pregnant and PCAP in New York State

[foxxiroxxi 2]

Hello VJ'ers.

i am a PR(unconditional) and i found out that i am now 6 weeks pregnant. I do not have health insurance b/c my husband got laid off 2 months ago.

from what i have been reading on these forums, PR's do not qualify for Medicaid unless we have lived in the US as a PR for 5 years.

so after some research, i have found out about the PCAP(Prenatal Care Assistance Program) in the State of New York.

It says that they provide prenatal care regardless of immigration status. you can be an illegal and still get care through this program. It is more based on your residency in the state and your income level.

so, my question is, has anybody used the PCAP program? If i do qualify, would it fall under the public means of w.e, where i have to pay the gov't back?

I made an appointment with the OBGYN tomorrow, and they said to just bring a photo ID and they would help me sign up for the program. I'm hoping i qualify!

[nickbits 43]

Could you not afford to keep your husbands's insurance through COBRA?

[YuAndDan 153]

Your husband is a US citizen? If your husband is a citizen then this is not an issue.

You are not prevented from using this program, however I would see if you can use the program through a US Citizen spouse..

I did some looking and yes it looks like a means tested program..

http://www.cdfny.org/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_download&gid=46

Moving topic..

Edited January 6, 2011 by YuAndDan

[CanuckChick 7]

You may also be able to access care through a community health center - here is a link to a map of CHCs in NY: http://findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov/GoogleSearch_HCC.aspx?byCounty=1

Good luck!

[foxxiroxxi 2]

ty for the replies,

yes my husband is a US citizen.

inorder to continue his insurance from work, they were asking for around 400 bucks a month. we rarely go see doctors so figured it'd be a waste of money to pay 400 bucks a month when we had no income.

so if the PCAP is means-tested benefits, my husband has to pay back the full amount or would they be giving us a discounted amount to pay back? because i dont mind paying back as long as its a reasonable amount. or if PCAP gives me a discount on a sliding scale, and i'm making payments, does that mean i have to pay back the discount i got back to PCAP?

how soon do they come to you to collect the payments if its considered means-tested benefit?

and are there other systems that allows me to buy a special discounted insurance for pregnant women that would not put my husband on the hook later on? If we can come up with some payment agreement i would rather do that, and not have to deal with some ridiculous amount of bills coming to us later down the road.

[foxxiroxxi 2]

sorry, just found this on the USCIS page.

i searched under "public charge"

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=354fb2a3fffb4210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=68439c7755cb9010VgnVCM10000045f3d6a1RCRD

Benefits Not Subject to Public Charge Consideration

Under the agency guidance, non-cash benefits and special-purpose cash benefits that are not intended for income maintenance are not subject to public charge consideration. Such benefits include:

• Medicaid and other health insurance and health services (including public assistance for immunizations and for testing and treatment of symptoms of communicable diseases, use of health clinics, short-term rehabilitation services, prenatal care, and emergency medical services) other than support for long-term institutional care

• Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP)

• Nutrition programs, including Food Stamps, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Program, and other supplementary and emergency food assistance programs

• Housing benefits

• Child care services

• Energy assistance, such as the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

• Emergency disaster relief

• Foster care and adoption assistance

• Educational assistance (such as attending public school), including benefits under the Head Start Act and aid for elementary, secondary, or higher education

• Job training programs

• In-kind, community-based programs, services, or assistance (such as soup kitchens, crisis counseling and intervention, and short-term shelter)

• Non-cash benefits under TANF such as subsidized child care or transit subsidies

• Cash payments that have been earned, such as Title II Social Security benefits, government pensions, and veterans' benefits, among other forms of earned benefits, do not support a public charge determination

• Unemployment compensation is also not considered for public charge purposes

Some of the above programs may provide cash benefits, such as energy assistance, transportation or child care benefits provided under TANF or the Child Care Development Block Grant (CCDBG), and one-time emergency payments under TANF. Since the purpose of such benefits is not for income maintenance, but rather to avoid the need for on-going cash assistance for income maintenance, they are not subject to public charge consideration.

so does that mean if i get PCAP, which is prenatal care, its not going to come back later to bill my husband?

[Myopia 93]

PCAP is medicaid. The difference is that all women in NYC are able to take advantage of it regardless of immigration status. I dont believe that you can take advantage of it but you can only apply and see if you are. Trust me in NY they will deny you if they can so it wont hurt to try.

You can also take advantage of this Alternative and pay on a sliding scale.

You do need to get this sorted asap for your health and baby (congrats). In some states they will prosecute mothers for not having any prenatal care.

When I had my first child in the US,I didnt have health insurance and I didnt know anything about emergency medicaid. I had to pay for my prenatal care on the sliding scale and the medical bills for delivering my son was about $8000.

All the best

sorry, just found this on the USCIS page.

i searched under "public charge"

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=354fb2a3fffb4210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=68439c7755cb9010VgnVCM10000045f3d6a1RCRD

Benefits Not Subject to Public Charge Consideration

Under the agency guidance, non-cash benefits and special-purpose cash benefits that are not intended for income maintenance are not subject to public charge consideration. Such benefits include:

• Medicaid and other health insurance and health services (including public assistance for immunizations and for testing and treatment of symptoms of communicable diseases, use of health clinics, short-term rehabilitation services, prenatal care, and emergency medical services) other than support for long-term institutional care

• Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP)

• Nutrition programs, including Food Stamps, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Program, and other supplementary and emergency food assistance programs

• Housing benefits

• Child care services

• Energy assistance, such as the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

• Emergency disaster relief

• Foster care and adoption assistance

• Educational assistance (such as attending public school), including benefits under the Head Start Act and aid for elementary, secondary, or higher education

• Job training programs

• In-kind, community-based programs, services, or assistance (such as soup kitchens, crisis counseling and intervention, and short-term shelter)

• Non-cash benefits under TANF such as subsidized child care or transit subsidies

• Cash payments that have been earned, such as Title II Social Security benefits, government pensions, and veterans' benefits, among other forms of earned benefits, do not support a public charge determination

• Unemployment compensation is also not considered for public charge purposes

Some of the above programs may provide cash benefits, such as energy assistance, transportation or child care benefits provided under TANF or the Child Care Development Block Grant (CCDBG), and one-time emergency payments under TANF. Since the purpose of such benefits is not for income maintenance, but rather to avoid the need for on-going cash assistance for income maintenance, they are not subject to public charge consideration.

so does that mean if i get PCAP, which is prenatal care, its not going to come back later to bill my husband?

Edited January 10, 2011 by Myopia

[Dau Que 6]

I don't know about your state but in Texas, if you're NOT a USC, you may apply for CHIP Prenatal. If your income is low enough to qualify, it costs you nothing. You'll be entitled up to 20 prenatal exams, vitamins. When you're ready to deliver the baby, make sure you fill out "the Emergency Medicaid" form sent to you by the Texas Human Health Services Department. It will cost you NOTHING to have the baby.

I know, I know. Nothing is free. It's the taxpayers' money. But if your SO has been a taxpayer to the State for a while, you shouldn't feel guilty about using your "privilege" permitted by your State law.

[yorkshirerose22 4]

Hi everyone,

I dont know if im in the right topic but i have a question:-

I am a british citizen and im married to an american citizen, we are living in the USA, If i went to england to have a baby, would the baby be a british citizen so there for would not be able to come back to the USA without a visa etc???

How would that work??

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

There is a process called consular report of birth abroad to record children of US citizens born elsewhere

[Myopia 93]

Hi everyone,

I dont know if im in the right topic but i have a question:-

I am a british citizen and im married to an american citizen, we are living in the USA, If i went to england to have a baby, would the baby be a british citizen so there for would not be able to come back to the USA without a visa etc???

How would that work??

I resurrect the dead!

Actually be careful. If you are out of the UK for more than 6 months, you are supposed to pay for your prenatal care and birth.

[rhenzhen 5]

Did you apply for PCAP program of NY state? I'm worried that If i applied it will back fire to me. We also worried that when we apply for REMOVAL OF CONDITION next year, this might be a problem. Anyone can help? I really don't know what to do... Excited and worried.

I'm on the same boat as yours. My wife is 6 weeks pregnant. I have work but our company health insurance terminated late last year (2011) because of group ineligibility. My employer didn't even offer us a new health insurance. While still looking for new affordable health insurance these past few weeks. My wife told me she's 6 weeks pregnant. I just applied for Healthy NY insurance and still waiting for approval. However, I just found out that her pre-existing condition is not covered by health insurance and majority of health insurance don't cover as well when you are pregnant and applying for insurance. This is a big problem for us right now. I hope someone can give us some advise.... Thanks!

Edited January 10, 2012 by rhenzhen

[Susita 175]

Did you apply for PCAP program of NY state? I'm worried that If i applied it will back fire to me. We also worried that when we apply for REMOVAL OF CONDITION next year, this might be a problem. Anyone can help? I really don't know what to do... Excited and worried.

I'm on the same boat as yours. My wife is 6 weeks pregnant. I have work but our company health insurance terminated late last year (2011) because of group ineligibility. My employer didn't even offer us a new health insurance. While still looking for new affordable health insurance these past few weeks. My wife told me she's 6 weeks pregnant. I just applied for Healthy NY insurance and still waiting for approval. However, I just found out that her pre-existing condition is not covered by health insurance and majority of health insurance don't cover as well when you are pregnant and applying for insurance. This is a big problem for us right now. I hope someone can give us some advise.... Thanks!

PCAP is a great program, I don't know where in NY you live, but what I suggest you do is find a local hospital that accepts it and usually they will do the enrollment process there at the hospital. The people who help you sign up are typically well-informed on what eligibility requirements are, etc. and they can give you better info than anybody on here.

Good luck & congrats on the upcoming baby.