[SchmennaLeigh]

Got this off of March of Dimes website:

March of Dimes Finds Some Alarming Numbers In New Census Bureau Data
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Washington, D.C.-- Dr. Jennifer L. Howse, president of the March of Dimes, made the following statement about release this week of U.S. Census Bureau data on health insurance coverage of women of childbearing age and children compiled for the March of Dimes:
“The Census report reveals alarming news about the number of uninsured children under age 19, which rose by over 300,000, leaving 11.6 percent (9 million) of the nation’s 78 million children under age 19 uninsured in 2005.
“Moreover, one in five women of childbearing age—12.9 million—was uninsured in 2005. These women accounted for 28% of all uninsured Americans.

“The disappointing news about uninsured children emphasizes how Medicaid and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) remain critical to the health of children nationally. As many as 1 in 3 children rely on these programs for coverage at some point during the year. The increasing number of uninsured children will also be central to the debate during the upcoming deliberations on SCHIP reauthorization in 2007.
“The March of Dimes is committed to strengthening SCHIP to improve the health of pregnant women, infants and children. During the reauthorization debate, the March of Dimes will advocate for giving states greater flexibility to use SCHIP to provide wraparound insurance to supplement private insurance for children with special needs and cover pregnant women under the program without a federal waiver.
“Since individual health plan coverage is not available to an uninsured pregnant woman, and given that half of pregnancies are unplanned, it is alarming to see that 21% of women of childbearing age are still uninsured in 2005. The March of Dimes is committed to achieving comprehensive maternity coverage for all women of childbearing years. Women who receive prenatal care are more likely to have access to screening and diagnostic tests that can help to identify problems early and such care may help improve the health of both mothers and infants. For instance, prenatal care is essential to identifying risks associated with preterm birth. With over a half million babies born preterm each year in the United States, prematurity continues to be a vital public health issue that needs to be addressed by federal policymakers.”

The March of Dimes is a national voluntary health agency whose mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects and infant mortality. Founded in 1938, the March of Dimes funds programs of research, community services, education, and advocacy and in 2003 launched a multi-year campaign to address the increasing rate of premature birth. For more information, visit the March of Dimes Web site at marchofdimes.com or its Spanish Web site at nacersano.org.

1 Family Planning Perspectives, Alan Guttmacher Institute. Volume 30, Number 1, January/February 1998. “Unintended Pregnancy in the United States”

I found this article to be important to this forum specifically. Why? There ARE groups, organizations and other people working to help you, as an expectant Mother, get the healthcare that you and your child both deserve. If you find yourself pregnant without medical insurance, don't hesitate to ask for help. Many of us have been there and may be able to help you get on the right track for the future. Don't let something like lack of medical insurance scare you into making other decisions. Start with asking questions and finding the answers. There is help available. Sometimes it IS hard to find... but it IS there.

Please ask for it.

[Bug-n-Bears-Mommy]

My sister just had her first baby...both un-insured. She is married and because their income was $200 over the requirements, they are now stuck with a $12K bill. The other option they had was $500+ per month for health care thru her DH. They couldn't afford that by any means. I am not saying they are in the best financial situation to have a baby, but the fact is that they do and she is not going anywhere. Just the same, she has tried many avenues for assistance and was told that if she were not married she could get every benefit offered. This is terrible! What are they teaching us as a society?

Not only that, but she is 29 and has worked full time every day of her life since she was 18. That sure is alot of taxes paid (Oregon...state and federal income). It is sad that after all that she is stuck in the cold.

It is hard to put a dollar figure on health coverage...one of the reasons I worked the entire first year that we had the boys. I thing there should be more programs in place to help these women and children...and they should not require that you file for divorce in order to qualify! I wish I would have known about this for her.

[merrill1277]

Originally Posted by Bug&Bearsmommy

Not only that, but she is 29 and has worked full time every day of her life since she was 18. That sure is alot of taxes paid (Oregon...state and federal income). It is sad that after all that she is stuck in the cold.

It is hard to put a dollar figure on health coverage...one of the reasons I worked the entire first year that we had the boys. I thing there should be more programs in place to help these women and children...and they should not require that you file for divorce in order to qualify! I wish I would have known about this for her.

It has been like this for us through our married life. We've always paid taxes (together or alone) and each of us since our earliest working days, but haven't had private health insurance (which seems to be becoming more and more elusive) since I worked full-time and can't afford paying for it on our own, yet we aren't eligible for any programs due to our income level. This is the bracket which runs about 10 - 30 K above the aid-qualifying brackets, and from an article I read in the NY Times last year this bracket is growing and growing (many reach this bracket by working two-three jobs). Our youngest is 12 and we had a home birth with a midwife (which was wonderful) and I paid her in part by cashing in my engagement ring. One thing I can say being in this category though... you become resourceful about keeping yourself and your family well... breast feeding, good nutrition, herbal or other nutraceutical therapies, etc. ...you have to! Though I'm an RN, I got into natural health-care big time once I had children. God gave us the green herbs for our good. I can count on one hand the amount of times I've actually needed to take our children to a doctor. Prevention and good nutrition go a long way for those who are basically constitutionally healthy to begin with, and you know you have to do all you can to keep your family well when you have no insurance (govt. or private) to back you up. Thank God we've been blessed in not having medical conditions to begin with and not having been in any accidents. I do believe that all mothers should have access to health care for themselves and their children and I'm glad that the March of Dimes is committed to medicaid and SCHIP. We weren't eligible for our CHIP, but many are and need it. People are struggling.