Immigrant wife pregnant and without health insurance

[busterbrown 0]

My wife came over to the US last year on a K1 visa and we married soon after. She received her permanent resident card last summer and travels with me on contract assignments for work. Last week, we unexpectedly found out that she is pregnant. Because my work is contract and temporary, I have recently dropped my own health insurance. She is currently without any insurance and we're somewhat lost on how to get some affordable medical/prenatal coverage with her "pre-existing" condition. Out of pocket insurance premiums are just way to expensive at this time for us. Are there any government resources available to her as an unisured pregnant immigrant. Are there any options for those without medical insurance who are now married to a US citizen living in the states? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

[kaus&Sanu 0]

My wife came over to the US last year on a K1 visa and we married soon after. She received her permanent resident card last summer and travels with me on contract assignments for work. Last week, we unexpectedly found out that she is pregnant. Because my work is contract and temporary, I have recently dropped my own health insurance. She is currently without any insurance and we're somewhat lost on how to get some affordable medical/prenatal coverage with her "pre-existing" condition. Out of pocket insurance premiums are just way to expensive at this time for us. Are there any government resources available to her as an unisured pregnant immigrant. Are there any options for those without medical insurance who are now married to a US citizen living in the states? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

Some insurance companies dont consider pregnancy as a "pre-existing condition".... I know this for a fact... just look around you'll find some... Most of the government assistance is for usc's not non-usc's.

Good Luck & Congrats on the pregnancy!.

Edited January 20, 2010 by kaus&Sanu

[Penguin_ie 5,995]

I am in a similar situation- we had health insurance but due to previous infertility, I was dropped from the insurance as soon as I got pregnant. Talk to your doctor and hospital, there are discounts and payment plans available for those without insurance; this would enable your wife to still see her own doctor and choose her own hospital. If you have savings right now, ask about pre-pay options: we got a 30% discount on the already discounted self-paying rate by paying everything at once at the first appointment.

If there are no complications, a birthing center with midwives is a cheaper option than hospital birth.

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

No need to pay $10K to a hospital when you can get a midwife for about $350 and give birth at home. Hundreds of generations have done that, for thousands of years, literally, and my brother and I've been born exactly the same way. In my opinion, the only reasons to go to a hospital for child birth without health insurance:

1) Money really doesn't matter

2) Anticipated complication at birth

3) Excited about a Caesarian and fan of scars

An experienced midwife does exactly what an obstetritian does, minus the cutting.

[Darnell 8,478]

texas has some state medical insurance, perhaps the state you work in, does as well?

ya purchase it, is not any form of medicaid.

[Atencio 43]

Check with Medicaid in your state.

I work at a county hospital. Before Medicaid started paying so well for deliveries our hospital used to deliver a 100 babies a day.

Now since Medicaid reimbursement got so much better we hardly deliver any.

[trillium13 84]

Isn't Medicaid considered a "means tested benefit"?

[busterbrown 0]

I don't think my wife will qualify for medicaid because of her permanent resident card status. Citizenship is required, i'm almost positive.

Check with Medicaid in your state.

I work at a county hospital. Before Medicaid started paying so well for deliveries our hospital used to deliver a 100 babies a day.

Now since Medicaid reimbursement got so much better we hardly deliver any.

[jundp 191]

An experienced midwife does exactly what an obstetritian does, minus the cutting.

Unfortunately the requirements for being a midwife in the USA aren't nearly as stringent as in Germany. I've known people with wonderful experiences here, but I've known more people with terrible ones too.

First of all, OP, congratulations! But do check with your wife's doctor and see what they can work out. Also, you might want to check companies like Blue Cross and Aetna. Sometimes they offer lower-cost insurance for individuals. Good luck!

[busterbrown 0]

We had thought about flying back to thailand for her birth but I'm not sure of how late into her pregnancy she can fly internationally (even with a doctors approval). I've been reading that 32-36 weeks is the lastest that airlines will allow her to fly...and that's even with a doctors approval. Anyone know for sure?

[payxibka 10,045]

My wife came over to the US last year on a K1 visa and we married soon after. She received her permanent resident card last summer and travels with me on contract assignments for work. Last week, we unexpectedly found out that she is pregnant. Because my work is contract and temporary, I have recently dropped my own health insurance. She is currently without any insurance and we're somewhat lost on how to get some affordable medical/prenatal coverage with her "pre-existing" condition. Out of pocket insurance premiums are just way to expensive at this time for us. Are there any government resources available to her as an unisured pregnant immigrant. Are there any options for those without medical insurance who are now married to a US citizen living in the states? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

since the enactment of HIPPA, pregnancy can no longer be considered a pre-existing condition

[JD63 4]

Yeah, pregnancy cannot be considered a pre-exsisting condition. I have a really cheap plan (about 1000/year) that covers pregnancy and a day in the hospital. I would suggest getting one of these basic plans now or going to Thailand.

If there's anything remotely wrong you might need insurance. This is especially the case with half farang babies because they tend to have higher birthweights and higher risks of certain adverse outcomes. I know in Thailand they usually deliver these through c-section, but they also like to do a lot of c-sections in general.

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE4907JP20081001

[chinese_mutt 11]

Try Emergency Medicaid for Labor and Delivery (including c/s). I'm looking into it now too. I can't give you any further details except that a member here who is also a PR got approved. She talked to the Medicaid worker in the hospital and she showed her PR card only. Try to contact the Medicaid worker in the hospital where you will be delivering. Emergency Medicaid is not a means tested benefit and will not go against her PR status.

I have the same status as your wife, PR and no insurance.

Doctor's fee and lab tests you need to pay those though, I'm looking at hospital financial assistance since I'm going in a Catholic owned hospital.

Check and see if you can go to a Catholic or non-profit hospital that gives financial aid.

Congratulations!

[Joan >3 Bob 20]

You are both adults and knew the possibility of her becoming pregnant and should have thought this over prior to canceling health insurance. Now you want all of us tax payers to provide you with free medical coverage. You never considered birth control??

It is like this "If you want to play....You have to pay"!

[DeniseBill 4]

I'm pretty sure he is paying his taxes also iloveyousomuch ... same as my fiance. So pretty much using our own taxes.....

Same situation here, but we're thinking of a birthcenter with a good payment plan. But any other suggestions are welcome....

For your information, I did take my birthcontrol, every day, never forgot and still got pregnant, so please don't judge the way you do. It's not helping at all