What Are My Options if I Am Pregnant & Have No Insurance?
Unless you work for a company that offers group benefits, it's likely that your insurance doesn't cover pregnancy even if you have an otherwise comprehensive private policy. Fortunately, natural birthing centers, Medicaid and discount programs exist. Each of these options has advantages and drawbacks. Explore them all and find the one that's right for you.
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Natural Childbirth
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Natural childbirth refers to a vaginal delivery conducted without an epidural or other drugs for pain. According to A Thinking Woman's Guide for a Better Birth by Henci Goer, epidurals are medically unecessary and actually pose significant health threats to both mother and child. Epidurals also add significantly to the cost of birth. Certified nurse midwives are medically trained to deliver babies naturally. Although some work at traditional doctor's offices, most are in private practice and do not accept insurance anyway. In addition to the delivery, these midwives provide prenatal and post-partum care at a fraction of the cost charged by traditional doctor's offices.
Medicaid
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Some uninsured mothers-to-be will qualify for government-sponsored insurance via Medicaid. Medicaid works basically like mainstream insurance. Not everyone is elegible. However, it's worth your time to complete an application because pregnant women are one of the specific groups served by Medicaid. Guidelines differ slightly by state and can be found by contacting your local Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS). General information may also be obtained online via the United States Department of Health and Human Services' website.
Discount Programs
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A handful of discount programs exist to help pregnant uninsured mothers in exchange for a monthly fee. The programs provide discounts on specific services and claim to negotiate with hosptials and doctors to lower other fees related to birth. The most popular programs are Maternity Advantage and Ameriplan. However, they make no guarantee of exactly how much money they will save. More informatin is available at Americanpregnancy.org.
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