Pregnant, No Insurance, Don’t Qualify for Medicaid
Medicaid is an all-in-one health insurance coverage backed by the US Government. Millions of Americans get health coverage at reasonable rates through Medicaid.
It is available for low-income individuals and families, children, pregnant women, the elderly, and the disabled.
Many people believe that Pregnant Women do not qualify for Medicaid. However, the actual scenario is entirely different.
All health insurance companies and Medicaid cover pregnancy and childbirth in the United States.
This applies to women who fall under the low-income category. So, if you believe that Pregnant women do not qualify for Medicaid, it is baseless.
Interestingly, pregnant women can avail themselves of Medicaid facilities. Coverage begins the day she qualifies for the insurance, even if she applies after pregnancy.
These services are provided under Maternity and Newborn Care.
What are the Criteria for Pregnant Women to Get Medicaid Coverage?
Pregnant women’s eligibility for Medicaid is not determined by whether they have other health insurance coverage, but by their income level and residency status (being a state resident and meeting any applicable immigration requirements).
Women may not qualify for Medicaid if their income exceeds the eligibility limits set by their state (typically roughly 138% to over 200% of the federal poverty level for pregnant women), regardless of their ability to pay for pregnancy and newborn care treatment.
This is what makes most women confused when they try to avail of Medicaid before or after their pregnancy.
While federal Medicaid does not generally cover undocumented immigrants (except for emergency services), many states now provide pregnancy-related coverage under Medicaid or CHIP regardless of immigration status. As of 2025, nearly half of states offer such coverage for pregnant women.
However, these women can benefit from Medicaid facilities under certain circumstances.
Women in a high-income group can reapply for Medicaid coverage if their circumstances change or if they correct errors in their previous application.
Undocumented immigrants can apply for Emergency Medicaid, which covers limited services like labor and delivery in all states. They can also seek care through hospital charity programs available in their area.
Many government programs provide additional help to those women who don’t have health insurance or are not qualified for Medicaid.
These programs offer additional benefits, including food, prenatal care, energy, prenatal vitamins, and more.
Moreover, some private organizations also provide financial support to the needy.
Women without health insurance should search for organizations that offer financial aid or external support to complete their maternity period.
What are the Options available for Pregnant Women?
Pregnant women without health insurance have several options, depending on their state, including applying for Medicaid or CHIP Perinatal or seeking assistance through other state-specific programs.
CHIP Perinatal provides coverage for unborn children through the state’s CHIP program and, depending on the state, may also cover the mother to some extent.
Services Covered Under Medicaid or CHIP Perinatal for Pregnant Women
Both programs offer similar services to pregnant women. We have prepared a list to give you more information about the services covered under these programs.
- Prenatal clinical visits
- Prenatal drugs and vitamins
- Labor services
- Delivery services
- Regular checkups and tests
- Other benefits before leaving the hospital post-delivery
These are the services covered under the Medicaid and CHIP Perinatal program.
The health plan may vary from area to area, so it’s best to first check for a plan that suits your basic needs.
What If a Pregnant Woman Already Has Medicaid or CHIP Perinatal?
Pregnant women with Medicaid or CHIP Perinatal are covered for at least 60 days post-delivery of their newborn (and up to 12 months postpartum in many states).
After the postpartum coverage period ends (60 days in some states or up to 12 months in states with extended coverage), a woman may need to reapply or meet certain criteria to continue receiving health benefits through Medicaid, depending on her state’s rules. She will be notified when her coverage ends.
When her Medicaid postpartum coverage is ending, she will typically be notified by the state (for example, via an official notice or other contact).
During this period, they can enroll in an external Marketplace plan without breaking down the coverage.
If a pregnant woman already has Medicaid, her newborn will be enrolled for Medicaid Coverage automatically.
The newborn will remain eligible for coverage and benefits for at least their first year of life, and in many states, the mother’s Medicaid coverage now continues for 12 months postpartum.
Is Charity Care a Good Option?
Charity care is a lifeline for women who do not carry legal immigration or are non-citizens of the US.
If they do not get an emergency Medicaid service, their final option is Charity Care. These types of women can avail of the service from a local hospital.
As per the law, local hospitals and other healthcare centers can’t deny providing services to the needy even if they do not have legal citizenship or immigration.
They can also receive financial aid from Charity Care to look after their newborns.
Final Thoughts:
Thankfully, there are multiple options available for pregnant women who don’t qualify for Medicaid during or after their pregnancy.
These are the alternatives that they can explore if their appeal to get coverage under Medicaid or the CHIP Perinatal Program is denied by the authority.
The rules to cover prenatal care services may vary from state to state for US Citizens and non-citizens exploring the Charity Care program.
Undocumented immigrants can seek assistance through hospital-based charity care programs, which vary in accessibility and documentation requirements by hospital and state.
Explore the available plans before applying for these programs to cover pregnancy expenses.
See Also
Hardship Grants for Single Mothers
