How to get prenatal care when you are uninsured?

Are you pregnant, American, and uninsured? You can be certain that you are not the only one more than 41 million Americans don't have health insurance. You are, of course, wondering how to get prenatal care when you have no insurance. There are several options available to you, and the right choice will depend on your personal situation.

Getting an insurance policy during pregnancy

Some insurance companies will accept you as a new client when you are already expecting a baby. However, many also view pregnancy as a "pre-existing condition", and will therefore not cover expenses related to your current pregnancy and birth. You could google "insurance for pregnant women" or phone around to get more information about acceptance conditions and premiums.

Medicaid

Medicaid is a government-run insurance program, which will accept pregnant women. There are also different, similar programs run by individual states. Acceptance into the program depends on your income. If you are interested in this program, take a look at their website or call your local office.

Paying out of pocket

Obstetricians/gynecologists are extremely expensive, and paying for their services can end up costing you a lot of money. A simple vaginal birth with a few days spent in hospital may be over $10,000, for instance. If you are a low-risk patient having a healthy pregnancy, with no complications, you may consider a midwife for your prenatal care instead.

Homebirth midwives have highly varying fees, depending on where you live, but it is possible to get prenatal care and birth attendance for $4,000 in many cases, and sometimes for even less than that. You may have to pay additional fees for ultrasounds during pregnancy, which would not be provided directly by the midwife. A similar fee may apply to having blood work done.