Big Big Problem.... Please need help and advice!!

[HuklerYenny 21]

It's not considered an emergency unless she had complications during her pregnancy and was considered high risk.

This is INCORRECT! A delivery is considered as an "Emergency" since if it's not treated promptly for those uninsured patients, they can die as result. As soon as the delivery is over and both the mom and baby are evaluated by the doctor as "stable", non-life threatening, the hospital will discharge both to minimize their financial loss.

The Mom (only a LPR) needs to notify the State Department of Human and Services in advance of the projected delivery date though. She'll need to fill out a form (each state will have a different name for it but it's called something like "Emergency Medicaid"). This form has to be filled and signed by the delivery physician and/or the hospital. If she follows the instructions to the T, all delivery expenses will be taken care of.

The pregnant mom can be qualified for Prenatal care CHIP during the pregnancy. But that's a different story.

The child obviously is a USC so s/he automatically qualifies for Medicaid, if the family income meets the guideline.

I never heard of any case in which the State goes after anyone for this type of Emergency (delivery). I have no opinion about other cases of emergencies.

[vip1 8]

There's some sort of pregnancy/maternity exception in medicaid if you are a green card holder for less than five/three(not sure) years. This is the reason they asked you to fax over the GC. Medicaid is protecting the baby that will born in American soil. so the mother is only covered during the pregnancy. I know of two cases, one in Texas (GC less than a year) and one in Florida (GC less than 3 yrs) were on medicaid. You got nothing to worry about as long as you said she is/was a GC holder the time you applied. With all due respect if you lied in your application then they will likely charge you with fraud case. hope this helps

I have also heard about this. I have no idea how to go about it but if I were you I would look into it. The way they look at it is that pregnancy treatments are necessary for the future baby US citizen, so technically the one receiving the medicaid is the unborn US citizen and not the mom. However the mother should not receive any other medicaid benefits after delivery. Good luck.

[waynelaarni 2]

I guess different states has different rules,i am in Indiana and I am familiar w Medicaid because i work in OB unit and does admission and insurance stuff. Here if your a GC holder and been here in the country for less than 5 years,you still get Medicaid but it will be Package E which is emergency only. If youve been in the country more than 5 yrs and a GC holder you are eligible for Package B which everything is covered. Social workers tend to make mistake bec when i applied to Medicaid for pregnancy i was approved for Package B which i am not supposed to have because been here in the country less than 5 yrs,so i called them and they rechecked my case and change my status to Package E. Call your wife social worker and show proof that she is a GC HOLDER. And for the child,child will automaticlly will have medicaid for a year even mom is already not on medicaid.

And this is a fact even undocumented immigrants gets Package E benefits here in my states. Which i think is not fair if you are GC holder living in the US less than 5 yrs get the same benefits as the illegal immigrants.

Edited August 14, 2012 by waynelaarni

[OliverWait 7]

Hatem--Some states, including, New York, Washington DC, Texas, offer health insurance for unborn babies if mom is without insurance and/or undocumented. This insurance covers prenatal visits, prescription medicine, the cost of giving birth, a couple of doctor visits for mom after baby is born, checkups, vaccines and prescriptions for baby. This insurance coverage is often times merged with Medicaid and referred to as Medicaid.

Your wife and baby may have been provided with this coverage. Perhaps you received misinformation from the person informing you that your insurance is cancelled. You should speak with someone competent and knowledgeable in the Medicaid office, perhaps a supervisor, to clear confusion that has arisen from your case. Don't worry.

[Boiler 43,437]

Hatem--Some states, including, New York, Washington DC, Texas, offer health insurance for unborn babies if mom is without insurance and/or undocumented. This insurance covers prenatal visits, prescription medicine, the cost of giving birth, a couple of doctor visits for mom after baby is born, checkups, vaccines and prescriptions for baby. This insurance coverage is often times merged with Medicaid and referred to as Medicaid.

Your wife and baby may have been provided with this coverage. Perhaps you received misinformation from the person informing you that your insurance is cancelled. You should speak with someone competent and knowledgeable in the Medicaid office, perhaps a supervisor, to clear confusion that has arisen from your case. Don't worry.

Weird

[Ihavequestions 419]

Hatem--Some states, including, New York, Washington DC, Texas, offer health insurance for unborn babies if mom is without insurance and/or undocumented. This insurance covers prenatal visits, prescription medicine, the cost of giving birth, a couple of doctor visits for mom after baby is born, checkups, vaccines and prescriptions for baby. This insurance coverage is often times merged with Medicaid and referred to as Medicaid.

Your wife and baby may have been provided with this coverage. Perhaps you received misinformation from the person informing you that your insurance is cancelled. You should speak with someone competent and knowledgeable in the Medicaid office, perhaps a supervisor, to clear confusion that has arisen from your case. Don't worry.

EXACTLY.

That's why I suggested he appeal, if he's received a decision notice cancelling coverage. An appeal will force a review the situation as a whole, without paying an attorney.

Crikey, folks. It's the US, a first world nation. Part and parcel to that designation is low infant mortality rates and that requires prenatal care. With almost 30 Medicaid programs at the federal level, and the variances in state programs, it's pretty much not necessary that women give births in bushes.

[Boiler 43,437]

Crikey, folks. It's the US, a first world nation. Part and parcel to that designation is low infant mortality rates and that requires prenatal care. With almost 30 Medicaid programs at the federal level, and the variances in state programs, it's pretty much not necessary that women give births in bushes.

38th

(Costa Rica is 37th btw)

[Ihavequestions 419]

38th

(Costa Rica is 37th btw)

Don't get me started on statistics....

The reality is that it's entirely possible someone made a mistake and why not examine that avenue first.

[hawkeyez 45]

Most employers in the USA have a health insurance plan.

[bigdog 376]

It is your responsibility, you agreed to that in your application with USCIS. Work out a payment plan and get insurance for your family, good luck.

[Dante & Geor 36]

Idk where you live, but here in NY Medicaid for pregnancy is given regardless your immigration status...My brother in law wife had medicaid during her two pregnancies and now she is a US Citizen... (she was out of status when she had it)

[bt1 42]

I don't know.... I don't feel too good towards about this....

this employee screwed up our life!! I know if it was a hospital, it would have made payment plans and reduce the payments, but the problem is that the government already paid for all medical bills for the past 9 months, and prescriptions!! we are looking at tens of thousands of dollars....

when dealing with the government it is different... what kind of payment plan would they accept!! to pay all this money back!

the guy told me over the phone whether it is your fault or ours, you have to pay it back... this is unfair!

Why is this unfair? It would be unfair if you received benefits that you are not entitled to. I agree its their fault an not an easy situation, but it's not unfair, it actually IS fair. But as others have pointed out, do not worry, they will work with you to come up with a repayment plan, they will not expect you to pay it back in one lump sum.

[Chelle&Hich 0]

You should talk to a case worker at medicade, there are a lot of immigrants that get help from the state whether you are a citizen or not. Perm residents, depending on the state you live in, are ellidgeable for help and medical assistance. I would try to get a 'case worker' on the line and explain everything. I am sorry my grammer is not the greatest. Spelling in english is hard for me.

Hi, My name is Hatem. I am a US citizen, my wife is a green card holder. She got her green card a year ago, through marriage to me. She was pregnant. I applied for medicaid for her so it covers her pregnancy. I said on the application that she is not a US citizen. Our case was ineligible.

Few days later, a Medicaid officer called us told us about our case. I told her my wife is not a citizen. She asked me to fax her the green card and all other documents. Few days later, we received a letter saying that her medicaid has been approved, and it they make it start from day 1 of pregnancy till delivery.

Later on, when my baby was born, I got online to add my baby to the household, and I found a check mark next to my wife that she is a US citizen.

I called them and told them to correct it, and now they closed her medicaid, and they say they will make me pay for all the bills they paid, even though I never said or submitted anything claiming she is a citizen!!!

What can I do now? We are looking at thousands of dollars!!

[mfa 1]

I don't have advice for the OP...but this raises a question.

What should have been done at the moment you learn of pregnancy in this situation?

A US citizen returns the the US with his wife.

Soon thereafter, she becomes pregnant.

Suppose the US citizen (husband) is unemployed (or, at least without insurance).

What is the cheapest way to carry and deliver a healthy baby without worries???

But please...keep your self-righteous family planning comments to yourselves.

[JohnR! 5,495]

I don't have advice for the OP...but this raises a question.

What should have been done at the moment you learn of pregnancy in this situation?

A US citizen returns the the US with his wife.

Soon thereafter, she becomes pregnant.

Suppose the US citizen (husband) is unemployed (or, at least without insurance).

What is the cheapest way to carry and deliver a healthy baby without worries???

But please...keep your self-righteous family planning comments to yourselves.

The answer to that question is family planning. Honoring your request. I will refrain from being self righteous.

IMHO family planning goes beyond the use of contraceptives and abortion. Family planning includes making sure you have the financial and emotional wherewithal to see through a pregnancy, plan for all complications, and be financially secure that you will be able to provide accordingly to your family and also have a savings plan for college, for your kid.

In this case however, the OP has a newborn in his family so it would be useless to discuss what he should/could have done. Hindsight is 20/20. Judging him would be equally useless and crass, IMHO.

The issue is a non-issue, really. He can work out a payment plan and pay off his medical bills over time.