Funding for Mama on Bedrest: Uplifiting Update
June 15th, 2010I awoke to a call this morning from the Mama on hospital bed rest. She had her little boy at 1 am at 29 weeks and 3 days gestation. He weighed in at just 3 lbs. Although he is very small, he seems to be doing very well. However, he will have to remain in the NICU until he is closer in age to his due date-August 28th. It was so nice to hear from her and I was so pleased that she took the time to call me and to update me on her situation. But I was most heartened to hear of her future plans. This is one mama on bed rest who won’t be down for long!
For those who don’t know the story, this very sweet single mama called me several weeks ago to see if I had any financial resources. She had gone into preterm labor at her job as a fast food restaurant manager and her employer was only allowing her 6 weeks of leave. She was 16 weeks away from her due date when she was placed on bed rest. So this soon to be unemployed, uninsured mama went to work-getting funds for her family that is. She had signed up for Medicare and was now covered for her medical benefits. But she still had no income. We found a couple of emergency grant programs and she actually qualified and received one.
As I spoke with her today, she told me that she wanted more security for her family. She opted to be “let go” from the fast food franchise and to collect unemployment. In the meantime, she is going back to school to earn an EMS certification or Certification in forensic science. These jobs pay far more than her manager’s position, offer benefits, room for advancement and most importantly, support her need to support her children-not only financially, but also to be present and to be a hands on parent.
I have since called her back to advise her of some resources for her son. The first is a new organization run by my friend
Kelli Kelley called “A Hand to Hold”. This non-profit organization pairs new parents of preemies with “veteran” preemie parents to help the former navigate the potential perils and pitfalls of raising a premature child. The organization is still in the pre-launch phase but will launch its full list of services and resources for families of preemies in the coming weeks. As part of the launch, they are hosting a discussion night with Dr. Jennifer Gunter, author of the book, The Preemie Primer. The meeting is free and I think that the information and resources this mama will come 
away with will serve her for years.
I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to be involved, even if just a little bit, in this mamas pregnancy journey and I am most heartened that it seems to be having a happy ending.
Sr. Financial Planner Megan Poore: Helping Mamas on Bedrest Navigate Financial Valleys
June 9th, 2010When my client was confronted with loss of income and benefits due to bed rest, I began to wonder how many other mamas on bedrest were facing financial hardship because of bed rest? I consulted with my good friend Megan Poore, a Senior Financial advisor with Lucien, Sterling and Gray. Megan shares with us some financial planning tips and some ways to navigate through the financial valley bed rest may plunge mamas and their families into.
Improvements in Insurance Funding for Mamas on Bedrest
June 8th, 2010I am pleased to report that the mama I was helping to get emergency funds while on bed rest was offered a grant from Better Bed rest. While talking to her yesterday she told me how kind the volunteers are from Better Bed rest and how they helped her in her time of need. While I am thrilled that she is going to be okay-physically and financially-it still pains me to think that she is just one of many mamas on bed rest who will face financial crisis as a result of a high risk pregnancy.
Hopefully there is some relief in sight. In today’s Washington Post, columnist Michelle Andrews highlights some of the benefits that the new Health Care Reform Law will bring to pregnant women. While many won’t kick in until 2014, some will take effect this year and next. They include: 
- Coverage of preventive screenings and services for pregnant women at no extra charge. Yes, many women were charged additional fees to their insurance premiums for certain prenatal screening tests and treatments like folic acid supplements and smoking cessation programs, both known to improve the health of mother and baby.
- The new law will require that employers offer paid time off/breaks so that mothers can go express breastmilk and the law requires that a designated place be made available-other than the bathroom. It’s about time!
- Funds will be allotted for research on post partum depression. Again, it’s about time!
- A pregnancy assistance fund, which will provide $25 million annually for 10 years for housing, child care and other needs. (Here is emergency funding for mamas on bed rest!!!)
- $1.5 billion over five years will be dedicated to expanding home-visiting programs in which nurses and other providers visit pregnant teenagers and young mothers. While I can appreciate helping young mothers, I think that the program should be expanded to include ALL new mothers of ALL ages. As any mom knows, having a new baby is overwhelming. If there isn’t sufficient support the stress can contribute to post partum depression. (See April 30th Blog post, Austinwoman Magazine Article on Post Partum Depression)
Starting in 2014, Medicare will begin covering low income adults. This is important because while some 40% of women receive Medicare while they are pregnant, they are often not covered prior to becoming pregnant and lose coverage shortly after they deliver (often within 60 days). The hope is that these women will be healthier going into their pregnancies because they will have routine health maintenance and that they and their children will stay healthier post partum because she will have continued healthcare.
Finally, as of 2014 insurance companies will no longer be able to deny pregnancy preventive care as a “pre-existing condition” or to charge women higher premium costs when they are pregnant.
While these are great advances in maternity care, we still have a long way to go. There still needs to be more research into the causes of high risk pregnancy as well as provisions made (such as short term disability benefits, home care services) to help high risk pregnant women and their families.
As with anything, change is only going to come if we demand it. Let your voice be heard! What are the important issues affecting mamas on bedrest? Share your comments in the comments section below.
On bed and having some low back, hip and leg pain? Sign up for our Mamas on Bedrest e-mail list and get a free download of lower body exercises modified specifically for mamas on bed rest. Sign up now!
