ready to have a baby

[JlovesL 0]

my wife came here to the US about 6 months ago on a conditional residency. we have been talking about having kids and we are ready to have them but I have a few questions for those who are in my situation. my wife is under the affidavit of support so she cant ask for any government help. what is the best thing to do now since I know that the delivery and labor send care of having baby are expensive is it best to look for a health insurance? is there any other way around this was the government can help me with maternity care.

has anyone on here had a baby while under the affidavit of support?

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Yes, you get insurance. Why should the taxpayers pay for your family? Babies need medical care too, all paid for through insurance...

[newacct 688]

my wife came here to the US about 6 months ago on a conditional residency. we have been talking about having kids and we are ready to have them but I have a few questions for those who are in my situation. my wife is under the affidavit of support so she cant ask for any government help. what is the best thing to do now since I know that the delivery and labor send care of having baby are expensive is it best to look for a health insurance? is there any other way around this was the government can help me with maternity care.

has anyone on here had a baby while under the affidavit of support?

Well, were you the one who pledged to support your wife under the affidavit of support? If so, you probably have a job, which probably has health insurance. You should simply add her to your insurance.

Yes, you get insurance. Why should the taxpayers pay for your family? Babies need medical care too, all paid for through insurance...

Ironically, if they waited until after they had the baby to get married and adjust status, then the mother would probably have been able to get Medicaid insurance for pregnancy.

[tmgkohler 1]

We just had our baby back in August of 2012 and Blue Cross & Blue Shield helped out a lot in paying for the doctor and hospital. The total bill (doctor visits, and the hospital delivery bill) with out using the epideral came to a little bit over 26,000. Blue Cross & Blue Shield got it knocked down to where I only had pay 2619.00.

[Dr. Obvious 49]

I think you will find problems with buying your own insurance as most individual policies do not cover maternity care. From what I understand, some OBs will work out payment arrangements with you for prenatal care/birth if you tell them in advance. I know this is what my sister did when she only had an individual plan that did not cover maternity. I don't remember the exact amount, but it was reasonable.

[JlovesL 0]

Yes, you get insurance. Why should the taxpayers pay for your family? Babies need medical care too, all paid for through insurance...

Well I been working for years but I am self employed. I always have to pay back money and others use my tax money to pay for thier familys. So why should I be left behind. All of our tax money probablypayed for a birth in ur family

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Well I been working for years but I am self employed. I always have to pay back money and others use my tax money to pay for thier familys. So why should I be left behind. All of our tax money probablypayed for a birth in ur family

Nope, my family is blessed to have brains and a good work ethic so we don't require help from the government. I think it is fine that people get help when they need it and are desperate, but I think your attitude that the gov should pay for your baby because you "want" it and you are ill-prepared and disorganized is shameful. Babies are expensive, so if you want one, find a way to pay for one.

[christeen 966]

Part of "family planning" is "planning for a family". This includes health insurance, food, shelter etc... As difficult as navigating and paying for insurance is, it is a part of family life in America. Financial security is an important part of the responsibilities you accepted as a husband and father and part of that is having your family in the best position to pay for and be covered for health issues. for me, I would think that relying on the charity of the government and their whims, stipulations, and limitations is not a good footing to start your family. As self employed, you seem to have the where-withall and motivation to get things done. Just because "others" get something, does not make it right, and I think deep down you know that...

[Darnell 8,478]

http://shopbyprice.hcsc.net/shopbyprice/state/TX/planfamily/temp/index.htm#census

[Alaska2012 462]

We are having a baby, I'm under the affadavid of support...My husband is self employed but bought us insurance. The problem for us up here in Alaska is that no insurances that you buy yourself will cover pregnancy and the delivery. But with that said that won't stop us from having kids, we found a birth center that will only charge us $6000 for everything and that is money we saved up. If we couldn't afford to pay for it we wouldn't do it, I would for sure not expect the government to pay for it..

[N-o-l-a 7,167]

Well I been working for years but I am self employed. I always have to pay back money and others use my tax money to pay for thier familys. So why should I be left behind. All of our tax money probablypayed for a birth in ur family

My mother probably pays 2-4 times in taxes what many Americans make in a year, so?

I admit that I as the US citizen did unintentionally end up on Medicaid. My ex-husband and I had planned on doing an at home midwife birth before we got divorced mid pregnancy and then he refused to pay. It was embarrassing and the doctors and nurses treated me like trash because I had Medicaid. When you are on Medicaid your children also get treated differently at the pediatrician. They get shots from a differently pile, get asked more questions about their living environment, etc.

Right now, I have excellent private insurance and my daughter will still qualify for medicaid (there are a lot more pediatricians that will take it than adult orientated doctors). We try not to use it, but it something required by our child support judgement. The state pays for one check up a year and discounted shots, that's it because we try to use it responsibly.

That being said, you chose to bring a foreign spouse into this country and I think it is your responsibility to provide private medical coverage or a home birth midwife. To plan a pregnancy and to plan on using government support is not responsible.

Edited January 29, 2013 by Nola123

[Penguin_ie 5,986]

There are private insurances that will pay for maternity, but there is usually a waiting period- so you get it now, then must wait a year before getting pregnant for them to pay. Self-paying is another option- we did that, it cost around $9000 for everything. We got a substantial discount for paying all routine care ahead at the first pre-natal visit.

[san diego 407]

I think there are too many judgmental posts here. I agree with them but everyone should look at themselves first: what they did or did not do right.. Personally, I never had a problem like that but this post is not about what is right or wrong.. Returning to the question: I read one thread here before where someone was able to deliver while under I864. They were even able to obtain Medicaid. However, Medicaid made them pay back. I am not sure if you will be successful in paying back or obtaining medicaid. One thing that people do in this case is have a delivery and arrange payment plan with the provider. They some times allow you to have 10 year payment plan interest free. Never done it but it may be an option.

[memlaura 60]

my wife came here to the US about 6 months ago on a conditional residency. we have been talking about having kids and we are ready to have them but I have a few questions for those who are in my situation. my wife is under the affidavit of support so she cant ask for any government help. what is the best thing to do now since I know that the delivery and labor send care of having baby are expensive is it best to look for a health insurance? is there any other way around this was the government can help me with maternity care.

has anyone on here had a baby while under the affidavit of support?

I am not an expert however I believe who ever sponsered your wife which is always you and a co sponser if you had one could be held liable to reimburse the government for any government aide she recieves. Also there was something on another thread about how long they are in the country and there status on weather or not they would even qualify for assistance. I know being self employed is not easy to get insurance but you do have time to shop some insurance and usually you need to wait a year before getting pregnant. Also think about some supplemental insurance like AFLAC. It pays directly to you not to the hospital so if you have any co pays left or follow up visitis that will help pay for that as well. I know having a baby is an exciting thing but take some time to plan it out and be sure you are ready kids are so expensive. Also keep in mind that they will make you prove that you dont have enough income to afford insurance and if you had enough to sponsor your wife on your own she probably wont qualify for assistance anyway. Good luck and congratulations on having your wife with you that is a blessing in itself.

[Sarah Elle-Même 660]

If you are so concerned about the costs of maternity care and birth what about the cost of raising a child from one day old to age 18?! You would not only be doing a disservice to tax payers but also your future child by not having the funds necessary to raise it and expecting government assistance to do it for you. Sure people fall on hard times that are beyond their control and they deserve a safety net but it shouldn't be abused by people who just want to make selfish choices. If you want a child so badly then you and your wife should get good jobs with adequate benefits and save a lot of money. That is what RESPONSIBLE people do.