Every year nearly a million American women deliver babies without receiving adequate medical attention and even after the baby has been born many more women are unable to provide adequate medical care for themselves and their child. We have tried to help by making sure you are aware of the many free or reduced medical assistance programs that are available to you and your child.

Medical Help and Medical Resources

You work hard to provide for your child and want to make sure he or she grows up strong, smart and healthy. But like many parents whose children do not have any or adequate insurance, you worry about finances and being able to provide appropriate medical care to your child. You and your child may be eligible for free or low-cost health insurance and other medical services as described below.

In fact, your state, and every state in the nation, has a health insurance program for infants, children and teens. The insurance is available to children in working families, including families that include individuals with a variety of immigration status. For little or even no cost as all, the insurance can pay for visits to the doctor, medicine, hospitalizations and much more. A child that does not have health insurance is very likely to be eligible, even if you are working. The states have different eligibility rules, but in most states, uninsured children 18 years old and younger, whose families earn up to $34,100 a year (for a family of four) are eligible. For more information visit the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services website or contact your state and local Health Department. call 1-800-311-BABY. For information in Spanish, call 1-800-504-7081.

Kids health and Medline Plus, as well as patients.uptodate are other good sources of information on pregnancy and medical related issues. Sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy is discussed on the Centers for Disease Control website.

Many additional resources to help with medical information and medical care for you and your child are listed below. For other types of assistance visit the pages Financial Help and Nutritional Help.

Medical Help Programs

American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 60,000 pediatricians that can help you with information about most child health related concerns.

Birth Mother Assistance contains information on all aspects of pregnancy all the way through labor and delivery. It also includes information on where to get medical, financial, nutritional and emotional help. The site unique in that we have presented the information on a state-by-state basis.

Birth Mother Resources is a website that can help any woman who wants to know more about her pregnancy, about raising her child herself, or about placing the child for adoption with a loving family

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is an excellent website covering a wide variety of heath and disease issues.

Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) is designed for families who earn too much money to qualify for Medicaid, yet cannot afford to buy private insurance for their children. CHIP coverage provides eligible children with coverage for a full range of health services including regular checkups, immunizations, prescription drugs, lab tests, X-rays, hospital visits and more.

Crisis pregnancy center locator, and Life Call and Option Line are resources for a U.S. birth mother and Ramah International and Option Line are crisis pregnancy center resources for a Canadian birth mother. A crisis pregnancy center can offer support, practical help, and options counseling.

Drug Prescription Assistance Programs provide free or low-cost medications to low-income individuals and families.

Free Medical/Dental Clinics provides you with information about free clinics.

Government Benefit Programs is an excellent website for finding government programs to help you and your child. Simply go to the site, fill out the questionnaire and the site will list all the national government programs for which you qualify. Additionally, information on financial aid and other U.S. government benefits are listed by agency and subject matter on the U.S. Government benefit website.

Health Insurance information and help is available for pregnant women, birth mothers and their children.

InsureKidsNow benefits children under the age of 18 who do not have insurance.

Medicaid Programs can help you If you are not able to afford to pay for medical care.

MedlinePlus, sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, has baby care and health related information from a variety of sources. It has extensive information from trusted sources on over 700 diseases and conditions. There are also lists of hospitals and physicians, a medical encyclopedia and a medical dictionary, extensive information on prescription and nonprescription drugs, and health information from the media.

National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program provides free or low-cost mammograms and pap tests for women who cannot afford breast exams or Pap smears.

National Organization for Rare Disorders patient assistance program offers free medication to people who otherwise cannot afford their medications. Patients must meet financial and other program specific criteria to be eligible for assistance.

NurturingNetwork.org offers help regarding medical and financial assistance, nurturing homes, educational programs, employment, adoption, and preparation for parenthood. The objective of the Nurturing Network is to ensure that every woman knows that the resources she needs in order to continue her pregnancy are available.

Pregnancy And Children is a comprehensive website that can help any teenager or any woman who wants to know more about her pregnancy, about the child she has delivered or may give birth to in the near future, about raising her child, and about her other options.

Prescription Drug Assistance. Some states provide prescription drug assistance to women who are not covered by Medicaid. Additionally, many drug companies will work with your doctor or health care provider to supply free medicines to those in need.

Reduced Cost Health Care at Hospitals: Hill-Burton facilities are hospitals and nursing homes that have received money from the federal government and now must provide a certain amount of free or reduced-cost health services every year to those who cannot pay. You may apply for Hill-Burton assistance at any time before or after you receive care by simply asking for Hill-Burton assistance. To obtain a list of Hill-Burton facilities in your area or for more information on the Hill-Burton program and how to get free or reduced-cost health care go to www.hrsa.gov.

State Child Welfare or Health and Human Services Agency can help you with issues of pregnancy, medical care, parenting and foster care.

U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services website can help you with some of the medical issues and concerns surrounding pregnancy.

Vaccines for Children Program helps families by providing free vaccines to doctors who serve eligible children and is administered at the national level by the CDC. States and eligible U.S. projects serve eligible patients up to and including age 18 years, providing routine immunizations with little to no out-of-pocket costs.

Women's Government Health offers financial aid and help related to a woman's pregnancy, prenatal care, preparing for a new baby, and the care of the baby.