Pregnancy is an exciting time, but it can also be quite stressful. The extra expenses of prenatal care and preparing for the new baby are overwhelming for many women.
According to the U.S Department of Health and Human Services, your spouse and your baby deserve to be healthy and have consistent care. Financial aid and other programs are available for women in need and their babies. The following organizations can help your partner and your baby get medical care:
- State and local health departments — They can tell you what programs are available in your area. Ask about health insurance, medical care, and how you r family can qualify for this help.
- Local hospital or social service agencies — Ask to speak with a social worker on staff. She will be able to tell you where to go for help.
- Community clinics — Some areas have free clinics or clinics that provide free care to women in need.
- Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program — This government program is available in every state. It provides help with food, nutritional counseling, and access to health services for women, infants and children.
- Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) — This program provides health insurance for children under age 18 in every state.
- Telephone book and Internet — These resources may have information on programs in your area.
Women in every state can get help to pay for medical care during their pregnancies. This prenatal care can help your family have a healthy baby. Every state in the United States has a program to help. Programs give medical care, information, advice and other services important for a healthy pregnancy.
To find out about the program in your state:
- Call 1-800-311-BABY (1-800-311-2229) This toll-free telephone number will connect you to the Health Department in your area code
- For information in Spanish, call 1-800-504-7081
- Call or contact your local Health Department.
These tips are helpful for low income situations, but we do not qualify for any of these programs. We became pregnant during a period of time when she was working part-time, with no benefits, and I was starting a new company and had no benefits. She is now working full time and so the baby will have health insurance when he is born (due in September), but pregnancy is considered a pre-existing condition so we have had no prenatal coverage. Our son is breech at 35 weeks, and there is a possibility we are looking at a c-section and potentially tens of thousands of dollars in hospital expenses. Plus, although her new employer has been very supportive, any time she takes off will be unpaid (1/2 of our income). This has been extremely stressful, especially for my wife. Aren’t there any options or help for people who work hard, are by no means wealthy but have salaries that disqualify them from government assistance, and are struggling to pay medical expenses related to pregnancy? Just a few years ago we could have sold our home and moved into a less expensive place or taken other steps to get cash. But I am worried that with the current economic conditions we may have to declare bankrupcy!