No Insurance..

Hi, Is anyone here PG and no insurance.. My husband and I are trying for baby #2 and unfortunetly no insurance as Im not working any longer.. Im scared and don't no what to do. I heard that medicaid will pick up pregnant women, but not sure of a good medicaid ob/gyn. Thanks..

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Ok. I am really sorry to say this but I would never get pregnant with no insurance. I am pretty sure you can go on Medicaid but why would you want to?

Can you and your husband look into insurance plans where you pay out of pocket? You said this is number #2, so your whole family is without insurance? That is SO not a good idea!

I am sorry, I am not flaming you, but sometimes sh!t happens and people end up without insurance, but I wouldn't plan to get pregnant not having insurance.

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Are you eligible for Healthy NY?

Heathy NY

Personally I wouldn't want to start a pregnancy without insurance. So many unexpected things can come up.

I've had a fairly ordinary pregnancy so far and have seen my insurance pay over $6000 in tests and about $2500 for an impromptu visit to L&D for monitoring when I was having cramping. My insurance also pays for my prenatal vitamins.

At the very least find out FOR SURE what Medicaid will cover, given any scenario. Your testing? Prenatal vitamins? Hospitalization for labor or prior to labor if necessary? Anesthesiologist? Baby in the hospital after delivery? NICU if necessary? Ongoing Pediatrician afterwards?

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I have to agree with the previous posters - purposefully trying to have Baby #2 while you don't have insurance is a very risky idea. What if your pregnancy requires hospitalization? Those bills can add up into thousands of dollars in a day or two.

Is hubby working - can you go on his insurance?

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And the problem with Medicaid...YOU HAVE TO QUALIFY FINANCIALLY! Sadly, if you qualify chances are good you shouldn't be having a baby right now...I only say that because you have to have a low income to get Medicaid. I had my first on Medicaid because my job didn't provide insurance (and I was single), but to stay qualified, my boss could not give me a raise during my entire pregnancy or I would get bumped off!

Insurance is this necessary evil...it's why I "have" to go back to work...my insurance is free, for our whole family where DH's work requires us to pay into it.

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If you cant afford to get your own health insurance...you can get private insurance, I dont mean to judge, but I dont think you should actively look to get PG. A baby is not cheap.

I would think to find a job that offers insurance first.....They arent hard to find.....then look into having another....

Even with insurance, my pregnancy cost us a few thousand in copays, med's , hospital copays/deductibles etc.....

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Wait? Are you pregnant or not? your other post on FHF's says your pregnant, this one says your trying to get pregnant??

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Welp, let me start off by saying.. Thanks for the support.. I really didn't think I would be so critisized.. Thank god you people do have insurance.. God only knows what is gonna happen in the future for you guys.. and I hope it has nothing to do with your insurance or your children's insurance.. I was only on here for some advice as to PCAP and or medicaid.. instead.. I was put down and critisized by you people..Thanks for being so supportive..

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PS.. One of the logo's for website is LI families helping LI families.. Ya right.. I feel like Im back in high school.. Thanks again.. HAPPILY PREGNANT...

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Will ck out healthy ny.. Thanks..

Message edited 6/24/2007 2:10:37 PM.

Re: No Insurance..

I think the response you got was based on how the question was asked. It was stated as if you were not pregnant and looking for honest opinions. Now knowing that you are pregnant I think its a different scenario so you'd get more of the support you need since there is not much you can do to change your situation. The two posts were confusing though...
However I think Medicaid is common. I know people who have had it or family health plus I think its called-(I know there is child health plus ). Good luck to you.

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There are financial requirements for Healthy NY. I'm not sure how it works if you are a family, but it's good to check it out. I was on it when I first moved to Long Island and it was a life saver. They even added on prescriptions for not much more money per month. I wish you the best of luck with a healthy pregnancy!!!!

Re: No Insurance..

If Medicaid doesn't work I guess contact your Local Department of Health. Many local health departments have low cost pre-natal programs and will offer complete maternity services at a reduced fee. Also, You can also seek the help of Catholic Charities or Lutheran Social Services. They offer support for pregnant women, including prenatal services at reduced cost.

Good luck to you.

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Thanks to the women who posted sweet replies.. As for planning this one.. Well, I figured I'd be back at work with health ins once again.. but it didn't happen that way.. I ve checked with several ins comp.. who are not willing to cover me because they state it's a preexisting condition.. As for healthy ny.. I do not apply.. yet, paying for my own ins is crazy.. they want 1500..and up just for me.. a month.. I can't afford that.. Im still searching.. someone out there has been in my shoes..Thanks again for the good advice

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You said you were pregnant on one post, on this one you stated you were TRYING to have a baby....Not sure which story is true, which is why I asked.

The critizing is because if you do not have a job or health insurance why would you want to TRY to have a child , obviously that is not WISE and if you think it is, you are mistaken.

If you are indeed pregnant, which I cannot figure out from the two different posts....then there is help out there for you and all of us would be happy to help you find it and offer suggestions....

Sorry if it came across as rude, but Im basing this soley on your post that you would try to have a baby but not be able to provide it or yourself with health care and would go on public assistance, which in my mind if for people who cannot control their situations. Trying to get pregnant means you are in control of your life and finances, and I would suggest a job before relying on medicaid to help.

I was very sick this pregnancy. I needed medication that cost over $400 a DAY for almost 4 months and had 4 hospitilizations....so It hit home I guess?

Good luck to you.

ETA- I work for Empire BCBS , pregnancy is NOT a pre exisiting condition. It cannot ever be considered that in NY state , so I dont know who told you that, but you should speak to their manager, as they are mistaken.

Also Healthy NY is NOT $1500 and up a month, It is NO where near that A regular pre paid expensive PPO policy is not even that much for one person.

Message edited 6/24/2007 5:14:04 PM.

Re: No Insurance..

I didn't even see your other post - so my response was based solely on this post - that you were trying to get pregnant, while not having insurance.

Obviously, if you are already pregnant (VERY different from this post, why would you say "trying"??) then we are here to help you in anyway we can.

I asked earlier - but can you go on your hubby's insurance?

Message edited 6/24/2007 5:49:11 PM.

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I'm confused - are you pregnant now or are you trying to get pregnant?

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Please don't take this the wrong way either, but if you work 20 hours a week at Starbucks they offer health insurance, maybe something like that?

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sorry but no job+no insurance+no way to pay for private insurance=just not a good idea if you are trying to have a baby

Now if you ARE pregnant, maybe you can get Cobra from your previous job?
Also, there are many insurance plans out there that are not $1500, not even close.
Do some research online

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Re: No Insurance..

IF you are already pregnant call your local planned parenthood. They are a great resource to help you figure this all out. They know the laws and requirements for the state of NY PLUS they can help get your quality pre-natal care now. You or your husband may want to look into jobs that offer health insurance to employees. I think even super markets offer it to their P/T employees. I know banks do so that may be a great place to look for a job. There are MANY women/men who work for basically insurance because it is so hard to qualify for Healthy NY. But pregnant women are usually not left out of pre-natal care so you might just have to really do some research.

Here is some info I found:

What health insurance coverage can I get if I’m pregnant?

A pregnant woman applying for health insurance is not eligible for Family Health Plus but may receive full coverage under Medicaid and/or New York's Prenatal Care Assistance Program (PCAP). Pregnant women should call the Healthy Baby Hotline at 1-800-522-5006 to get answers to their questions regarding income eligibility and to find a PCAP provider near their home or work.

If a woman becomes pregnant after enrolling in Family Health Plus, she will be given the option of continuing her enrollment with Family Health Plus or changing to Medicaid. She should contact her plan and her local social services office to discuss her options and to be sure that her baby will get health care coverage.



I am not sure how long you have been out of work, but you may qualify for COBRA from your old employeer.

I agree that if you are TTC, NOT pregnant, yet then I would put off those plans until you figure this all out so at least you know what the deal is and you can go in with your eyes wide open and make good, educated decisions about it.