K1 pregnant wife, no health insurance DESESPERATE! Help

[JD & Coconut 35]

yes I can but they dont cover my wife pregnancy, cause is a "preexistance condition". In order to cover her pregnancy expenses I should added her at least 8 month before her pregnancy

The Health Insurance industry in this country has no morals. Completely pathetic. The sooner we get a Canadian system in America the better.

[Morningmist 76]

I agree...nobody knows how it works and honestly I can't care less...I think my case has nothing to do with Obamacare. And even if I could count on it, by the time Obamacare is ready, my wife is about to give birth

Trust me, that's exactly when you want your insurance to exist. I just looked into the hospital bill for my pregnancy. Without insurance for an uncomplicated vaginal birth it's anything from 5,000 to 15,000 dollars. It almost makes me wanna to a homebirth. . With insurance, if I am lucky, it may just come down to 2,000-3,000. You should care. Really care. The Prenatal stuff isn't really that expensive compared to the hospital bill.

[Brian & Sil 1]

But in case of pregnancy here to apply pro medicaid for pregnant woman that is generating an American citizen and not have the government pay for all conditions .... In another group has a mocha q'm pregnant and have medicaid ... How do you think the illegals have children here? Thus, because paying health plan heh expensive and the government pays are pregnant.

[Peter_Pan 661]

Therefore, your wife should claim she is illegal here and get full medical benefits!

[Morningmist 76]

http://americanpregnancy.org/planningandpreparing/medicaid.html ?

[himher 634]

Why would the private employer have to cover her with a pre existing condition? (PS - HIPAA states pregnancy is not a pre existing condition but insurers have ways around it. )

Obamacare sets up exchanges, etc. It mandates certain big employers to provide coverage, but no where does it stipulate private company insurance have to cover pre existing conditions. If they want that coverage, then they have to buy insurance through Obamacare.

Why? Because that is what group plans have to do. It's the law. The law does not apply to INDIVIDUAL health plans so if something or some experience needs to be discussed regarding an individual health plan rather than a group health plan then it has nothing to do with this situation.

If an employer offers a group plan then pregnancy (not other things, but pregnancy) is specifically excluded as a pre-existing condition. The OP however noted that he could have covered his wife under his group plan but chose not to and this is the actual problem. She would be fully covered had he enrolled her in the open enrollment period after they got married.

This choice has unfortunate consequences however it is not the "evil insurance company" who is "applying a pre-existing condition" it is this choice that has put them in this situation.

It is highly unlikely that a private insurance company can be found to cover it. Unlike group plans they do not have to exclude it as a pre-existing condition.

Best bet is to work up-front with the OB/hospital on a discounted total services fee.

[Ryblet 1]

My advice is to check out Planned Parethood - http://www.plannedparenthood.org/ppswcf/

I have used them in NYC and they are very good. You can get help even if you are a foreigner and don't have any insurance, they do a sliding scale for you based on how much you make, it may cost your wife very little money or even free (at least this is how it is in New York). I am not sure they will watch her whole pregnancy, but they will definitely refer you somewhere if they won't.

Congrats!! Everything will work out fine!

[Mrs_D 13]

And, don't forget that you will need coverage for the baby once it arrives. You have to visit the doctor a lot for well baby visits and immunizations during the first two years. Do what's best for your family long-term. That's the responsibility of being in a family.

[skiptex 225]

I lost my health insurance benefits last summer due to work being slow..

we were married Feb 6th..

i am looking for a new job.. with benefits, hopefully its soon.. *fingers crossed*

if we have to wait.. we will wait, so we are taking precautions.. to make sure no ACCIDENTS happen

Edited August 7, 2013 by skiptex

[Boiler 45,932]

The Health Insurance industry in this country has no morals. Completely pathetic. The sooner we get a Canadian system in America the better.

Insurance is to cover the unexpected, you can insure your House against fire, this is like asking for insurance whilst the House is burning.

[loladolly 51]

The Health Insurance industry in this country has no morals. Completely pathetic. The sooner we get a Canadian system in America the better.

Or French

[loladolly 51]

Trust me, that's exactly when you want your insurance to exist. I just looked into the hospital bill for my pregnancy. Without insurance for an uncomplicated vaginal birth it's anything from 5,000 to 15,000 dollars. It almost makes me wanna to a homebirth. . With insurance, if I am lucky, it may just come down to 2,000-3,000. You should care. Really care. The Prenatal stuff isn't really that expensive compared to the hospital bill.

Yeah when i was pregnant with my son, thanks god i was covered by my school insurance and only had to pay a 50$ deductible and one of the ultrasounds that wasn't covered. I looked at the billing after i had my baby and the hospital by itself was 10K (uncomplicated vaginal delivery), an extra 3500$ for the epidural and the prenatal care another 3k + around 3k for the OB for his presence during the delivery.

I honestly don't know how going through pregnancy without an insurance in this country is possible without filing for bankruptcy or using federal programs for help (which in our cases would violate the I864).

To the OP, i know you are happy with that pregnancy but think on the long term like someone advised you. After the baby is born you will have to spend even more money for well check up, imunizations etc... and you don't know yet how the expenses of the pregnancy and delivery will be covered. Have you thought of other options? I don't want to say the word here because i don't want to ofend some people with strong religious beliefs.

[Juan y Sandra 0]

Hi guys! I've been visiting this website but this is my first time posting. Hope you can help me. My now wife came on a k1 visa back on December 2012, got married. In april we adjust her status, she already have her EAD/AP, only waiting for her GC. 2 weeks ago we found out she is 4 weeks pregnant! Even when we didn't plan it we are super happy! But I'm worry cause she doesn't have health insurance and even if I can buy her one now, noone wants to cover my wife's pregnancy expenses. We moved to florida 3 weeks ago and taking her to a private OB/GYN is $250, plus her prenatal vitamins and other test and blood works, is just too much money!! I read that I cannot apply for medical/financial aid for her cause I signed an I864, but I made a few calls and a lady told me I can apply for her madicaid cause it has nothing to do with her immigrations status (she told me something that I'm not asking for federal help but statal aid). Somebody please clear this point to me cause I'm pretty confuse! Some advice please! I'm desesperate!

Hola, i am pregnncy, i have EAD/AP, I waiting for my GC, i am 6 weeks pregnant! but not if you ask for help to form government an I865... WE ARE DESEPERATE

[TQD 6]

Hi guys! I've been visiting this website but this is my first time posting. Hope you can help me. My now wife came on a k1 visa back on December 2012, got married. In april we adjust her status, she already have her EAD/AP, only waiting for her GC. 2 weeks ago we found out she is 4 weeks pregnant! Even when we didn't plan it we are super happy! But I'm worry cause she doesn't have health insurance and even if I can buy her one now, noone wants to cover my wife's pregnancy expenses. We moved to florida 3 weeks ago and taking her to a private OB/GYN is $250, plus her prenatal vitamins and other test and blood works, is just too much money!! I read that I cannot apply for medical/financial aid for her cause I signed an I864, but I made a few calls and a lady told me I can apply for her madicaid cause it has nothing to do with her immigrations status (she told me something that I'm not asking for federal help but statal aid). Somebody please clear this point to me cause I'm pretty confuse! Some advice please! I'm desesperate!

Hi, I am trying to help you, don't worry, take it easy I live in Florida 10 years no health care, I am pregnant now 6 weeks for the second one, I don't have to pay for anything in the hospital for C-section and my first son stayed in NICU room for ten days in 2011, after from emergency visit, better than you apply emergency Medicaid for your wife because you have to show them the pay tax, bills, all the stuff, they give your wife couple months cover but your kids after born have Medicaid a year. when you wait for apply Medicaid, your wife can go to visit doctors at local health department for Prenatal Care, and your wife can apply for WIC (they give your wife food free until after born a baby they will give formula for baby) at local too, you just pay a little amount for co-pay every time you visit doctors or your wife have pregnant test. Besides you can apply Medicaid for your wife now or wait for until after your wife go to hospital for emergency Medicaid. You don't worry that your wife can have Medicaid to show papers she is pregnant. Everything is fine. I just know my Broward county, so I can't help you. but I will give you some website to search.

http://www.browardhealth.org

http://www.wicprograms.org

http://www.myflorida.com/accessflorida/

http://www.healthystartfv.org/Prenatal%20Medicaid/I-07-05-0007ThreeWaysToApply.pdf

Edited August 7, 2013 by TQD

[dbcroasman 2]

every state have a sliding scale low income family, try to find that out it will help you... http://www.benefits.gov/benefits/browse-by-state/state/FL

http://ahca.myflorida.com/medicaid/about/about2.shtml