Ponker

Hi Ian, yes thanks. I just wanted to know if I can apply for emergency Medicaid to cover the ER bills. We are on a temporary work visa for 3yrs.

The only reason I mentioned about not having insurance and the pre existing, was so that I didn't get a lot of "well you should have got insurance then you wouldn't be in is situation..." etc that I have seen on other posts!

Thanks!

Ponker

Thanks Bilbos, great advice!
I will definitely look into that.... It's such a crazy system over here!
My son is doing great now - thank you

Bomjeito

Truly depends on your state and health providers.

I went for testing that wasn't covered, and was only given a 10% discount from the bill. From that, they wouldn't budge.

Many providers (not hospitals) do have a self-pay option, which is usually about what they bill the insurance folks. Remember, providers only bill insurance as "as a courtesy."

I know a lot of people feel that you can get get away with not paying much when using medical services in the USA. That is rare. You DO need to negotiate and discuss all this, hopefully when you were admitting your child. If an emergency and he needed hospitalization, then its worth every penny for his life.

With hospitals, you will then have bills for each person near your son, not just one bill. (At least this is how it is here in Texas, from what I've encountered, as in Nevada, where I also have experience.) So each provider of a service will need a discussion. The hospital itself, like for the room and any food service, could be reduced quite a bit with self-pay.

There is no reason at all why for the rest of your time here that your husband and son get insurance. I know you say you've tried everything over these 6 months to get that, but I know many a folk with only some of the family on one insurance, and the rest on another for various reasons.

Emergency medicaid is only for any medical situation that if left untouched, would result in death, such as the sudden non-functioning of an organ. And each state decides this, and the hospital should have finance/admin to consult about this. So it doesn't cover sickness, disease or non-life threatening issues.

Your husband is here on an O1. I must surmise the organization that he is affiliated with has insurance plans. As a side question - why are they not providing healthcare insurance? These are high distinction visas, am I correct? Then I'm sure there are guilds/groups as well that can sort out insurance later, even if only paying for the son.

Start calling your various state and local child support agencies and keep asking until someone comes up with an answer. I'd suspect the hospital and their finance/admin/legal department is a good place to start asking where to call.

Good luck. And I hope your son gets well soon.

Married2abrit

"Hi Ian, yes thanks. I just wanted to know if I can apply for emergency Medicaid to cover the ER bills. We are on a temporary work visa for 3yrs."

As stated by other posters, Medicaid is NOT going to pay for something that already happened (your son's ER visit). That horse has left the barn, just focus on getting some type of payment plan in place for all of the bills that you are going to receive.

Regarding your pregnancy, start saving now. Around 4 years ago my cousin didn't have insurance (lost her job) and was told by her doctor (who was accepting a low cash fee for her OB/GYN visits) that she needed to figure on a minimum of $30,000 for birth in a hospital (with no pain control or any "interventions"). He told her that it would be higher if an epidural or anything else was needed. She finally qualified for Medicaid in the last trimester of her pregnancy (she is a USC) and though no bills were paid retroactively, it greatly helped with the cost of delivering the child.

Sally Redux

I still find it astonishing how they can charge these prices and get away with it. A straightforward delivery isn't exactly rocket science, the baby makes its own way out.
'Broken USA'.

N1cky

Sorry I have to ask. What kind of company brings you to the States on a work visa and doesn't provide health insurance?

Giantaxe

That's what i was wondering too.

If I was in the OP's shoes I'd move back to England and walk away from the emergency room debt, especially if I had assets/income. That way at least they're going to have access to healthcare for their family as opposed to the problematic situation they are in here.

AmerLisa

+1

Sally Redux

The approach seems unbeliveably casual. Anyone could have an accident or become ill anytime, and how is a 'low income family' going to manage if there are problems in the pregnancy, delivery and/or baby's health?

O1 is for outstanding people so they are presumably also getting a poor salary for their skills.

SanDiegogirl

.... and then you go and get pregnant as well !!.

Sonething does not add up here.

Sally Redux

They only 'fell' pregnant...by magic presumably.

N1cky

Should have got a 3 year supply of contraceptive before moving

Rete

Ahhh ladies, now stop getting on her back about the pregnancy. Yes the word "fell" doesn't quite fit with getting pregnant and we do not know the reason why she or he, for that matter, did not use contraceptives, but they might well have and it failed.

This is the situation she is in and she is looking for help in dealing with this financial crisis. Go easy on her. Not everyone is perfect like we are

Sally Redux

I feel concerned that they are not covered by insurance now though.

I think some British people assume that there is a public healthcare system available here if they do not have insurance. They should be aware that this is not generally the case.

SanDiegogirl

I don't mean to sound nasty, but having had my fair share of 'fights' with health insurance companies, to move to the US, not have health insurance and then to become pregnant is potentially a nightmare one need not have to go through - if a little bit of care is taken.

The OP is presumably saving/budgeting for a normal birth - but what if .....?