Maternity Cards

March 8, 2006 Prenatal Care In 2003, there were more than 4 million births in the U.S. An important part of a healthy pregnancy is prenatal care. Up until about the 28th week of pregnancy, a woman will visit her physician about once every four weeks. Between weeks 28 to 56, a visit is scheduled every two to three weeks. From week 36 until birth, the woman will visit her physician about once a week. Prenatal visits allow physicians and nurses the opportunity to provide medical information to the mom and prepare her for the next stages of the pregnancy and eventual delivery. A mom will receive advice on nutrition and physical activity. Doctors can monitor the moms health and the babys growth and screen for some potential medical problems in the baby. Physicians may also offer information about newborn care and feeding. Women should start getting prenatal care as soon as they learn they are pregnant. Unfortunately, the CDC estimates only 84 percent of American women start prenatal care by the end of their first trimester. The remaining 16 percent either get care later in the pregnancy or not at all. Research shows women who receive no prenatal care are more likely to experience premature labor/preterm delivery, low birth weight babies and stillbirths. Paying for Care and Delivery In the U.S., the average cost for maternity care and uncomplicated delivery of a healthy newborn is $5,000 to $8,000 or higher. Complicated births can cost many thousands of dollars more. While many women are lucky to have health insurance, a policy may not pay the entire cost. Some health insurance plans dont cover maternity care. And when maternity care can be purchased as an extra option, it may not take effect for several months after obtaining the coverage (too late for women who are already pregnant). About 13 percent of pregnant women have no health insurance at all. Without adequate insurance, some women may be reluctant to get prenatal care and are at risk for complications, pregnancy loss or having pre-term, low birth weight babies. Now a company called Affordable Healthcare Options is offering a program that aims to bring down the cost of having a baby. Its called the "MaternityCard™." Aaron Bouren, President, says the MaternityCard is best for a group of women he dubs "moms in the middle" - those without health insurance who also dont qualify for traditional government health programs. When a woman signs up for MaternityCard, staff advocates performing an assessment to find out if the client may be eligible for some type of medical assistance program. Sometimes women who have applied for medical assistance have made a mistake in their application, causing the denial of coverage. MaternityCard staff will review the application process and try, if possible to get the needed coverage. If the client is not eligible for government programs, MaternityCard has a working relationship with many local and national charities, faith-based programs and other organizations which may pay for a part or all of a womans pregnancy and delivery costs. When other avenues dont pan out, MaternityCard has a national PPO network of 450,000 providers to which they can refer patients. The company will help clients work out a payment plan with the doctors or obtain a no- or low-interest loan if necessary to pay the physicians fees. Once a woman is enrolled, a patient advocacy team will continue to help clients lower their bills and keep down costs associated with lab work, sonograms, prenatal vitamins, prescriptions, hospital stays and newborn tests and checkups. A registered nurse is available to answer any questions that come up 24-hours a day. After delivery, the hospital bill is meticulously examined to find ways to cut the final bill. In the past three years, MaternityCard has served about ten thousand women. The service is now available in all 50 states. Bouren cautions that MaternityCard is not an insurance program, nor does the company pay any expenses for the women. Clients are still responsible for paying their own bills. However, MaternityCard experts will work hard to help clients keep their costs down. Many clients save about 40 to 50 percent off the usual customary rates charged for maternity care for uninsured women. Some save as much as 60 percent. In fact, the company guarantees clients will save at least the cost of their fees. Cost for the MaternityCard service varies depending upon the area of the country in which the client resides and the degree of service needed (i.e., high risk pregnancies or in vitro fertilization are associated with higher costs). According to Bouren, the average client pays about $69.00/month. AUDIENCE INQUIRY For information about the MaternityCard™: http://www.maternitycard.com For general information on pregnancy health issues: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, public website, http://www.medem.com March of Dimes, http://www.marchofdimes.com, or contact your local chapter Maternal and Child Health Bureau, http://mchb.hrsa.gov/programs/womeninfants/prenatal.htm National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, http://www.nichd.nih.gov BIBLIOGRAPHY "Care Before and During Pregnancy - Prenatal Care," Bethesda: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, downloaded from website (http://www.nichd.nih.gov), February 8, 2006. Fowles, Eileen, "Prenatal Nutrition and Birth Outcomes," Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic and Neonatal Nursing, November-December 2004, Vol. 33, No. 6, pp. 809-822. Hessol, Nancy, et al., "Reduced Risk of Inadequate Prenatal Care in the Era After Medicaid Expansions in California," Medical Care, May 2004, Vo. 42, No. 5, pp. 416-422. Martin, Joyce, et al., "Births: Final Data for 2003," National Vital Statistic Reports, September 8, 2005, Vol. 54, No. 2. Maupin, R., Jr., et al., "Characteristics of Women Who Deliver with No Prenatal Care," Journal of Maternal, Fetal and Neonatal Medicine, July 2004, Vol. 16, No. 1, pp. 45-50. "Prenatal Care," White Plains: March of Dimes, downloaded from website (http://www.marchofdimes.com), February 8, 2006. Ricketts, Su Austin, Ph.D., et al., "Reducing Low Birthweight by Resolving Risks," American Journal of Public Health, November 2005, Vol. 95, No. 11, pp. 1952-1957. Stringer, Marilyn, et al., "The Cost of Prenatal Care Attendance and Pregnancy Outcomes in Low-Income Working Women," Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic and Neonatal Nursing, September-October 2005, Vol. 34, No. 5, pp. 551-560. "The Uninsured," Obstetrics and Gynecology, December 2004, Vol. 104, No. 6, pp. 1471-1474. "You and Your Baby," Washington, DC: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, downloaded from public website (http://www.medem.com), February 8, 2006. Research compiled and edited by Barbara J. Fister