[november]

So, our hands are tied. Denied for Medicaid, we have no insurance, and no midwives nearby (closest to me is a 5 hour drive away).

I just looked up our county Health Department and it says they offer maternity coverage based on a 'sliding scale' as far as fees go.

Has anyone ever doctored at a Health Department? How was your experience? I'm feeling kind of wary, but it seems like our most affordable option at the moment.

 

[layla983]

Why were you denied for Medicaid? I'm just curious, because depending on the state it's rare for them to deny any pregnant woman so I was hoping I could give you some advice in that department because I use to work at social services & sometimes people are just denied in errors of paperwork & sometimes it can be hard to take care of if you aren't aware of it, just because they are so busy & it's hard to get a real person to deal with, as much as I hate to admit it.

Before my social service days, I also worked at a county health clinic. I think it depends on the clinic, but where I worked it was exactly like the local OB & midwife office. Same care providers even, they just took turns on different days. We could never promise anyone the same OB or midwife, so some people didn't like that, but we did have fairly decent care providers. Of couse, that depends on your midwife or OB. Just like if you go to an office that isn't the health dept., it can be a hit or miss, you know? I liked most of the providers we had, they were actually fairly low intervention & didn't push testing or inductions. We did have a couple older OB's I wasn't a huge fan of, just because they believed tearing in labor was bad, much better to "get a controlled cut" as one said while I cringed. But if a patient didn't want it in labor, they didn't push the issue or attempt to debate the clients. We also were limited on days & hours we took pregnancy patients, only had morning appointments on certain days which caused problems with come clients. We had some clients who used our services while they were insured or had Medicaid, just because they actually liked the clinic better & knew it was actually less busy than offices around town. But, again, it can really depend on the office.

As far as a sliding scale, if you're really not into the idea of the health dept., many practices will do the same for the cash paying patients. Don't know where you're at or what you're looking for birth wise, but homebirth midwives, even paying their full fee out of pocket, would be less than cash paying a provider, on top of the hospital bills. Not that you should go that route just because of cash, but if it's something you'd want to learn about anyway it never hurts to consider all your options.

 

[darcytrue]

When I was pregnant with my first child years ago I was still single at the time. I went to the local clinic as well and they were going to charge me based on the sliding scale until someone suggested I apply for Medicaid and then I got approved and never had to pay anything. I'd think this would be the best way to go if you can't get assistance through Medicaid. I ended up with an emergency c-section and it was very costly in the end.

 

[darcytrue]

Oh and the only thing I didn't like about going to the county clinic for my pregnancy that time was the fact that I rarely saw the same doctor and when I gave birth there were classes of docs that came in to look at me down there while I was in labor. At one point I remember having 10 people looking at my hind in while I was in labor.

When my son got stuck (right before the c-sect) they all took turns trying to turn him with the forceps (I think that's what they're called). My son ended up with a scar on his forehead from that. I'm not trying to scare you but if at all possible please try to go with an established gyn or midwife practice.

 

[BennyPai]

In my state, I qualified for Maternity Medicaid. It was not based on income - I was told that anyone who is uninsured and pregnant would qualify.

My family had private insurance at the time, but Blue Cross would not allow me to add maternity coverage as I was already 8 weeks pregnant when I attempted to sign up. (Probably just as well, because we couldn't really afford to bump our insurance costs up to $1000/mo. for the added $350/mo. coverage.)

 

[HeavenLeighGrace]

I would go back to the Family service office and ask about pregnancy assistance medicaid.
With proof of pregnancy, and no insurance you should qualify for coverage!

 

[ShwarmaQueen]

Quote:

Originally Posted by layla983 I liked most of the providers we had, they were actually fairly low intervention & didn't push testing or inductions.

It seems most gov't subsidized maternity coverage is like this. I've know several women who've had multiple pregnancies on Medicaid/county health ins and NONE of them had c/s. Compare that to private health ins and it's outrageous! Sometimes less is more!

 

[Lindsay1234]

Is there a Planned Parenthood near you? Also, Is Medicaid the same as Medi-cal, state funded ins? I make too much for it normally but they have an Emergency Pregnancy ins here that is good for pregnancy only related issues.

 

[tinyblackdot]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lindsay1234 Is there a Planned Parenthood near you? Also, Is Medicaid the same as Medi-cal, state funded ins? I make too much for it normally but they have an Emergency Pregnancy ins here that is good for pregnancy only related issues.

PP dosent cover pregnancy care at all anymore.

Have you tried your county hospital? I know here i had medicaid and i still went to the county womens clinic to go to a group of midwives. I loved them.

I would call your local county hospital and apply for "insurance" through them. And then if you qualify, go there. Where are you at?

 

[library lady]

When I was pregnant with my first daughter, I was denied medicaid. They said we made too much money to qualify but they would do things on a sliding scale. I hated the care because the ladies at the clinic were condescending and rude. On my way to the clinic, I got cut off by a dump truck and was upset when I got there. The UAV's at the clinic asked me if "my old man" had hit me or gotten in a fight with me. They didn't really give me the option of denying things.

I know for a fact that women on medicaid are routinely give c-sections in my area. I know several women that were on medicaid and had c-sections. My niece has been going to the county health department clinic and she hates it because they are always losing her records and she has a heck of a time getting appointments. She recently got her medicaid approved and switched to a regular doctor and now they are trying to scare her and tell her that the baby is probably going to be too big to be born vaginally.

:

 

[darcytrue]

Quote:

Originally Posted by library lady I know for a fact that women on medicaid are routinely give c-sections in my area. I know several women that were on medicaid and had c-sections.

Where are these facts? I don't see how that could be true.

I think c-sections are more common these days, like 37% of pregnant women had them done in 2007 is the research I found once. But when I was on Medicaid with my first child I was in active labor and the head was right there and we could see it and he still got stuck. His heartrate begin to fall and he was not coming out. He got stuck in my abnormally shaped pelvis. This was also confirmed by my OB, a very popular physician in my town in a large practice when I had my second child. I tried to go VBAC with her but it didn't happen in the end either.

 

[shakenbake]

did you apply over the phone? i talked to a few women at the office here and they said about half of the phone women got denied i had to go sit in the office for 4hrs just to get an apmt! lovely huh but once i got that when i went in for my apmt i wasnt waiting more then 15mins and i was approved we have HC threw my husbands job but NO maternity at all GRRR Stupid texas laws! here is my advice go back there go down to the office and tell them you are applying for emergency Medicaid take a proff of pregnancy u can get that at planned parenting or any pcp mine was 35$ at my reg pcp out of pocket but it only took 4 days to get approved and i have my first apmt with my ob today so good luck hun if everyone else can get it i would fight for it scene you like many of us need it!