Financial help for pregnant women and families

Now that you're pregnant, seeing a healthcare provider and eating right are more important than ever. But if you don't have medical insurance or you're struggling to pay for food and other basics, taking those healthy steps for your baby can be hard. The good news is you're not alone. Many government and private organizations are dedicated to helping people during pregnancy – and after – at little to no cost.

Call the numbers or visit the websites below for help finding resources that are available to you.

What to do when you're pregnant and don't have health insurance

If you're uninsured, public health insurance programs are available for pregnant women who meet certain qualifications. But even if you're unable to get health insurance, there are clinics and groups that offer free or low-cost prenatal care to help you and your baby. Here are some of your options.

Medicaid

Now that you're pregnant, you may qualify for Medicaid. All Medicaid plans cover pregnancy and childbirth, even if you sign up after you get pregnant. Household size, income and immigration status all impact your Medicaid eligibility. Coverage and qualifications vary by state, so visit the Medicaid websiteOpens a new window to find out if you qualify.

Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP)

If you don't qualify for Medicaid, you and your baby may be able to get healthcare through the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP)Opens a new window. Coverage and eligibility varies by state, so visit insurekidsnow.govOpens a new window or call (877) 543-7669 for more information.

If you're eligible for Medicaid or CHIP during your pregnancy, you and your baby will be covered throughout your pregnancy and for 60 days after you give birth. You may no longer qualify after those 60 days, but your baby will be automatically enrolled in Medicaid and will be covered for their first year.

First-Year Baby Costs Calculator

Calculate the cost of your baby's first year, including gear, diapers, childcare, and more.

The Health Insurance Marketplace

You can also sign up for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act's Health Insurance Marketplace, but only during the open enrollment period.

Pregnancy itself doesn't count as a life event that will allow you to sign up outside the enrollment period, but childbirth does. If you have a Medicaid or CHIP healthcare plan during your pregnancy, or if you're uninsured when you give birth, you can enroll in a marketplace plan within 60 days after you give birth.

Visit healthcare.govOpens a new window for more information on when and how to apply for a healthcare plan through the marketplace.

Options if you don't have health insurance

If you're not able to get health insurance, the Health Resources and Services Administration's health center programOpens a new window provides funding to health centers across the nation that provide care to people, regardless of their ability to pay. These centers charge on a sliding scale based on what you can afford, and they provide a range of services including primary and preventive care. Visit the HRSA's websiteOpens a new window to find a health center near you.

Some Planned Parenthood health clinics also offer free or low-cost prenatal services. Check with your local Planned Parenthood to see what they offer by visiting plannedparenthood.orgOpens a new window or by calling (800) 230-7526. If your Planned Parenthood clinic is unable to provide the care you need, they may be able to help you find a local family planning center or health clinic that can.

Many healthcare facilities also provide payment plans and discount rates if you're paying out of pocket. Ask your healthcare provider what your options might be in that case.

And while it's no replacement for regular pre- and postnatal care, text4babyOpens a new window provides expecting and new parents with free information to help them care for their health and their baby. You'll receive free text messages each week, timed to your due date or your baby's date of birth, through your pregnancy and your baby's first year. Topics include nutrition, sleep, breastfeeding, signs and symptoms of labor, and other health and safety information.

Sign up for the service by texting BABY to 511411 (or BEBE for help in Spanish). You can also visit text4baby.orgOpens a new window or download the app on your smartphone.

BabyCenter's free pregnancy and parenting app also provides expert information about pregnancy and parenting, from trying to conceive through your baby's first year.

How to get food assistance

If you're worried about having enough to eat during and after your pregnancy, government food programs can help.

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and ChildrenOpens a new window (WIC) provides food, healthcare referrals, and nutrition education for low-income pregnant and postpartum women, infants, and children up to 5 years old who are at nutritional risk. Visit fns.usda.gov/wicOpens a new window or call your local WIC state agencyOpens a new window to find out if you qualify for assistance.

If you need help getting nutritious food, call the USDA National Hunger ClearinghouseOpens a new window at (866) 348-6477 for information in English or (866) 342-6273 for information in Spanish. Representatives can help you find resources such as meal sites, food banks, and other nutrition assistance programs near you. You can also text a food-related question to 97779 for automated information about food assistance in your ZIP code.

If you meet certain resource and income limits set by your state, you may be eligible for the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance ProgramOpens a new window (SNAP), previously known as food stamps. To find out if you qualify, visit SNAP's directory of state resourcesOpens a new window.

Financial help after your baby is born

After your baby is born, there are many financial assistance programs and other resources that help cover housing, childcare, and mental health care for new parents.

Financial assistance is available through the Temporary Assistance for Needy FamiliesOpens a new window (TANF) program, which provides short-term aid to pay for food, clothing, housing, utilities, and medical supplies. See which TANF resourcesOpens a new window are available in your state and find out if you're eligible.

The federal government's housing choice voucher programOpens a new window helps low-income families afford safe, decent housing in the private market. Vouchers are administered by local public housing agencies, so visit the Office of Housing and Urban Development's directoryOpens a new window to find contact information for your local agency.

If you qualify, you'll be able to find your own housing, as long as it meets the voucher program's standards. Then, a housing subsidy will be paid directly to your landlord, and you'll pay the difference between the actual rent and what's covered by the subsidy.

You can also get help paying for your home electricity bill through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance ProgramOpens a new window (LIHEAP). Call the National Energy Assistance Referral hotline at (866) 674-6327 or visit the LIHEAP state and territory contact listing mapOpens a new window to find out which services are available in your area and whether you qualify for assistance.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Maternal and Child Health Bureau coordinates medical care, support, and advice for pregnant women, parents, babies, children, and adolescents. Call (800) 311-2229 or visit the Maternal and Child Health Bureau's websiteOpens a new window to get connected to your local health department and learn what services are available in your state.

For parents who struggle with postpartum depression or need other mental health care after their baby is born, resources are available:

• For immediate help, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at (800) 2738255. You can also chat with a counselor live on their website at suicidepreventionlifeline.org/chatOpens a new window.
• You can call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Helpline at (800) 662-4357 or use the SAMHSA treatment center locatorOpens a new window to find mental health services in your area.
• Postpartum Support International can also help you find support groups and other therapy options in your area. If you call (800) 944-4773 and leave a message, a volunteer will call you back to give you information and help you find resources near you. You can also text that number for help in English, text (971) 203-7773 for help in Spanish, or chat online through the PSI HelpLineOpens a new window.

And if you need help finding free or low-cost childcare, these programs can help:

• Head StartOpens a new window is a government program that can help you find free or low-cost childcare after your baby is born. Call them at (866) 763-6481, or use their Head Start locatorOpens a new window to find a facility near you.
• Child Care Aware of AmericaOpens a new window also helps families get access to affordable childcare. Use their websiteOpens a new window to find childcare resources in your state.