| I guess you already know that it is a lot easier to | | | | consider applying for Medicaid or CHIPS. Medicare |
| find health insurance well before you get pregnant. | | | | is the federal health insurance program for very |
| A typical job related group policy should cover | | | | poor people with few assets. CHIPS is the federal |
| maternity very well. If you can obtain group | | | | and state children's health insurance program for |
| medical coverage from an employer, HIPAA laws | | | | low to moderate income families. This children's |
| may protect your access to the plan even if you | | | | insurance program has been extended to also |
| are pregnant. If you already have a job, and did | | | | include pregnant women. You can search the |
| not take the insurance, call your HR department | | | | internet for local contact information. |
| to find out what your options are. If you need to | | | | Your county hospital system may also provide |
| find a new job with group benefits, this situation | | | | low cost clinics and deliveries on a sliding scale |
| will get a lot more sticky. While employers should | | | | based upon income. There are also private |
| not discriminate, trying to get hired while pregnant | | | | foundations and charities that provide financial aid. |
| is not an ideal situation. Of course, a spouse with | | | | The PPARX.org website is a good resource to |
| an employer based group medical plan that | | | | find local financial aid and resources. |
| covers maternity would work too. | | | | What If Your Income is Too High For Public |
| Keep in mind that not everybody qualifies for this | | | | Insurance? |
| HIPAA protection. For one thing, you usually have | | | | Your family could make too much money to |
| to be able to prove you had prior coverage within | | | | qualify for any public programs, but you could still |
| a certain time limit. The laws were intended to | | | | have trouble paying for everything out of your |
| protect people, but not to allow people to just run | | | | pocket. A normal maternity could cost a few |
| out and get insurance when they needed it. This is | | | | thousand dollars. Any complications, like a C |
| not how insurance works. You do not buy car | | | | section, could run up much higher bills. |
| insurance after you have an accident. | | | | In this case, you can search for payment |
| If a group policy is out of the question, individual | | | | programs. I have seen hospital and doctor's |
| insurers will not be likely to insure pregnant | | | | programs which allow you to make payments for |
| women. In fact, in many cases, they will not even | | | | routine care and deliveries. You would simply pay |
| insure anybody in the household where a woman | | | | out the cost of office visits, tests, and your |
| is pregnant. | | | | delivery in the same way you make car |
| If you have bee recently terminated, pregnancy is | | | | payments. |
| one good reason to keep your COBRA benefits | | | | Maternity Health Care Is Important |
| as long as you can. If your old employer had | | | | The important thing now is to focus on the health |
| maternity coverage in their group plan, and you | | | | of the mother and child. Some people may feel to |
| can extend those benefits for several months, | | | | proud to apply for public health programs, but I |
| this may be your best option. COBRA benefits | | | | think these feelings should be put aside for now. |
| are not cheap though, so this is not always | | | | In the long run, if you get proper care so you can |
| affordable for every unemployed person. | | | | have a good chance to have a healthy mother |
| Public Health Insurance Options | | | | deliver a healthy child, you will be doing the most |
| If your family meets the income guidelines, | | | | good for society. |