Any advice? My husband lost his job, we have 3 children under 6 and I'm 32 weeks pregnant.?

I'm so stressed out right now. Our health insurance is gone and I can't get any through my work. We can't pay the bills due next week and I'm freaking out. We don't need this kind of stress right now. What can we do to make ends meet until he finds a job? What can I do about insurance for me and the baby right now? I don't even know how to be strong anymore. I'm the positive person in the family and I don't have the energy to do it anymore, let alone deal with everyday normal life. I don't want the kids to know something is terribly wrong, but it feels impossible.





Anyone with suggestions, I am open to them!Any advice? My husband lost his job, we have 3 children under 6 and I'm 32 weeks pregnant.?
First off, I would say, if you have a church home, ask them for any help they can provide. Our church helped us with a couple of bills and groceries. Also, WIC, and medicaid as soon as you can. WIC will help not only you but your other children to the age of five I think. Medicaid will help with any care you need and help with medical bills.





Also, many hospitals have 'charity care'. Regional hospitals can not refuse to treat anyone. If you go into labor, go to the emergency room, check in and they have to treat you. Speak to a hospital appointed social worker and they can get you started on that. If you're doctor is a good soul, they may allow you to make small payments





If you can't get medicaid now, wait until the baby is born and sign him or her up along with your other children. Many states in the US have a medicaid plan for children provided through DHS. Our state has ARKids first, and it will pay up to 100% of all medical a child needs including hospital. It's wonderful.





Also, apply for food stamps to help with groceries, if you're like me, I hated the idea of it, because my husband and I wanted to provide for our children, not rely on the state to do it, but tell yourself it's only temporary, and once he finds another job, you can get yourself back on track. The program is there for reasons like this so I would use it.





Utilizing the state resources will relieve much of the stress, call any bills that may be due, explain to them what has happened and most will work with you. House payments usually allow you to miss a couple of payments, they just tack it onto the end, or you may just pay the interest, and wait on the principle, same can happen on a car loan. Credit cards can delay payments on emergencies, utilities can do more than they say, find a corporate office number, and speak to someone there, they have the ability to make payment arrangements when the oporators can't or won't. (I have had to do this a couple of times) If you haven't been late on these payments, many will be happy to work with you.





Also, it may pay to check out all other independant org. in your area that help. for example Salvation Army, Goodwill or any other non profit org. are a great sourse of assistance.





If any of your children are in school, many schools will have events to help, car wash, yard sale, people will come out of the wood work to help. Don't feel bad, people with good hearts love to help people in need, and when you are back on your feet and you have that precious little bundle brought into this world, repay the kindness by helping another family out by donating used clothes, shoes, can foods. Then it has gone full circle.





Stay strong and keep the faith. All with work out.





God BlessAny advice? My husband lost his job, we have 3 children under 6 and I'm 32 weeks pregnant.?
Oh my goodness, what horrible timing. I am so sorry. But listen, there are so many community services available.. sad to say, you never knew they existed but you're going to learn about them all quickly! First, go to the local medicaid office and sign up for that (for you and the baby). Next, find the office for WIC (Women, Infants and Children) to apply for food vouchers... they give you a certain number of vouchers each week for food staples like cheese, milk, juice, peanut butter, etc. Next, sign up for food stamps. Next, talk to your OB or midwife about a PCAP or MOMS program in your area. (A lot of times they sign you up through your doctors office). This is government paid health insurance for you, the baby and your kids. NO hospital will deny you care when you go into labor, no matter what. And as long as you have Medicaid at least pending (and your OB accepts it) you wont have to miss any prenatal care. Now, take a breath... and then you need to call each of your creditors, explain the situation, and ask them for extensions or different payment arrangements. Some can be pretty heartless, but for the most part, if they see that you want to maintain good standing with them, and are asking them to help you work out a plan, they will. The WORST thing you can do is to NOT pay them anything, and not try to contact them about it. That's when the real nightmare begins. You don't want to go there. Just keep reminding yourself that this is a TEMPORARY setback. You will get through this.


Meanwhile, your husband has to be getting a resume together (Go to the state unemployment office-they help you do that for free) and putting in applications anywhere and everywhere he can think of. There is a lot of help out there for you, you just have to know where to look. Keep the faith. I'm saying a prayer.
THIS is what medicaid and food stamps were created for. NOT for long term...it's a back up , emergency plan. USE It. You've paid your taxes to support the system, now your having a hard time and need a little help. Don't be afraid or ashamed. We've all been in a place where we needed to ask someone for help once or twice. The children will be eligbile for medicaid and that newborn, will continue to get coverage for up to 1 year after birth, no matter if your husband gets a job next week or next year. It will relieve a bit of stress if you bite the bullet and go. Food stamps are a bit harder to get, but if you've no income and no savings...you're almost a shoe in.
Phew! That's too much for anyone to deal with on their own. People have given some great suggestions. Definitely look to getting assistance. Contact WIC to get assistance with food needs. Toll free numbers are listed for each state (link is below).


Contact Medicaid, they will help cover insurance while your husband is looking for work. Their link is below as well





As for bills, etc. Pay what you can. If you can't cover all the bills, contact the ones you can't cover and let them know you will be paying them on ';X'; date. They usually allow for situations like this, especially if you reach out to them first.





What kind of work is your husband looking for?





I hope everything works out okay.
get some emergency medicaid


some food stamps, wic ect..


this is not the time for pride, this is the time to feed your kids and put a roof over thier heads.





the kids can get the medicaid aswell.





go there today.be smart.show your kids how much you love them
make a medicaid appointment. if you had insurance during your pregnancy before he lost his job then they by law have to continue paying through your delivery and any complications after. the claim was filed before he lost the insurance. Just remember the hospital cannot turn you away! If you have to after the baby is born and the bills come in then you can file medical bankruptcy, this will erase the medical bills without losing everything. but I am taking it that you had insurance before, because surely you would have already had medicaid, try not to stress yourself out over this I know it is hard but it is not good for you or the baby. If nothing else sometimes hospitals will write the bill off if your income is not at a certain level, your husband should file for unemployment, to help out with the other bills, good luck with this but please call the Medicaid department or SSI even the wick program can help you out there are emergency cases that they can speed up. given your situation, I hope some of this helps you!
Sign up for WIC





Look into government assistance, Unemployement





Call the red cross





Seek out your church for help. You may need to find a family memeber or a friend to help baby sit while you work at mcdonalds..It doens't matter where you work..so long as you swallow your pride for those children you brought into this world.
I am also pregnant right now and going through a similar situation. Try a temp place, they can generally get people working very quickly, and get paid either the same day you work, or once a week. IF you/he can get to an Express Personnel - do so! They will provide you/him with full benefits as soon as you sign up with them. Also, check your state for local insurance programs. Most states have health plans that if you qualify for them they completely cover you, your unborn, and your other children. If you need more specific suggestions, email me back!
Have him contact his former employer immediately about COBRA insurance. If he had insurance through the company they are required to offer him this (for about year I believe), but you will have to pay for it, his former employer will be able to tell you how much. You should also go to the hospital and ask about what they offer when you are uninsured.
go to your DHS office for health insurance and they will cover all your kids and you also they will give you food stamps, then go to WIC office and they can give you vouchers for milk,juice,eggs,cheese,cereal,peanut butter, for you and kids, hope this helps till your hubby finds job.
Yep, like has been said, it's this type of situation where medicade comes in handy. You might need to call a local Planned Parenthood or Social Services office to find out where you can get help and care from. There is a program called PCAP (Prenatal Care Assistance Plan, or something like that). That can cover prenatal and maternity care if you fit into the income bracket.





Other than that, cut out anything you possibly can. If you have two cars and can make it work somehow with one, take one off the road, for a little bit anyway, but you might want to keep it so when your hubby gets a job again he can have some transportation on a whim. If the kids ask, just say you don't need it right now, so you took it off the road to save a little money. It's okay to be honest with them, just not so honest as to scare them.





Plan your meals, don't eat out, get rid of cable or satellite TV, whatever you don't absolutely need, just make sure to have a few videos or DVD鈥檚 of your kids favorites, they will adjust and never miss the TV (we still don't have TV, and I love it, no more zombies!).





Remember your husband may be feeling badly too, so when you talk to him, try oh so hard to stay calm (I know how those pregnancy hormones can be). If he can get unemployment, that will help a lot. No it might not cover everything, but it's a good start. Then work from there, one step at a time. Make your cuts where you can, use coupons, and if it's still not adding up, go for the WIC and Medicade (you were both working so you have both paid into it anyway). It's temporary, that's all. You'll get through.





Good luck. I hope he gets his unemployment to go through soon, and then finds a better job he loves and that allows him to get home at a decent hour to help you while he still gets paid well. (Maybe self-employment is an option to consider too, it's hard getting started, but then you are your own boss).
Well, there are social service type places out there that help people like your family out when in a bind. My goodness, you have a lot on your plate and it is quite easy to understand why you are frustrated, worried, scared, etc. Take a deep breath, get out the yellow pages and look in the blue section for social service agencies. Call around, like ASAP to see who can help you. Your husband needs to take any job he can get, even if it's fast food or delivering pizza. You can get insurance through one of those gov't agencies, so don't worry about insurance. You are a mother and we are given strength naturally, so it will be okay. If you have food problems, you can go and get emergency assistance. That's what you and your husband work, so in a situation like this, the gov't can back you up temporarily. It can be embarrassing, but it's essential and temporary for your family's survival.
Oh sweetie, I am so sorry your situation has turned stressful. Don't be too proud to walk right up to the social service center and ask about programs. You will most likely qualify for several and they only have to be temporary. Also has your husband looked into Cobra? It can be expensive and may not be an option but it is ok insurance for an inbetween. Also in many cities there are pregnancy help centers that will also know of other forms of insurance and programs to help with the other kids, and even your mental health (relaxation time or vent time). Most are right in the yellow pages or the social service agency will also know about them. Lastly, even if you don't belong to a church they can be very helpful with letting you know what programs are out there and emergency relief just for this type of situation. Mostly, hang in there. Let others know what is going on in your support system and stay healthy for not only you but your three kids and little baby. Good luck.
If yu have any savings try and tap into them, needs must and its important that you get insurance sorted for the birth i have to say i dont really understand health in the states as in UK we have NHS and we dont hae to pay for hospital stay or anything.