The Medicaid programs in each state have a portion that is designed to cover the health care needs of women who are pregnant. In New York, the main Medicaid program will provide that coverage. The state also has a prenatal care program, and a family planning program.
Medicaid is a public, or government run, form of health insurance. It provides coverage for individuals and families who are low income, and who are unable to afford to buy a health plan from a private insurance company. Medicaid is funded, in part, by the federal government. It is also partially funded by the government of an individual state.
In New York, the Medicaid program is administered by the the New York State Department of Health. The main Medicaid program will cover the health care needs of women who are pregnant. To be eligible, a pregnant woman must come from a family whose income is 200% of the federal poverty level. Medicaid covers family planning and reproductive health service.
New York also has a Family Planning Benefit Program (FPBP). It is for New Yorkers who need family planning services, but may not be able to afford them. The purpose of the program is to increase access to confidential family planning services and to prevent the incidence of unwanted pregnancies.
To be eligible for FPBP, you must be a resident of New York. You must also be a United States citizen, or have satisfactory immigration status. The program is available for men or women who are childbearing age. The person must meet income requirements, and not be currently enrolled in Medicaid or Family Health Plus.
FPBP covers most FDA approved birth control methods, devices, and supplies. It covers emergency contraception services and follow up care, and both male and female sterilization. It also covers preconception counseling and preventative screening and family planning options before pregnancy.
There also is a Prenatal Care program. The New York Medicaid website has tons of information about nutrition before and during a pregnancy, how to have a healthy pregnancy, and where to go to apply for Medicaid prenatal care services. It also has a breastfeeding promotion program. Women who need it can also get help for, and information on, perinatal depression.
New York has an online guide for Preconception Care. This will help women who want to become pregnant achieve that result. Anyone can look at this long list of information for free. It gives women a good starting off point for a conversation with a doctor about how to improve the woman’s chances of conceiving and having a healthy pregnancy.
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