It was in August of 2010 that I realized I was pregnant and that soon... there would be a little munchkin on the way. At 30 years old and having been told once "you have ovarian cancer," (at about 23 years old), followed by "you'll probably never be able to have children," you can imagine my surprise and sheer joy. Finally!!... there would be a baby to call my own. I soon found out it would be a little girl and both my husband and I were delighted that everything looked great for both mom and baby.
Eventually, things took a turn for the worse and what started out as a cake walk (no morning sickness, no nausea or even vomiting!) ended up every woman's worst nightmare! I began to have complications with blood pressure, terrible swelling, in not just my ankles, but hands and face. After two hospitalization I learned that I was pre-eclampsic and at risk for seizures and possible death if it couldn't be controlled.
It was somewhere around this time I learned that my ALFA managed Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurance policy would not only cover any of my physician visits, ultrasound appointments or lab work.... they wouldn't even be covering ANY of the labor and delivery for what was already a complicated pregnancy. WHY??? you ask? ... Because ALFA managed health insurance policies do not provide maternity benefits for ANY woman who is not the "spouse of a MALE policy holder." So, because my HUSBAND did not have "family coverage" with them and I was "single" at the time of conception, ALFA's "policy" did not "allow them" to cover the pregnancy.
When I questioned a representative from the insurance company on how this was even legal or possible to do (to someone who had been paying premiums for about 6 years) .... I was told that they in fact, did not have to cover ANY pregnancy for any of their "single, pregnant" policy holders. They further stated that I would need their "family coverage" to have "maternity benefits." Well, "Why in the world would a SINGLE woman need FAMILY coverage?" was the question that came to mind... but I knew I was fighting a loosing battle and with already sky high blood pressure, jeapordizing the health of myself, as well as my baby, I knew the conversation could no longer continue.
What they were doing was 100% legal. They were not violating any laws because in this country it is legal to deny maternity benefits to women who are forced to purchase their health insurance on the own. The reason I decided to purchase my own health insurance in the first place was because I married my first husband at the young age of 20. After a very difficult divorce I attempted to find work on my own (after moving back in with my parents three years later.)
As you can imagine, there isn't much work available for a recently divorced, 23yo female with no education. So.... I decided to go back to college. While pursuing my bachelor's in Criminal Justice and Master's in Social Work from the University of Alabama I made the decision to purchase my own health insurance, unfortunately through ALFA, so that I would be insured incase of any medical emergencies.
Well, ... as of today, I am over $30,000 in debt to the physicians and hospital due to a complicated pregnancy. My credit rating is ruined and I may most likely seek out the option of bankruptcy as social workers aren't exactly known for "making the money." It is not an option I want. I would love to be able to pay my bills... even if I could do it through monthly payments.. however, the hospital only allows credit for "9 months" and I'm sure you can imagine the monthly payments on paying off $30,000 within 9 months. It just wasn't something I could ever even feesibly do.
However, through it all I now have a healthy, happy and beautiful baby girl and someday I hope SHE can live in a country where this type of blatant gender discrimination through insurance isn't even a concern.
