My 16 Yr Old Daughter Is Pregnant and We Can't Afford It

I agree with Gidget - if she has full medical care under you, she is covered. But in any case, get her to a Planned Parenthood ASAP for prenatal care. They will offer her some excellent counseling as well. And also, after the baby, get her on birth control.

Health first. Then you need to build a plan of action.

This is why Planned Parenthood is so important. Take her there for an exam and prenatal care. They charge on a sliding scale so you won't pay nearly as much as going to a doctor. They can help you figure out what services are available and where she can deliver the baby. They can also put you in touch with adoption services since your family can't afford this child. Good luck, what a hard situation.

planned parenthood.
go soon before they're completely defunded.
khairete
S.

Have you actually talked to your insurance company representative to verify that they have the right to deny care to your daughter?

Call Planned Parenthood if they have not been defunded in your area. They have tremendous referral counselors to help you. If you don't have a clinic near you, call the national organization for a referral to a similar clinic in your area.

DO NOT just look up something with the name "Problem Pregnancy" or something similar! Many of these are fronts for anti-abortion organizations. I'm not saying your daughter needs to consider abortion, but often these organizations mislead clients about the stage of pregnancy a woman or teen is in, and they often do not have any medical personnel whatsoever. Many have been sued. They often open next to or near a Planned Parenthood and use a "PP" logo to confuse Problem Pregnancy with Planned Parenthood. You want legitimate organizations that support the woman's right to choose what she wants to do - and that means giving your daughter facts, not philosophy.

Don't just research things on line - you're reading all kinds of info and apparently have no way of evaluating which are authorities and which are not. When I worked at a women's clinic, we kept extensive referral information on counseling, sliding scale care, homes for teens keeping a baby or considering adoption. It was very non-judgmental. They can help you sort out Medicaid and other programs.

You have simply got to get your daughter some care. You say you can't afford it, but if you have a sick daughter who gives birth to an undernourished baby, it's going to be a lot more expensive than preventive care would have been.

Are you sure your insurance won't cover her? I find that shocking! I would definitely challenge that.

Talk to your doctor as soon as possible. I'd be willing to bet your doctor would work with you. Many doctors and hospitals have funds (donations or benefactors) for this type of situation.

Is she planning to place the child for adoption? If so, talk to an adoption agency as son as possible. Families wanting to adopt can put your daughter on their health insurance to cover her prenatal care and delivery. This is definitely something to consider.

I would try Planned Parenthood. Also, make sure she is taking prenatal vitamins.

If your daughter is covered by your insurance, her pregnancy is covered. Now, the baby might not be when he/she is born but lets worry about that later.

She MUST have care. I know a lot of people are say PP. Call first. Not all clinics support prenatal. Ask which ones do. Also, contact your local human services division. See what is available for your daughter.

Lastly, don't forget the dad. He has responsibility for this pregnancy as well. If he won't, contact his parents. Keep track of all monies spent.

Time for all hands on deck with this situation.

Your daughter didn't get pregnant on her own. Can the babys daddy help out at all? Why is it all on your shoulders?

You MUST get her to a health care provider. If you do not want to consult Planned Parenthood (without setting off a political firestorm, even if your afilliate dies not provide prenatal care they will know where a person without other resources can turn) then search "pregnancy resources" or "pregnancy crisis." The people who help your daughter get healthcare for herself and her baby will have the answers to your questions.

I not trying to be negative, but honestly you need to pull yourself together. I get that it is hard, but there is NO delaying here. First, you need to find out if your insurance will cover your daughter up until she has the baby. Seems unusual that your insurance wouldn't cover her if she is already covered. Second, you need to call your county human services/financial aid department and find out what resources are out there, including seeking compensation from the baby's father. Third, you need to get in touch with her school and find out what her options are there as well.

Most importantly YOU NEED TO GET THAT GIRL TO A DOCTOR. She is 4 months pregnant. She needs pre-natal care immediately.

Good luck.

This is exactly why we need planned parenthood....

I don't know what the local situation is like for you as far as access and funding, but Planned Parenthood can help with low cost or free prenatal care. If you don't have one nearby, contact your county Health & Human Services office.

Who told you your health insurance won't cover your daughter "having a baby?" What does that mean - they won't cover the prenatal care, they won't cover the actual delivery, they won't cover your post natal care, they won't cover the baby? Actually, none of that makes sense (except possible the baby's hospitalization and early pediatric care) because this was supposed to be required under the Affordable Health Care Act.

I'm just seriously wondering if you were given false information.

I have no idea about GA but in TX if you are pregnant and don't have insurance you are automatically but on Medicaid. So, hopefully that will go though very quickly.

You can try calling Planned Parenthood for prenatal care but honestly I don't know anyone who has ever gotten it through them. I would ask on the phone if they offer those services not all of their clinics do...that way it will save you a trip if they don't.

Our county hospital offers a prenatal clinic so you might look to local hospitals that offer low and free clinic support for pregnant women.

And some OB/GYNs will offer a cash price paid out over months (before the baby is born) to mothers without insurance.

Good luck.

If your goal is to not abort, try a local Catholic Charities office. You don't have to be Catholic. They have social workers that can guide her through either adoption or resources to help through the pregnancy and beyond. It might be a helpful first call for support.

Is she still together with the baby's father? Or at least still in contact with him? Maybe he can pay for an initial doctor's visit to make sure everything is going ok while you try to work out the insurance situation. It's critical that you make sure both your daughter and her baby are healthy before she gets any farther along in this pregnancy.

Planned Parenthood is a good option. They do much more than just perform abortions - they can give her a prenatal exam and help advise you on the different resources that are available to people at your income level.

I think it's great that you are being so supportive of her and are trying to figure out a way to handle everything. Enlist your daughter's help though, since she is the one responsible for the situation she is in. Have her sell some of her things and help neighbors with basic chores to earn some money (house sitting, dog walking, yard work while she's physically able, etc). At the very least, she can try to raise money for an initial doctor's visit. While I do think you should be helping and supporting her, she needs to contribute too.

I really think seeking help from the father's family is important. She shouldn't have to do this alone. I wish you all the best.

Is she taking prenatal vitamins? She needs to start asap. She also needs prenatal care for her baby...go to a Planned Parenthood for free or affordable care. Ask the counselor there for ideas to help afford the baby...you can also ask your church. Get your daughter on birth control as soon as she has the baby. Imagine her having another baby a couple years from now. Is she working after school? I worked 5 days a week at a local grocery store in high school...after school and on weekends. Again, get that girl on birth control! Don't let her say she will remember to use a condom from now on. My good friend who was breastfeeding got pregnant again a month and a half after having her baby...it can happen quickly.

Please don't put off taking action. She's already in her second trimester and hasn't had prenatal care. It's going to snowball from here.

Go to the local Social Security office (if your husband is mobile and not working, have him go if he's able and if you can't take time off from work), with your daughter, and start the Medicaid application process. Bring her birth certificate and picture ID and bring a pad of paper and pen and prepare to take notes, and prepare to wait in line. If they turn you away, ask questions: where would you go for help? what office should we go to? what are our options? Stop thinking and reading and wondering, and GO.

Your husband receives disability payments, so he must know where the office is. He's been through the process of applying, so if he's able, get him to take over the application process. It's a matter of going to the Social Security office and requesting the paperwork and asking someone what the procedure is when a birth is approaching.

Then make sure she's taking prenatal vitamins. Ask a pharmacist for a recommendation.

If she knows who the father is, what responsibility is this boy taking, or his parents? Does he know about the pregnancy? Is he going to be helping to pay for expenses?

You have health care, and I assume your husband is in contact with a medical professional. So call your doctor's office, or go in person, and ask them what resources are available in your county for pregnant teens.

If your daughter plans to raise the baby, you're in for a lot of expenses, and the birth will happen whether or not you've planned for it, so have a good honest talk. Who will care for the baby when your daughter's at school?

In answer to your question 'does anyone know if she will get on Medicaid', YES. Someone knows. But each state/county is different. Please go to the Social Security office and start asking questions NOW, and find out what the process is.

As others have said, Planned Parenthood may also have resources. There may be informative pamphlets there about Medicaid, or preparing for a baby as a single mother, or getting the help you need. They also may give her an exam, although not all do.

Have you and your daughter researched adoption? It is a wonderful option.

Find your local Planned Parenthood. They will be able to help you find any financial aid you qualify for and help you fill out the paperwork. They can do her pre-natal checks and help you find a place she can deliver at. If you plan to keep the baby they can help with finding any aid you can qualify for. If you plan to put the baby up for adoption they can help get you set up with an adoption agency that will help you with the process and find an adoptive family. As she is 16 you may be able to file the legal paperwork to pronounce her a legal adult so that she'll qualify for aid and don't look at your income. Planned Parenthood charges on a sliding scale to those who have difficulty paying.

Please seek out adoption.

Take one step at a time. I agree with others about finding out what resources are available in a face to face meeting.

Not knowing your stance, I know there are private adoptions where the adopting couple takes care of medical expenses. I can't imagine what I would do, and it's going to be hard no matter what choices are made. If adoption is a consideration, you might speak with an attorney specializing in adoption to find out the process.

It sounds like you're overwhelmed and understandably so. Try to remember you will get through this together. You need to lead your daughter. She needs you now more than ever.

Great ideas below. Also, try your county's department of social services. I did a google search and in Georgia, it's called Division of Family and Children Services. You can go there and apply for medicaid and ask what options are available for your daughter.

I don't know your insurance company. I have Tri-Care for Life so I don't know how other insurance companies work. Nor have I ever had to apply for public assistance so I can't help you there. However, I did some searching and I found this:

https://dch.georgia.gov/sites/dch.georgia.gov/files/Eligi...

Your daughter should be covered under YOUR insurance through your job.

She needs to figure out what she is going to do. If she is going to keep the baby? She and the dad along with both sets of parents need to sit down and figure out how this is going to play out.

If she has decided to put the baby up for adoption? https://www.americanadoptions.com/ Your daughter and the father need to figure out who they are going to choose to raise their child and find the lawyer to legally give up parental rights.

Your daughter MUST be seen by an OB/GYN. NOW. Not later.
You need to get the father's family involved. They are just as much responsible for this as you are.

I would suggest you make an appointment with the dhs office for your county and see what programs your daughter can apply and qualify for. If planned parenthood isn't in your area look to see if it's under a different name like pregnancy resource center. She needs prenatal care for her and the baby. I would also apply for WIC. They had different income qualifications than medicaid (or least had in the past). Even health systems like hospitals, doctors offices have number and contacts for you. Call and ask. There is someone in your area that can help.

Your post doesn't entirely make sense to me, but here is some information.

Under ACA, there are 10 essential health benefits that must be covered under most health insurance plans. One of these benefits is maternity and newborn care. So your current insurance **absolutely** should cover her for prenatal care. If it doesn't, it could be out of compliance with the law. I don't know who told you that she "isn't covered for having a baby" but you should get this confirmed (in writing) immediately.

I don't know how you have applied for Medicaid, but you can apply for health insurance on the exchange. During the application process you can get an idea of whether you qualify. Georgia uses the federal exchange: www.healthcare.gov

While you are confirming your current coverage and applying for Medicaid, she should get some prenatal care immediately. Here is a link to Planned Parenthood locations in Georgia:

https://www.plannedparenthood.org/health-center/GA

And here is the link to several community clinics in your area, one is located in your town.

http://www.yourtownhealth.com/our-locations/

Good luck.

Why not call Medicaid and ask if they will cover a pregnant teen, and if so, how much it will cost? That is probably the best way to find out, rather than going on what you're finding on Google. It seems this is their website: https://dch.georgia.gov/medicaid so I would think you can find a phone number and speak to a representative. Looking on their site, I see this:

Basic Eligibility Criteria
You may be eligible for Medicaid if your income is low and you match one of the following descriptions:
• You think you are pregnant • You are age 65 or older • You have a disability
• You are a child or teenager • You are legally blind • You need nursing home care

Do you know how long it will take for them to review her application? In the meantime, as others suggested, Planned Parenthood is a great, low-cost alternative. You may also call a public hospital and ask if they have some resources they can point you to.

I would definitely speak with the parents of the young man and make them aware of what is happening (perhaps they have no idea). They also bear part of the burden of the costs. Many clinics allow payment plans. They should pitch in to assist with all these expenses, considering the pregnancy was 50% his responsibility too.

It seems adoption is a good way to go, if abortion is not something you're amenable to, as this would allow her to continue her education. I heard of some schools (perhaps alternative schools) where they have a daycare on site for pregnant students. If that's not something you're interested in, nor is adoption or abortion, I'm afraid you'll have to find a relative, step up yourself, or hire someone to watch the baby while your daughter finishes high school.

What a nerve-wracking situation to be in. I'm sorry you and your daughter are going through this. I cannot imagine how stressful it must be. I wish you all the best of luck.

If you don't live in a an area that has closed them all down Planned Parenthood can help and they work on a sliding scale. Of course still apply for Medicaid, but if she does not qualify (a lot of states did not take the expansions offered by the ACA) then you might have to check out the free clinic. If you have to use the free clinic get there early and leave the entire day free, it can take a long time to be seen.

In addition to what others have listed, you can search for a Community Health Center in your area. care-net.org is an organization that can be helpful in finding resources and assistance, WIC, DCF may be helpful .

no matter what, your daughter needs to be seen by a doctor. If she is a dependent listed on your health insurance, she is covered up until the birth of the baby. Then the baby becomes its own person and needs its own insurance.

The boys parents should be paying half of this.

Your daughter and her boyfriend need to decide what they are going to do. It's a tough decision. I don't envy you your position.

CareNet or Catholic Charities.

Try your local church
Your nearest Catholic Charities
Look up programs for teenagers who are pregnant

Ask the school social worker

Lastly pray and ask God to send you help that you will know came directly from Above.

So sorry to hear about your burdens.

She doesn't have to have a baby if she doesn't want to.

I can't imagine the stress on you all! I agree that you should double check with your insurance- it's odd that if she is covered it wouldn't cover her pregnancy. Definitely start at your local social services office. Also Catholic Charities is a great resource. Planned Parenthood may or may not provide prenatal care (along with controversial or poor advice), but they don't deliver babies so it's not really a great option, at least not long-term. She needs good, comprehensive medical care so I would pursue the insurance or Medicaid routes. One step at a time- you'll get through this! Please let us know what happens.

Find out that your state has Advice & Aid. They are free to help the situation like your daughter is in now. Strongly suggest.You will not regret later.
Please do not go to Plan parenthood.

Just did a quick google search based on the city you are listed from. Here are a couple things I found:
https://www.facebook.com/PRCCarrollton/about/
http://helpinyourarea.com/georgia/