 3 months postpartum for me and 1 year for my son. Medicaid was the best insurance I have ever had in my life. Right now we have the best insurance that United Health Care offers and it still is not as good as Medicaid. They even BACK PAID 3 months of medical bills for BEFORE I got pregnant. Most wonderful. Now we are doing fine but if it hadn't been for medicaid I would have had over 20,000 dollars in medical debt. AND most doctors offices make you pay up front if you don't have insurance. An epidural will run you $2000. One ultrasound is over 300. A normal vaginal delivery ran us $6000 and we didn't have ANY interventions, epidurals or anything. That's why medicaid rocks! I didn't pay a PENNY out of pocket for my first.

Best of luck to you,
M.

If your husband were to be laid off, I'm sure you would qualify for Medicaid. So, if he gets laid off just apply, and even though it will take a while for the processing, Medicaid covers 3 months retroactive. Or, I'm not sure on their rules when it involves a lay-off, but if they require the past 3 month paychecks, you could wait 3 months to apply because if you are approved for Medicaid, it is active the day you applied, plus the three months retroactive. You may want to contact the medicaid people in your area and ask some questions, just to be sure. :)

Good luck, and I hope that he doesn't get laid off!

After seeing what some other people said, I also wanted to say that if you feel like the time is now to have another baby, go for it. I don't think there is ever an "ideal" time, and you could be waiting a long time if you are waiting for the perfect economics, to have enough money saved up, etc.

If your beloved is laid off and you are pregnant, I would suggest Ohio Medicaid, they might be of some assistance, outside of this, I'm unsure (I'm a nurse, but don't practice, I stay home with my two young children) There might be something new out there.

Contact John Bryan with New Wave insurance. He has very affordable plans for all situations. His phone number is ###-###-####. Tell him L. Palmer recommended that you call. I have known John through my business networking group. He is an honest and sincere gentleman who will steer you in the right direction. Best wishes! L.

Your husband should also be eligible to enroll in COBRA after his employer health insurance runs out. It is a temporary health insurance plan. It does have a term limit, but I'm not sure how long that is.

Do a little reasearch, but I think that as long as you can prove continuous health coverage any new insurance company will cover "pre-existing conditions".

This site may answer some of your questions http://www.medsave.com/health-insurance-articles/Finding-...

If he is laid off, you are still elligible for the exact same insurance coverage under COBRA. However, you will have to assume the whole cost. Another possibility is the Healthy Families/Healthy Start program through Medicaid. I would look into both possibilities in advance so you know what you can do if the lay off occurs. At your age you still have plenty of time to have another child, so maybe waiting till the economy is more stable would be a good idea. Being pregnant and caring for a newborn are stressful enough without worrying about money as well.

I was watching Suzie Orman on Oprah one day and she said that you can work part-time at a place like Starbucks and get full benefits for your whole family. I don't know anymore than that, but that may be a good back-up plan...even Blockbuster offers this. Although Suzie would tell you that you need to save and not have a baby, my thoughts are that at least your husband is making an honest living, and you are asking the "what ifs." There are soo many people in this country that have baby after baby, with many different Daddy's and NEVER plan on getting a job and fully taking care of their children they way they deserve to (ie healthcare). At least you and your husband are prepared currently, and are finding out what would happen IF he were laid off. Shouldn't Medicaid be for people that are unexpectedly put into a tight situation and not the people taking advantage of the healthcare system?

As far as COBRA goes, it is the same exact plan that you are on currently, but his employer is probably paying 80% of the premiums and you would then be responsible for 100%, so 80% more than what you pay now! That would be hard to afford without having a job.

Good luck and God bless!

Yes, if he gets laid off more then likely you would qualify for welfair medical and most likely food stamps to help. It all depends on your income. All you can do is apply and go from there. Good luck to you.

State insurance is based on income and the number of people in the family. Also pregnant women and children are a bit different... incomes can be a bit higher and them still covered. I'm not sure what your income is, but I if he is laid off it will drop about 1/2. When I was laid off I was covered along with my hubby and kids. The only onces that can tell you for sure is the state... and the only true way to get the correct answer is to actually file for it. I was told I wouldn't qualify so I didn't file and found out 6 mo later and lots of bills later that I would have qualified and they only go back 3 months... so I'm still paying a few bills from my 4 year old.

Good luck making your choose!

Let me start by saying good luck with trying for Baby #2! How exciting! And when I was pregnant for my first child we weren't married yet and I had a rather poor paying job and was able to get benefits through Job and Family services. I would talk to your OB about whether he or she accepts Buckeye or Paramount (I think those are the choices you get). Everything was paid for with that pregnancy. With the second one we were married but my hubby doesn't get insurance through work and I wasn't working, yet we make too much to qualify for benefits. And with a c-section that meant baby #2 was going to cost us around $10,000. However we were able to settle the bills with the hospital and only paid a portion of what we owed. While it would be great if everyone could pay their medical bills so that hospitals can pay their doctors, nurses, and other staff, I certainly understand how difficult it is with our health insurance system the way it is. I hope this helps and good luck to you!

Have you ever considered a homebirth? I had three children at home, none of their births cost me over $2000. Compared to a hospital birth which is over $10,000-$15,000 w/o complications. Another option, if your husband were to lose his job, you could apply for state medical assistance, they will cover any uninsured woman for pregnancy, regardless of income, and if you apply, they go back three months from you application date to cover you.
Hope this helps!