How do I get maternity insurance when I'm self employed? (Austin: low income, health insurance)

[Aaarrrggg]

My husband and I moved to Austin in Apr from the UK. So far we've been coping without health insurance (it's quite a shock after having the lovely NHS!) but we're thinking of starting a family next year so we really need to get something in place.

From researching on the internet I'd got the impression that we could join some sort of trade association (artists/self-employed/graphic designers) and get on a group plan, but I just spoke to someone from "The National Association for the Self Employed" and he said my only options were:

1) Individual health insurance, which would only cover things going wrong with the pregnancy.
2) Get some paperwork together that shows my husband and I have our own company, and then form our own small group. (Not that easy with the way we work.)
3) Get a job with an employer to get group health insurance. (Not an option for us.)

Surely there's another way? How the heck do people afford babies over here?!

Any suggestions/guidance would be most appreciated. We could save up some money, but I'm worried that if we go the purely cash route it will just keep adding up.

I'm going to keep investigating, but I wanted to see if anyone on here had any ideas too. I'll come back and post my findings if I find anything new out!

[FalconheadWest]

When I first became self employed, I went with NASE also, and there was absolutely no maternity coverage, though they said they could help negotiate rates to get bills lowered. That was 10 years ago. Since then, I have heard that Blue Cross does now offer it with one of their plans, but it's expensive. No first hand knowledge of it, just heard from other Realtors they had it covered. I'm just glad my husband is not self employed so I was able to get on his plan before having kids.

[mezman]

Yeah, unfortunately most insurers do not cover maternity costs through their individual or self-employed plans. The reason for this is most people sign up just before they get pregnant and then drop coverage soon after they have the baby. The premiums paid during the time period are not enough to cover the costs incurred.

Sorry I can't be of more help on what you should do, just thought I'd explain the reason why.

[ChristieP]

Welcome to the USA... You're finding a very common problem for the self-employed in our country. All of the individual health insurance plans I'm aware of do not cover maternity. For most people here to afford to have children, they have to work for an employer that offers group insurance. Those are the only type of plans that will cover maternity. The other alternative is to be low enough income to qualify for Medicaid.

You may have some luck with this organization: Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association They allow their members to buy health insurance from their group. It's still not cheap...

I wouldn't recommend going the cash route. A normal delivery will cost at least $5000 and if there are any complicaitons, you will have to pay even more. Plus, finding a doctor that will take cash payment can be difficult.

[hypocore]

Regarding the cash paying option....although it was now almost 13 years ago, I did not have insurance during my pregnancy at that time. I paid about the same or less out of pocket than I would have with insurance!

I found a doctor who would accept cash and gave a steep discount in doing so. The hospital I delivered in had a specific 'fund' for those without insurance that could be applied to for assistance that covered most of the hospital bills. I do have to say that my daughter was covered under insurance once she was born because it was in effect by then and there were NO medical problems or emergencies, so it was only my part that was uncovered.

So, do some research regarding how much it would cost to pay cash to the doctor and if the hospital has some sort of policy or funds regarding deliveries and see what you find out.

However, you have to take into consideration if there is any major issues that the bills skyrocket rapidly! A friend of mine had a baby that had to have open heart surgery a few days after birth (undetected by sonograms and such before hand and almost missed entirely as the baby had been discharged already when he began to have problems) He was in the hospital for a month and their bills went deep into 6 figures. Without insurance they would have been ruined financially.

[Aaarrrggg]

Thanks for all the advice guys!

After some more investigating and your sound council, it looks like we're leaning towards NASEs option 1: buying general/emergency health insurance but paying for the regular pregnancy stuff ourselves. I doubt we fall into the low income category and we do have some money saved, we were just hoping to spend it on the baby rather than making the baby!

I'll definitely look into paying a hospital upfront. It's music to my ears that you can get some discounts doing it that way. It feels so weird having to organise all this so far ahead of time.. tis a funny ol' system you guys have over here!

I'll come back and post what we finally decide. Hopefully this thread can help some other people in the same boat later on down the road.

[loves2read]

tis a funny ol' system you guys have over here!

actually there is no SYSTEM that we have here--it is a hodge-podge of different plans, payments, and levels of care...

[mezman]

Originally Posted by loves2read

tis a funny ol' system you guys have over here!

actually there is no SYSTEM that we have here--it is a hodge-podge of different plans, payments, and levels of care...

Agreed, but if you yell "free market!" at the top of your lungs it helps. You should try it...

[Bo]

Several posts were deleted above. National politics and illegal immigration should never be discussed in a state forum unless an issue in state politics can't be discussed without mentioning them.

[snuffster]

Pregnancy and Newborn Care - Women's Health Services - Scott & White - Central Texas