Grants and Scholarships

Anyone with experience?

My husband and I may have gotten pregnant this month, but it's too soon to tell. I am taking prenatal vitamins just in case. We would both be very happy and excited if we were pregnant, and we currently have a three bedroom house, so we'll have plenty of room. Our families are also supportive, and only live about 40 minutes away. The only problem is that since we've gotten married, we haven't had any health insurance. We are 22, full time students in our fourth year of college, and we receive scholarships, grants, and financial aid to pay for our education. We live in Texas. If I am pregnant, what should we do now to prepare for the baby? Since we are full time students working as servers in restaurants, would we be able to qualify for Medicaid to get prenatal care and care for the baby? Any one know more about our options? We have plenty of money to take care of the baby otherwise, but just not enough to pay out-of-pocket for hospital, doctor, and prescription bills. I just wanted to add that we've been married for two years and were planning until we got our "real" jobs and our "real" home before having kids. We just happened to not be too careful this month and had unprotected sex on several "fertile" days. So if I take a pregnancy test at home when I can and am in fact pregnant, the first thing I should do is just walk into a medicaid office? I don't have to pay for a regular doctor visit first to confirm it or anything? And thank you all so much for your responses! I appreciate it so much! Good luck to all of you in you, especially those of you that are expecting!

Public Comments

1. i am in texas too, and because you are pregnant you can get medicaid, you should just go to the local office and talk to them
2. Most universities and colleges have a child care facility, there is no reason you can't sit in a classroom pregnant and I am sure anything worth having will be a little hard. If you are pregnant, that will bring you so much joy and like millions of other women, there is always a way to mix family and work. Good luck and congrats if you are.
3. you can go apply for medicaid if in fact you are preg they will want the dr. to verify the due date and if you qualify for services it will back up and pay for previous visits for the pregnancy itself medicaid does cover all expenses and there aren't any co-pays
4. Apply for Medicaid. My husband and I are in the same situation so I totally understand where your coming from. I'm a housewife, and my husband has a very good paying job. We have a 3 bedroom house and more than enough money to care for our son. Medical bills would kill us though and his insurance does not kick in for another 3 months. We are getting help from Baby Arizona. Medicaid should be able to help you, here is the links: http://www.dhs.state.tx.us/Forms/Form1010.html http://www.insuredcredit.com/Healthinsurancecompany/TexasChildHealthInsurancesitemap.html Or you could go to your local DES office (Department of Economic Security) Good luck and congratulations! EDIT: If you confirm the pregnancy at home you need to go to a planed parenthood (This would be a cheaper way) and have them administer a test (its only about 16$).They will then give you a 'Proof of pregnancy'. Then when you go to apply for Medicaid take the proof of pregnancy with you, along with pay stubs from 60 days from you and your husband, your birth certificate, proof of residence (a bill with your name and address will do), and a picture ID is what they wanted from us...
5. The only way to know is to apply for Medicaid. It is a simple procedure but sometimes takes forever to be approved. Start by going and getting a blood test at a clinic, if the results are positive, take this to the social services office along with pay stubs for the past two months (both of you). I am not sure if you will get it. I live in Virginia and was a server and a student and able to get it, but not with my boyfriends income. There is no sense in not trying though, since you are both in school, this may help. Otherwise, save money as you can. I am sure that if you are pregnant there will be things that are cut out of your budget, you could also get a cheaper plan on cell phones, if you have cable, get rid of it or get a smaller package. Some offices have payment plans, look into that as well. Good luck and I hope that everything works out for you!