Pregnant 20 year old

[torinsmom]

I didn't see where anyone mentioned any "welfare" other than Medicaid(insurance) and WIC. These programs are the ones that even many working families qualify for.

If the pregnant girl is on her mother's insurance, the pregnancy should be covered, but the baby will not be covered. Other options other than Medicaid would be making sure one of the parents has a job where they can get insurance for the child once it is born, or buying a stand alone policy from a company like Blue Cross Blue Shield. I don't think either of these things can be done until the baby is actually born though, and if there are medical problems,, chances are that it will not be possible to get a policy on the child.

 

[MrsPete]

I do not believe in abortion and would never give my child up, so there was no other choice but to raise my son, who is now 16.

No, the choices were there -- you rejected them, which is your own business, but those other choices did exist.

 

[momandkidslovedisney]

OP HERE

Wow. I am a bit surprised by all of the replies.

Thank you to those who offer support and constructive ideas on how to handle the insurance. I just found out that the insurance will not allow the baby to be added to the plan after she is born. My brother and his girlfriend ARE checking into insurance options for the baby. In addition to what they are doing, I told them I would check around to see if I could find anything to help them out. In my mind, that is what family is for especially when you are forced to deal with an unplanned situation. I thought the NICE people on the dis would be able to offer me some helpful tips/ideas.

My brother is a full time college student with a part time job (that doesn't offer benefits). Yes, he could quit college and get a full time job with benefits, but in the long run staying in college seems like the best option. My brothers girlfriend plans on continuing with college after the baby is born. I am happy to be able to help them out with daycare. Yes, this baby wasn't planned...but it will be LOVED by its parents and all of the extended family. I don't believe anyone should be forced to "fend for themselves" when they have a child, no matter the age of the parent. I believe all parents need help/support and the more loving people in the lives of a child and parent...the better.

 

[rie'smom]

A person born biologically a man cannot get pregnant therefore your brother's girlfriend is pregnant. It cannot be said that "we are pregnant" when referring to a man and a woman.

 

[Colleen27]

THEY should do what they can FIRST, then ask for help only when they've exhausted their own resources and abilities. Asking for help shouldn't be the first-string plan.

I think it is important to look at the big picture/long run, though, rather than fall into the poverty-inducing/perpetuating trap of looking only at the immediate. Medical assistance for a child while one or both parents finish college is more likely to result in a stable long term outcome than for them to drop out and go to work at Starbucks to provide benefits right now at the expense of their long-term prospects.

 

[Judique]

OP HERE

Wow. I am a bit surprised by all of the replies.

Thank you to those who offer support and constructive ideas on how to handle the insurance. I just found out that the insurance will not allow the baby to be added to the plan after she is born. My brother and his girlfriend ARE checking into insurance options for the baby. In addition to what they are doing, I told them I would check around to see if I could find anything to help them out. In my mind, that is what family is for especially when you are forced to deal with an unplanned situation. I thought the NICE people on the dis would be able to offer me some helpful tips/ideas.

My brother is a full time college student with a part time job (that doesn't offer benefits). Yes, he could quit college and get a full time job with benefits, but in the long run staying in college seems like the best option. My brothers girlfriend plans on continuing with college after the baby is born. I am happy to be able to help them out with daycare. Yes, this baby wasn't planned...but it will be LOVED by its parents and all of the extended family. I don't believe anyone should be forced to "fend for themselves" when they have a child, no matter the age of the parent. I believe all parents need help/support and the more loving people in the lives of a child and parent...the better.

The replies are pretty nasty. I wonder if these people would say the same thing if they were standing in front of you?

Purseval - I liked your post - OP asked for insurance info, not about welfare. Why would these people assume the couple and their child would need welfare? Or that they would be using the system? Just nasty nasty ......

For those who suggested ways a struggling couple could manage, those were great advice.

OP - best wishes to your brother and his girlfiend and their child! Keep us updated. When is baby due? Is it a girl or a boy or do they know yet?

 

[MomRN]

For the people that against this couple getting help, are you against government assistance or just in this circumstance? Personally, I can't think of anyone else that would deserve it more. It's not like neither of them are working, or going to school to better their income potential, with their 3rd child on the way, selling their food stamps for beer and cigarettes and rushing themselves to their local ER for a 98.9 temp because they have Medicaid and it's "free"(these are the scenerios that gets to me with government assistance). If anyone deserves a helping hand, it's this young couple.

Glad you are helping out with childcare.

 

[VirataMama4]

I don't see anywhere in the OP's original post that said her brother and his girlfriend didn't use any precautions to prevent pregnancy, so most of you are assuming and you know the old saying for assuming anything. Also, abortion and adoption are personal choices and should be left as such.
The OP only asked what options were available for health insurance for the BABY once she was born. Most jobs available to "20 somethings" with NO college degree will not provide insurance at a reasonable cost that they would be able to afford! I was one of them a while back and if I had used the insurance offered through my FULL-time job, it would have taken over half of my MONTHLY paycheck! I would have not been able to support myself or my DD, and I would have had to go on State assistance for more then just health care...

OP,
Have your brother's girlfriend check into the State services for health care and for WIC. WIC is about nutrition and making sure moms and babies are healthy! You are a GREAT sister for being there for them and offering to watch the baby once she is born! Seems like some here should take a lesson from you! I wish you, your brother and his girlfriend, good luck!

 

[mdvlprof]

How do we make sure the baby has health insurance?

Doesn't the college have a health ins plan? The one at my school was cheap, about 1/2 what I'd pay otherwise. Most plans have option to include dependants.

 

[dreamin_disney]

dh and I werent married. I worked part-time and went to school nights and he fulltime. We didnt make much and missed getting any hlp by $3,000. I had health insurance through my job and dd got it for 30 days after she was born. Then dh put her on his. Reality is they will have to work and got to school part-time. She's lucky to have you babysit. We missed getting babysitting pro rated because we made $3000 over low income needed. We had to pay for it which really hurt but our creditcards came handy.

and
1. if they live together his income counts so they might not quailfy for help.

2.If he's the dad they will ask where he is if she tries getting aid, so he might have to pay child support.

I havent had a chance to read all the post but reality is they will have to get a job at least your brother. If his job offers health insurance he can put the baby on it but not his girlfriend.

Its a hard road but you have to do whatever it takes. Being a parent we have had to sacifice a lot but our dd was worth it.

Good luck to them and hope your new SIL has a happy healthy baby

 

[momandkidslovedisney]

Doesn't the college have a health ins plan? The one at my school was cheap, about 1/2 what I'd pay otherwise. Most plans have option to include dependants.

Thank you!! This is exactly the type of idea I was looking for. I never thought of checking into the college insurance plan.

 

[momandkidslovedisney]

The replies are pretty nasty. I wonder if these people would say the same thing if they were standing in front of you?

Purseval - I liked your post - OP asked for insurance info, not about welfare. Why would these people assume the couple and their child would need welfare? Or that they would be using the system? Just nasty nasty ......

For those who suggested ways a struggling couple could manage, those were great advice.

OP - best wishes to your brother and his girlfiend and their child! Keep us updated. When is baby due? Is it a girl or a boy or do they know yet?

Thank you. The baby is a girl. She is due around Christmas time.

 

[momandkidslovedisney]

dh and I werent married. I worked part-time and went to school nights and he fulltime. We didnt make much and missed getting any hlp by $3,000. I had health insurance through my job and dd got it for 30 days after she was born. Then dh put her on his. Reality is they will have to work and got to school part-time. She's lucky to have you babysit. We missed getting babysitting pro rated because we made $3000 over low income needed. We had to pay for it which really hurt but our creditcards came handy.

and
1. if they live together his income counts so they might not quailfy for help.

2.If he's the dad they will ask where he is if she tries getting aid, so he might have to pay child support.

I havent had a chance to read all the post but reality is they will have to get a job at least your brother. If his job offers health insurance he can put the baby on it but not his girlfriend.

Its a hard road but you have to do whatever it takes. Being a parent we have had to sacifice a lot but our dd was worth it.

Good luck to them and hope your new SIL has a happy healthy baby

I agree. They both plan on working at least part time and going to school full time. It is going to be hard, but they are both capable of making it work in hopes of a brighter future for themselves and the baby.

Thank you for sharing your story. After a few years of struggling, it is nice to know all of their hard work should pay off.

 

[momandkidslovedisney]

Thank you for sharing your story. I will pass this information along to my brothers gf.

 

[kandeebunny]

Thank you!! This is exactly the type of idea I was looking for. I never thought of checking into the college insurance plan.

The issue with college insurance plans (as fair warning) is most will not allow them to be used as secondary, therefore her parents would have to drop her off their insurance and a dependent can be added.

Also (as someone who uses their college ins. plan) find out how health care is handled and how approvals are handled. I have to go to school health services FIRST or I'm not covered. I got hit by a car as a pedestrian...went to ER was NOT covered because I didn't go to health services (which was closed as it was during break) first.

So make sure LOTS of questions are asked!!!

 

[momandkidslovedisney]

The issue with college insurance plans (as fair warning) is most will not allow them to be used as secondary, therefore her parents would have to drop her off their insurance and a dependent can be added.

Also (as someone who uses their college ins. plan) find out how health care is handled and how approvals are handled. I have to go to school health services FIRST or I'm not covered. I got hit by a car as a pedestrian...went to ER was NOT covered because I didn't go to health services (which was closed as it was during break) first.

So make sure LOTS of questions are asked!!!

Oh my goodness. Thank you for the information.

 

[Piecey]

Thank you!! This is exactly the type of idea I was looking for. I never thought of checking into the college insurance plan.

The issue with college insurance plans (as fair warning) is most will not allow them to be used as secondary, therefore her parents would have to drop her off their insurance and a dependent can be added.

Also (as someone who uses their college ins. plan) find out how health care is handled and how approvals are handled. I have to go to school health services FIRST or I'm not covered. I got hit by a car as a pedestrian...went to ER was NOT covered because I didn't go to health services (which was closed as it was during break) first.

So make sure LOTS of questions are asked!!!

I had the WVU college insurance plan when I first got married. My first DS was born under it and automatically covered for 30 days-- obviously, every plan is different but it was cheap-- $780/yr and covered the birth in full. I could have added DS to it (for about $1200 I think) but DH ended up gaining full-time employment my 7th month of pregnancy and picking up insurance for us both.

Definitely keep in mind what the other poster I quoted said-- that was the reason most of the WVU students I knew complained about the policy. I was not held to that policy because I live over 2 hours from the WVU main campus (and Ruby Memorial, WVU's hospital) so I was not held to using their services first. The policy was also restrictive on which classes and the types I could take to qualify-- and they contacted the registrars office every semester to confirm I was meeting the guidelines before they paid a claim.

That said, it was a blessing! And worth every cent.

The college should have the brochures explaining the policy-- I kept several copies around to refer back to because it had so many restrictions.

Congrats on your new niece!

 

[JacksLilWench]

I can't believe some of the replies on here--who knew people who all have a common interest in the happiest place on earth could be so mean? Has no one heard the expression "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone"? Guess not... Everybody makes mistakes, and I think it's pretty admirable for both the parents to not only be involved, but to want to stay in school after the baby is born.

While I don't really have any advice to add, I wanted to wish everyone in this situation the absolute best of luck and best of health to the baby and parents!

 

[Polyluvr]

OP HERE

Wow. I am a bit surprised by all of the replies.

Thank you to those who offer support and constructive ideas on how to handle the insurance. I just found out that the insurance will not allow the baby to be added to the plan after she is born. My brother and his girlfriend ARE checking into insurance options for the baby. In addition to what they are doing, I told them I would check around to see if I could find anything to help them out. In my mind, that is what family is for especially when you are forced to deal with an unplanned situation. I thought the NICE people on the dis would be able to offer me some helpful tips/ideas.

My brother is a full time college student with a part time job (that doesn't offer benefits). Yes, he could quit college and get a full time job with benefits, but in the long run staying in college seems like the best option. My brothers girlfriend plans on continuing with college after the baby is born. I am happy to be able to help them out with daycare. Yes, this baby wasn't planned...but it will be LOVED by its parents and all of the extended family. I don't believe anyone should be forced to "fend for themselves" when they have a child, no matter the age of the parent. I believe all parents need help/support and the more loving people in the lives of a child and parent...the better.

AMEN!
Wow-some people are really harsh over here-maybe all the "budget" talk makes Dis'ers crabby, LOL

Congrats on being an Aunt!

 

[torinsmom]

I am not sure if colleges offer health insurance for part time students if they go that route. And what about after mom has the baby? If it is due around Christmas, will she be in school for the semester starting in January?

I am a graduate student(online) and got info on health insurance through the school. It was something like $1900 for the year I am a teacher, so I already have insurance. Besides, Blue Cross, Blue Shield is much cheaper. You can get a quote online really quickly for them too. I did a mock quote for a child born 8/24 and there was a plan for around $200/month with copays only for regular doctors, specialists and prescription drugs. The deductible for everything else was $2500 with a 20% coinsurance after that is met.

The problem I see with just covering a baby is this--wouldn't you have to wait until after the child was born to get coverage? And wouldn't this mean the time between birth and when the policy goes into affect would result in charges that have to be paid by the parent? I know when a woman is covered by insurance and is pregnant, the baby is covered immediately upon birth.

Marsha