What happens if someone in the USA is pregnant but has no money for medical care?

Question

I’m just curious because I live in Canada so I’ve never experienced anything like it and don’t really know the laws surrounding this in the USA but I see posts on here all the time about moms either not having insurance or insurance getting denied, etc. So my question is what do people in the US do if they are pregnant and have no money? Do they just go without all prenatal care? Is there any government help available at all? What about the birth? Is there anyone who legally has to deliver the baby or do these people just give birth at home and hope for the best? What if baby or mom is in critical condition and the doctor knows one will die, then do they have a responsibility to step in? Just genuinely curious because I always feel so bad for the women on here who are struggling to have their insurance pay or worse when they have none at all.

Answer

If you're of low income, you can qualify for medicaid, and it's typically free. It's those who are above the very low income level that are screwed because you can get private insurance if you don't get insurance through work, but it's expensive and the coinsurance is high. Otherwise you basically have to have the baby in the ER and have outstanding medical bills,  and go to clinics like planned parenthood for early prenatal care. It's a problem.

Answer

it took me such a long time to get approved by medicaid that i’m just now having my first doctors appointment at 23+3 ..... fuck our healthcare system

Answer

In many cases, the mom can qualify for Medicaid. If they don’t, the hospitals or OBGYN/Midwife can sometimes make lower payments for uninsured patients. If a woman is in active labor, and ER has to allow them to be admitted. If they can’t pay up front, they can usually make payment arrangements. With that said, a huge percentage of bankruptcies in the US are related to medical bills. When I took a sociology class a few years ago, they said up to 70% of bankruptcie are directly related to medical debt. The system is broken here. My local hospital would have charged $30,000 for my first daughter’s birth had I not had insurance. They would have reduced it by 60% if I could pay it up front. At the hospital I delivered my second daughter, it would have been closer to $5-6,000 without insurance, so it also depends on the cost of health services in the area.

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I get medical insurance and only have to pay $3 to see a doctor (just started) but full coverage. I had a c-section and blood transfusions at birth and I didn’t have to pay anything. And my son has medical insurance as well. He can see any doctor who accepts his insurance. (Which is a few in my small hometown) now maternity leave eh not so great where I live.

Answer

If the insurance denies care when pregnant its a policy exclusion when they signed up for that plan. If insured on a parents insurance often times the dependent will not be covered either. They can apply for Medicaid (government orogram for insurance)if they make to much money though they will need to go to the open market for a different insurance policy. They can deliver at the hospital (anything there is expensive even with insurance) but there are payment plans and options. You just have to look and get the help you need. Local health departments or planned parenthood can give patients tools and info they need for their care.

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A lot will skip prenatal care (each appointment costs $200+ here) and just go to the hospital when they’re in labor.  The hospital can’t turn them away at that point.  All the states offer you pregnancy Medicaid (government insurance) but your household income has to be below a certain amount to get it.  There are also “sliding scale” clinics which charge you an amount based on your income.  Some doctor offices will charge less too when you’re paying out of pocket.

Answer

Pregnant women can get Medicaid if their income is low enough and that will cover prenatal care and delivery. For others, you either skip some (or all) prenatal care and/or figure out a way to pay out of pocket. If you're in active labor or have a medical emergency, the hospital has to treat you, but you do get stuck with the bill. Most hospitals will try to work with you on payments and bills, but hospital care is expensive.

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I know here in California we have clinics that you can go to if you don’t have insurance and if you make a little amount of money you can pay little to nothing for your appointment or they will help you apply for insurance. But a lot of women will go without prenatal care.