LISTEN: If you’re newly pregnant and not able to afford health insurance, you may qualify for Medicaid. Reporters Cara Anthony and Blake Farmer — hosts of the new series “HealthQ” — explain that every state has a program to provide coverage for pregnant people.
When she noticed an unusual craving for hot dogs, Matte’a Brooks suspected her body was telling her something, so she decided to take a pregnancy test. She took two just to be sure. Both were positive.
“I was definitely scared,” said Brooks, 23, who was uninsured. “I was like, OK … I’m pregnant, so where do I go from here?”
Until then she hadn’t thought much about health care, but that changed when she found out that her daughter was on the way.
Brooks got that news last winter. The mix of joy, anxiety, and excitement she felt mirrors what many new parents feel at this time of year. Many Americans find out in January or February that they’re expecting, because in the U.S., August has consistently high birth rates.
A growing body of research shows that prenatal care can make a huge difference to the long-term health of both the parent and baby. This is part of why every state offers health coverage to pregnant women who meet income requirements and might otherwise go uninsured.
As a result, Medicaid pays for more than 40% of bir …