C asked:
Hi! I am 19 weeks pregnant. I do not work because I already have a son and daycare costs are higher than I used to earn as a full-time licensed social worker. My husband is self-employed and we do alright, but we are not wealthy. We do not have insurance because it is very expensive for those who are self-employed. Besides, if we got insurance now, no company that we’ve called will cover pregnancy. I did not know I was pregnant until I was 14 weeks along. I called all the doctors in my area and chose the 2nd cheapest. (The cheapest is located in a questionable area.) Since the doctor takes the global fee and divides it by the number of months you have left before delivery, I am paying $675 per visit. This week I have to pay for a $675 check up, a $275 ultrasound, and $420 for blood tests. We have begun the process to apply for Medicaid but the worker told me it does not look good…they consider gross income and not net for people who are self-employed. (I live in Greene County, Ohio.) I have contacted the Health Department but they will only save me about $1200 total and I would have to deliver at a hospital that I do not prefer. We can continue to make the $675 payments each visit, but we are just trying to find a cheaper alternative. I have thought of just using a midwife and no doctor, but there is no option of an epidural this way. (I don’t think I want an epidural, but I want the option.) I also want to state that when I was pregnant with my son, we were in almost the same boat…I was employed, and had insurance through my employer until I quit my job in my 9th month. Of course, when I quit my job, I lost my insurance. I worked for a small private homeless shelter, so they were not required to offer COBRA. At that time, I acquired insurance through Cinergy. I paid them over $800 and I got scammed big time. They did not cover one penny of my doctor fees or hospital fees for myself or my son. I just want to make this known in case anyone out there is considering Cinergy. Thank you for reading my enormous story…I appreciate any advice you have to offer! (And just to nip some pessimists in the bud, I was on birth control…so please don’t bad-mouth us for getting pregnant without a plan in place. Although this baby is a surprise, we still consider this to be a blessing!!)
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Hi! I am 19 weeks pregnant. I do not work because I already have a son and daycare costs are higher than I used to earn as a full-time licensed social worker. My husband is self-employed and we do alright, but we are not wealthy. We do not have insurance because it is very expensive for those who are self-employed. Besides, if we got insurance now, no company that we’ve called will cover pregnancy. I did not know I was pregnant until I was 14 weeks along. I called all the doctors in my area and chose the 2nd cheapest. (The cheapest is located in a questionable area.) Since the doctor takes the global fee and divides it by the number of months you have left before delivery, I am paying $675 per visit. This week I have to pay for a $675 check up, a $275 ultrasound, and $420 for blood tests. We have begun the process to apply for Medicaid but the worker told me it does not look good…they consider gross income and not net for people who are self-employed. (I live in Greene County, Ohio.) I have contacted the Health Department but they will only save me about $1200 total and I would have to deliver at a hospital that I do not prefer. We can continue to make the $675 payments each visit, but we are just trying to find a cheaper alternative. I have thought of just using a midwife and no doctor, but there is no option of an epidural this way. (I don’t think I want an epidural, but I want the option.) I also want to state that when I was pregnant with my son, we were in almost the same boat…I was employed, and had insurance through my employer until I quit my job in my 9th month. Of course, when I quit my job, I lost my insurance. I worked for a small private homeless shelter, so they were not required to offer COBRA. At that time, I acquired insurance through Cinergy. I paid them over $800 and I got scammed big time. They did not cover one penny of my doctor fees or hospital fees for myself or my son. I just want to make this known in case anyone out there is considering Cinergy. Thank you for reading my enormous story…I appreciate any advice you have to offer! (And just to nip some pessimists in the bud, I was on birth control…so please don’t bad-mouth us for getting pregnant without a plan in place. Although this baby is a surprise, we still consider this to be a blessing!!)
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13 Responses to 'Pregnant, no insurance, no Medicaid, OBGYN fees are too high! Any advice?'
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Try a nurse midwife. They are as well trained as Doctors in normal pregnancy and cost a fraction of the price. I love mine
PS- After 17 hours of awful labor I got an epidural (Delivered at 22 hours), so yes they can get you one if you need one
I Am hoping to go natural this time
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I’m confused. You say you can’t get medicaid because they consider gross not net but why does that matter? You say you aren’t wealthy. And you are unemployed. In the state I live in you would automatically get basic insurance because you are pregnant and unemployed.
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wow that sucks, there has to be something out there. Doesnt it **** that the people that are actually trying to make something of themselves cant get help? but the people that just pop out kids to get on/stay on the system get all kinds of help?
I know jobs are kinda tough right now, is there a friend or family member that can watch your son, while you go back to work? Just for some extra income? I wish i had more answers for you, but i dont. I would just try everything i can, and if medicaid turns you down, ask for more options. Call your local job and family and ask for something. Its tough girl hang in there, congrats, and the best of luck to your family
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damn hun, first off wat state n county u live in??? go to ur nearest hospital n go to the front desk n ask about charity care. they will cover u depending on ur fiancing n crap.
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Medicaid cannot turn ANY pregnant woman down, if they are seeking help. Your worker is full of s***!
My advice is that you change workers and start over.
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My opinion is you should go see a certified nurse-midwife. The enviorment is so much different than in a hospital. You should check that out and then I think you should be able to make a choice. BEST WISHES!!!!!!!!!
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In Oregon we have the Oregon health plan. I don’t believe they can turn any Mothers or children aside. It is based on income and they pay 100% of costs. I don’t know if you have something like that or if you would qualify. Also, I would recommend a midwife. I would have used one but we didn’t have any in our area that weren’t crazy! I have to say, the whole point of a midwife and home birth is to do it all natural. With the support you receive from them you have the strength to get through it. I wished that I didn’t even have the choice of having an epidural because it would have made it a lot easier not to consider or want one. I Powered through and gave birth without one and I’m so proud of myself for doing it. You don’t need an epidural, it is just a crutch to lean on. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever been through but I did it and so can you. Just give yourself a chance to experience birth the way it was meant to happen and without drugging yourself and the baby. It is so worth the pain!
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try looking up things like pregnant mother without insurance and some results may come back, and just look through them also does OHIO have a WIC CLINIC? THEY WILL TRY TO HELP YOU.
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Have you called around different doctors and told them your situation? Sometimes doctor will give you a lower rate since you don’t have insurance. And you should never pay more than 10 or 15 percent what they charge the insurance companies. So you might want to do some investigation and find out what they get from those insured (ask some friends if necessary)
My sister didn’t have insurance with at least a couple of her four children. And she was able to negotiate a lower price that fit her small budget. Now that meant that she could not afford an epidural with any of the babies, but you might be able to negotiate it.
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I did billing for a Dr for 6 years. All total..prenatal vists, paps, labs, ultrasounds, Dr’s delivery fees, hospital stay for both you and baby (that will be your big one) and your post partum check. Will cost you anywhere from 10,000 to 20,000 dollars without insurance. You can eliminate some of that by not having anything extra done that isn’t necessary. Like the epidural. It is gong to cost you more if you have that done. I have given birth 4 times without it, it isn’t as bad as it seems. But I saw a midwife my last 3 pregnancies and she delivered at the hospital where an epidural was an option. She was no cheaper than a Dr. But you could shop around. There might be one in your area that is. I am surprised you are having trouble getting Medicaid. With no other insurance and only one of you working. Keep trying!! Good Luck!!!
Amber is wrong..
Medicaid can turn you down if you do not meet the income elgibility guidelines. They are not required to cover you because you are pregnant.
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check out this website to see if they would be able to help you. If you don’t want to have you baby at the hospital then you need to find a midwife. If everything was fine on the ultrasound then you should not need to pay for another one. Yes baby do surprise us when we least expect them at time. Don’t give up on medicaid but since Obama had cut some programs it might take you longer to get it. Keep your head up.
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try a plan parenthood in tour area or call this # 800-910-0191 or try your local wic office they have several numbers for health care. Good luck!
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1. Meijers is in Fairborn/Beavercreek, near WSU, Kettering and Springfield Ohio will give you FREE prenatal vitamins. Go to the pharmacy and ask about them.
I do not have “an answer” but you can contact me on web site and I may be able to help you. My phone number is on that site also. I also live in Greene County, Ohio (Xenia)
Every situation is different.
2. About the gross income comment from Greene County Jobs and Family Services that does not sound right. In any business you have income, gross sales, minus expenses, then that is your income.
The number that counts should be what you declare for income. It is the number used to pay taxes on etc….
You might want to double check and confirm the social workers opinion.
3. Call the OHIO Medicaid hot line at 1-800-324-8680 and go over your situation. Tell them the gross, the expenses and what you and your husband claim on your taxes for income.
4. Do you qualify for spend down? If you do – take it.
Spend down is Medicaid but it will have a deducible, and if you get Medicaid they can look back at some prior medical bills and pay those too.
5. Have you talked to the hospitals to see if you qualify for a program call HCAP, which is designed to help Ohioans who do not qualify for Medicaid but do not have health insurance cover some of the bill (in many cases a lot of the bill). You should call the hospital and talking to the billing department and ask about HCAP income guidelines and find out what is and is not covered.
6. How long ago did you quit your job?
Ohio just changed health insurance laws requiring small employers, not under the Federal COBRA, to offer what they call a mini cobra, while I don’t know if that applies in your situation, it would be worth checking into to see if you qualify for that. Don’t assume either way, just check.
I do not know of any individual health plan that would insure you while pregnant.
7 My number is on the web site. I live in Xenia and if I you feel I can be of assistance feel free to call me
.
8. I heard that Compunet Labs was offering lab discounts to people without insurance. You might want to call and ask them if that is true and if it would be of help to you.
Phone number is 937-297-8253