Trying to conceive can be a tense time even when everything is going smoothly, but concerns about healthcare coverage can bring that nervousness to the next level. Pregnancy is considered a pre-existing condition by many insurance providers, so if you’re thinking of trying to conceive and you have the ability to get health insurance but haven’t yet, this might be the time to do so. In the US, certain factors like moving or getting married, or a significant change in income, can qualify you to enroll for government insurance under the Affordable Care Act, even if you haven’t been eligible in the past. These factors are listed under “Qualifying Life Events” on the healthcare.gov website.
Trying to get pregnant without insurance
If you are having a hard time conceiving naturally and you either don’t have insurance or your insurer doesn’t cover fertility drugs or procedures, certain infertility treatments, particularly in-vitro fertilization, can be prohibitively expensive. Oral medications and hormone treatments, which are generally injected, can cost between several hundred and several thousand dollars a month, and IVF costs significantly more. Costs are even higher for IVF involving sperm or egg donation.
Some clinics offer payment plans for these treatments, while others will offer recommendations for companies that specialize in offering loans for fertility treatments to would-be parents. The interest rates on these loans can vary widely between companies. A 2012 Wall Street Journal article reported that some few doctors have reservations about the predatory nature of these loans, so you should make sure you know what you’re getting into before you accept one.
Already pregnant without insurance?
If you’re already pregnant and uninsured, it might be worth another look at the medicaid policy in your state, since several states extend medicaid to pregnant women who make more money than the maximum allowed to qualify for regular Medicaid as part of the ‘medically needy’ category of their eligibility. In order to apply for Medicaid under this category, you’ll need proof of income and proof of pregnancy, as well as official proof of either citizenship or non-citizenship, whichever applies. If you’re accepted, you’ll be given a list or link to a database that will show you which healthcare providers in your area will accept your coverage.
If you’re pregnant and uninsured and don’t qualify for Medicaid, you still might qualify for individual assistance programs or payment plans associated with either your state or with individual hospitals and clinics in your area. Many hospitals have baby-specific programs, so even if you haven’t qualified for assistance through a certain hospital’s programs before, you may now.
