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[gilliamjs]

My husband is the pastor of a small baptist church. The church is unable to provide health insurance for us. We desire to have children but are wondering if it is ok to go on medicade to have the baby. We definately qualify, but are not sure if there is anything Biblically against it. PLease offer your thoughts!

[jodi]

I believe that is one of those subjects that is up to each individual. The Bible does not clearly say "Thou shalt or Thou shalt not" on this subject so it is up to each individual to have a clear conscience before God.

I did not have health insurance for the births of any of my children and we chose to have them at home with the assistance of a midwife. I originally looked into home birth because of the cost factor. Once I researched the subject I realized it was the way for me. Now even if I did have insurance I would still have them at home. For my first child the cost was right around $1000 and that was for every expense I could think of (prenatal vitamins, birthing supplies, midwife, rogham shot, etc).

Homebirth is definately an option worth exploring. If you have any questions feel free to email or private message me.
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Jodi
Jer 32:27 Behold, I [am] the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?

[KatyL]

I'm not sure how it works where you live, but here, in Arizona, our taxes pay the cost for those who need help. I would consider it a blessing to know I was helping my pastor or anyone with thier medical bills...especially for a lil beebee My sweet momma gets medicare and I am thanful to the Lord for His provision. I say go for it

[beachbum]

I don't know where you live but I know in most states you can get low-income Blue Cross/Blue Shield for like 50.00 and that's in California so other places maybe cheaper. I am in the nursing field and I always suggest that woman seek professional services for birth, and prenatal care. You can also use a midwife in the hospital setting. and it will be cheaper too. But at least you are at a hosptial if you needed anything.

I myself didn't have insurance for my first daughter and I had to go on Medi-cal through Califronia and I really had great doctors and hosp. It is a services that is offered in most states. I agree with the above e-mail it is taxes that provide these services and I would pay anyday to help out a Pastor's family...
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God Bless You,
BeachBum

" I can do all things through Christ who strenghtens me." Phil. 4:13

[dwdaners]

We didn't have maternity coverage when my son was born either. (He's about to turn three next month). After looking into Medicaid, we found out we didn't qualify for that. But the Lord had a different path for us. We learned so much... just thought I'd share it as an encouragement to you.

We decided to use a group of midwives (who work with doctors) at a hospital. Their fees were less than the doctors fees and they would stay with me during the majority of my labor.

To make a LONG story a little shorter. God provided the money we needed to pay the midwives and to have the cash available in our bank account to pay the hospital the amount that a normal delivery would cost. My husband actually had to write them a check while I was in labor. I had some complications (preecclampsia, fear of a stroke, couldn't push him out at 9 1/2 centimeters, etc.) and my son was in distress too. They ended up taking me in for a C-section. We had a healthy baby boy.

Shortly after we got home with the baby, the medical bills started coming in... the hospital had not submitted ANYTHING to insurance because we had paid cash up front. As I began to total all of the bills, we were looking at about $20,000. It was a long process trying to get each provider to submit the claim to insurance, but in the end our non-maternity insurance paid for everything and we ended up getting some of that cash back from the midwives and the hospital. God is so good and so faithful at providing for our needs.

I never would have dreamed that this is how I would want it, but I'm so thankful for the many lessons God taught us through this experience (which by the way, is a MUCH longer story).

Also, you'll probably want to check into some kind of individual plan for the baby (at least!)... all those well-baby visits and shots start to add up.

[jodi]

dwdaners,

Thanks for posting that. It reminds me of what we went thru when my first was born. Everything was fine with birth and all but because I was the primary breadwinner (my husband was a full-time student preparing for ministry) we were without an income for about two months until my husband got a full-time job. The Lord provided exactly what we needed every week for those two months. Like you said, it is a long story. But needless to say when we gave our daughter the middle name of Faith we had no idea how much we would learn about faith thru that process.
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Jodi
Jer 32:27 Behold, I [am] the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?

[joshuasmom]

Hi, I just want to say that I personally see nothing wrong with you going on Medicaid. My husband pastored a very small church where they would give him the Sunday Night offering as he pay. That would range anywhere between $20 to $50. I know that we've not in this for the money and we were happy with what ever he recieved. Anyway to make a long story short. I found out that I was pragnant we had no insurance and my husband was a rural route postal carrier that made very little. Because of my health we decided to go on Medicaid. (See I broke my back due to a car wreck that happened when I was 11.) The Dr's said that I would have a hard time carrying and a harder time delivering. I see it this way...... We pay our taxes that go pay for the program so why not use it. It's there.