As of last summer, almost any expecting mother may qualify for medicaid benefits. You may not qualify for assistance now, but pregnancy makes a lot of difference. Believe me, I don't qualify for it normally, but I got it with my last pregnancy and I'm getting it now for my second. I know before last summer, you had to meet certain financial requirements, however that law has since been changed. They've reformed the requirements because too many women and children are not getting the care they need. Medicaid will pay all your bills, including any unpaid bills you've racked up in the 3 months prior to getting on medicaid. You will be covered up to 90 days after the baby is born, and the child will automatically have medicaid for the first year. In order to be approved, you must be pregnant. If you apply for it before you are pregnant, you will be applying for it like any other person and will be denied if your income and home situation do not fall into their requirements, which is why you think you don't qualify.
As soon as you find out you're pregnant, go down to the office, fill out the app there and leave it with someone. They will give you a form to take to your doctor to confirm your pregnancy. After that form has been sent back to the medicaid office, you should be approved within a few weeks, if that long. Not having insurance is a bad thing these days, with hospital and doctors bills being so high. My son was in the NICU for 20 days and I received a copy of the bill that medicaid paid, the amount was $49,450. That's a lot of money, even with a payment plan, you're talking years! If medicaid denies you, keep trying until you get it! Being pregnant exempts you from the obligatory interview too, just so you know. You're almost guaranteed to get medicaid if you're pregnant. Good luck!
