More Questions, RE: Medicaid

Sorry if this is the wrong forum to post this in, but since I posted the other one about kids in here I thought I'd follow up in the same forum.

I wouldn't qualify for Medicaid until I was pregnant. For those of you in the same position, did you just call after you found out you were pregnant to get signed up? Did the process take long? Also, I know my current doctor doesn't accept Medicaid, which is fine because I was thinking of switching to the Midwives group associated with the same hospital anyway. However, what does and doesn't Medicaid cover? Will I still have copays or other out of pocket expenses or do they cover the whole sha-bang?

Same question for children. Are there copays? What about sick visits, etc? Also, it covers dental insurance, too right? Again, what exactly does it pay for?

Thanks!

[Chrisada]

Medicaid comes immediately once you are pregnant where we live. I guess by Medicaid standards, we were so broke in med. school that we never had a co-pay for anything including my deliveries. This was everything from my OB/GYN visits, ped. visits, and even dental visits for my son. My husbands visits to the doctor were also paid for. Medicaid does not cover dental for adults.

[Vanquisher]

Kelli, it depends on your income and what state you live in. Different states have different Medicaid programs as well as state funded programs. It is really hard to say. What state are you in again and I can point you in the right direction? Some plans are share of cost, some plans pay for everything. It is really so variable. I don't think I had dental when I was on it, but I don't know if I checked, TBH. Dental is rarely covered at 100% anyway. During medical school we got lucky with dental and found a dentist who charged us practically nothing as a professional courtesy, and only asked that we pay it forward someday.

[Chrisada]

If you need dental try the dental school where you husband attends med. school. We had to pay cash, but it was much cheaper and I had a resident work on me as opposed to a student.

Kelli, it depends on your income and what state you live in. Different states have different Medicaid programs as well as state funded programs. It is really hard to say. What state are you in again and I can point you in the right direction? Some plans are share of cost, some plans pay for everything. It is really so variable. I don't think I had dental when I was on it, but I don't know if I checked, TBH. Dental is rarely covered at 100% anyway. During medical school we got lucky with dental and found a dentist who charged us practically nothing as a professional courtesy, and only asked that we pay it forward someday.

We are in Indiana. Now that I think about it, I think my cousin used Medicaid when she was pregnant with her child so I'll have to ask her.

I actually found a fairly cheap dentist in town who did a good job. There was also a recent Groupon for a routine dental exam that was like only $50. I bought it for my husband . Gotta do whatever to save some $$!!

[DCJenn]

Medicaid is different from state to state but generally covers pregnant women including up to 30 days after delivery. There are usually state funded coverage programs for those kids whose parents don't meet the income thresholds for Medicaid.

Jenn

[oceanchild]

Definitely figure out who administers Medicaid in IN and poke around their website. Colorado has "presumptive eligibility" for pregnant women... you fill out a form and get temporary coverage while they do the application for full benefits. We also have a TON of special (non-medicaid) programs for pregnant women. I imagine that's common.

[GrayMatterWife]

Dental is rarely covered at 100% anyway. During medical school we got lucky with dental and found a dentist who charged us practically nothing as a professional courtesy, and only asked that we pay it forward someday.

We were lucky when an MD did this for us, too--we had student insurance, which covered nothing non-catastrophic. We have tried to meet that challenge of paying it forward, now, in both our careers.

[TigerLily]

hey Kelli! I live here in Indy too. I was pregnant during my husbands 3rd year and I did qualify for medicaid. It took almost my entire pregnancy before all of the paperwork went through, actually, the woman called me while I was in labor to tell me that it was finally finished! However, they did go back and retroactively cover everything. So we got a check for everything that we had paid, and they covered all of our bills completely. The only person who was ever of any help to me getting the ball rolling was the financial social helper woman at University Hospital. I can't remember her name, but her information was easy to come by.
My pregnancy was not planned, and without medicaid, we would probably in another 200,000 dollars of debt! Our daughter was also covered immediately after she was born until the day my husband stared residency. She had a pricey stay in the Riley NICU and two surgeries as an infant so PRAISE the Lord for Medicaid!!!
Anyway, medicaid is extremely helpful for people like med students who have negative income, BUT it does take a lot of paperwork and running around to finally get signed up. At least it did for me!
GOOD LUCK!
Also, if you want a great OB, let me know, I love mine and I know she accepts (at least a few) medicaid patients.

Zoe, thanks so much! I'm about to PM you .

[Meenah]

Gotta do whatever to save some $$!!

You will fit in just fine here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You will pay it back in the future, so do not
worry about using it now. That is what it is for.

[Deebs]

Don't forget to look at what other assistance you qualify for (WIC, etc). YOU are actually who these programs are designed for. Someone who is unable to afford services now, but will "pay it back" through taxes in the future.

Just another question for you ladies. Did any of you own a home when you were on Medicaid? We bought our home when we moved here and my FIL co-signed with us. Basically we would have never been approved for a mortgage without him co-signing. We figured if we bought a home as opposed to renting we'd at least not be throwing away money. And yes, we pay for our mortgage loan with the student loans.... seems kind of backwards but oh well! Anyway, I'm worried this will disqualify me for the Medicaid. Our home was around $125,000 I believe, monthly payments are around $850. We have no other income than the student loans.

[DCJenn]

Your home doesn't count in the calculations, typically.

Jenn