Thirty-five percent of low-income women between the ages of 18 and 64 years do not have health insurance coverage, according to The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. If you're a pregnant woman in this category, you are most likely plagued by worries about how you'll pay for your pregnancy and delivery. Health insurance for low-income pregnant women presents special challenges and considerations that you should be aware of as you begin your journey as a pregnant woman.
Significance
Health insurance for low-income pregnant women plays an important role in keeping your medical costs under control during your prenatal care and the delivery of your baby. The American Pregnancy Association estimates the cost of the average delivery of a normal baby to be between $6,000 and $8,000, a financial investment that could be much higher if you experience a high-risk pregnancy or have a complicated delivery. Health insurance during this important time in your life gives you the freedom to enjoy your pregnancy, reducing or eliminating your out-of-pocket costs so you can afford adequate medical care for yourself and your little one.
Problems
Data from the American Pregnancy Association shows that approximately 13 percent of pregnant women did not have health insurance when they got pregnant. These women face a special challenge when trying to find health insurance. Many health insurance programs consider pregnancy to be a pre-existing condition, which means that the insurance company will not cover any costs associated with your pregnancy. If a health insurance option becomes available to you during your pregnancy, verify the company's policy on pregnancy and pre-existing conditions before you sign any papers or write any premium checks.
Types
As a low-income pregnant woman, you typically have two types of health insurance available: private insurance and federally funded insurance. Usually provided as an option with employment, private health insurance often has high premiums and may not even cover the costs of your pregnancy if you didn't have the insurance in place before you got pregnant. Medicaid, a federally funded health insurance option, will cover the costs of your pregnancy, even if you weren't covered by insurance when you got pregnant, as long as you meet certain requirements, including federally mandated income guidelines.
Qualifying for Medicaid
If private health insurance is not an option, you should check with your local Medicaid office to determine the eligibility guidelines in place for low-income pregnant women. Although these requirements may vary from state to state, typically you will need to provide proof of your pregnancy, your U.S. citizenship, your identification and your income. Pregnant women whose income does not exceed 130 percent of the federal poverty level qualify based on income; however, you should still check with your local Medicaid office even if your income exceeds that financial amount because you may qualify based on medical needs.
Considerations
Whether or not you have health insurance as a low-income pregnant woman, you can take certain steps to minimize your out-of-pocket costs for your prenatal care and delivery. If you and your obstetrician or midwife anticipate your labor to be straight-forward and simple, delivery at a birthing center provides a safe, cost-efficient option that could save you thousands of dollars. If you choose to have your baby at a hospital, the American Pregnancy Association suggests that you get in touch with the account manager to set up a payment plan or to see if they provide a sliding scale--a cost structure hat changes based on your income--for payment.
Tags: your pregnancy, health insurance, low-income pregnant, pregnant woman, American Pregnancy, American Pregnancy Association
