Re: Pregnant without health insurance
 

Great! Good luck with everything.

Re: Pregnant without health insurance
 

Congratulations, x2. I hope all goes well for you. ... Now you should read the "small print" to find out exactly what coverage provides, because there is going to be at least one copay (a relatively small payment due at your first visit to an obstetrician), and there may be a substantial deductible due at the time of the birth, which if you can't pay out-right, the hospital's billing department will put you on a payment plan.

Re: Pregnant without health insurance
 

x3

Re: Pregnant without health insurance
 

x4 ;)

Re: Pregnant without health insurance
 

Great news! Do let us know how things go later on in the year please.

Re: Pregnant without health insurance
 

Awesome!
Good luck with it all - please do let us know if you need any more advice.

Re: Pregnant without health insurance
 

'Obamacare' to the rescue, YAY! ....and stress-free months ahead for the millkeabe family, I hope

Not stress-free however is the fate of Obamacare itself......
Will Supreme Court come to its rescue?

Re: Pregnant without health insurance
 

I was assuming Emergency Medicaid?

Re: Pregnant without health insurance
 

When she informs us she's now insured the OP quotes and thanks PF (post 22) - which urged her to go to healthcare.gov
Don't think that's the same as Emergency Medicaid, is it?

Anyway....the important thing is - She's covered

Re: Pregnant without health insurance
 

Well OCare has no clear definition, in my State the Exchange can bounce you into Medicaid. Some States allow LPR's access to Medicaid from Day 1. Emergency Medicaid I believe applies to all States and has no qualify residency requirement..

Re: Pregnant without health insurance
 

Not stress-free is the Obamacare premiums for a lot of families. :rolleyes:

Re: Pregnant without health insurance
 

And that she now checks what that means, because it doesn't mean NHS-style "everything from here on is provided at no charge to you" coverage.

Re: Pregnant without health insurance
 

And it is definitely not awarded to US citizens who cannot afford healthcare and are in an medical emergency. I know of one LPR who received it in West Virginia for breast cancer and all follow medical care for 5 years afterward. Songbird a former member was able to get it and use.

Re: Pregnant without health insurance
 

BTW why would the federal/state government consider early pregnancy a Medical Emergency? There are no cost or low cost clinics that she could use but thankfully will not have to because of having healthcare insurance now.

Re: Pregnant without health insurance
 

True. Hopefully those costs will continue to be brought down.
But stress of affording the premiums is nothing compared to the stress of confronting / paying astronomical costs, for which you're entirely responsible, if struck by unanticipated medical issues when uninsured.

On that note I think this is a great thread because....
1. OP received the help she sought when she reached out here and has apparently resolved her issue.
2. It can serve as an instructive warning to future and new ex-pats:
The panic the OP felt when she realized she'd tumbled into an untenable, unexpected, unaffordable situation should be a red flag for any new or future expat.
They must take the time to inform themselves and understand how they, personally, will be affected by the confusing conundrum of US health insurance costs and decisions.

Good point. And challenge any charges you don't understand or seem amiss