You Can Pursue Adoption if You Don’t Have Health Insurance or Medicaid.

It’s common for women experiencing an unplanned pregnancy who have no insurance and want to put their baby up for adoption to wonder if adoption is an option for them.

Any woman experiencing an unplanned pregnancy can choose to place her baby for adoption even if she does not have health insurance or Medicaid. When you choose adoption, you don’t have to pay for any of your medical costs related to your pregnancy, delivery, or post-delivery care.

Keep these points in mind if you have no insurance and want to put your baby up for adoption:

• You don’t need health insurance to place your baby for adoption.
• You don’t need to have Medicaid to place your baby for adoption.
• You can still place your child for adoption if you’re on Medicaid (your financial status doesn’t matter).
• Your adoption specialist can help you get insurance or apply for Medicaid (if you’re eligible).
• You never have to pay for your medical expenses when you place your baby for adoption.

Now that you know the answer to the common question, “do you need insurance for giving your kid up for adoption,” is no, you may be ready to reach out to an adoption specialist for free right now.

But, if you want to learn more about why having insurance or Medicaid isn’t required to place a baby for adoption, continue reading.

What Happens if I Have No Insurance and Want to Put My Baby Up for Adoption?

You can always choose adoption, even if you have little or no health insurance.

It’s common for prospective birth mothers to not have health insurance. You may not have health insurance for one of the following reasons:

• Your job doesn’t offer health insurance.
• If your job doesn’t pay for health insurance, your health insurance options may be too expensive.
• You may not have a job.
• Your citizenship status may stop you from getting health insurance.

Although you may not have health insurance, it’s important to remember that you can still choose to place your child for adoption.

Your adoption agency will pair you with an adoption specialist when you choose adoption. Your specialist will help you obtain private health insurance or apply for Medicaid if you’re eligible. Your adoption professional will then help you contact the offices and networks needed to ensure all your medical expenses are covered.

The following adoption agencies can help you start the adoption process now:

• American Adoptions
• Gladney Center for Adoption
• Lifeline Child
• National Maternity Housing Coalition
• Youth Emergency Services

Don’t worry if your insurance or Medicaid will cover all your medical expenses. Your adoption specialist knows how to find other state-funded programs that supplement the care your plan may not cover. Additionally, you may be eligible for adoption financial assistance that will help meet these costs.

Will Being on Medicaid Hurt My Ability to Place My Baby for Adoption?

Although many prospective birth mothers wonder if they can place a child for adoption if they don’t have insurance or Medicaid, others are concerned that Medicaid will affect their ability to put their baby up for adoption.

If you’ve ever thought, “can I give my baby up for adoption if I’m on Medicaid,” or “can I do Medicaid and still do adoption,” the answer is yes. You can always choose adoption, no matter your financial status. 

You can have insurance through Medicaid and still place your child for adoption. Having Medicaid will not affect your adoption or impact your ability to receive other types of adoption financial assistance or state-funded help.

When you choose to place your child for adoption, you never have to pay for:

• Your adoption expenses
• Your medical expenses
• Counseling related to your adoption
• Adoption legal assistance and fees
• Often, you won’t have to pay for other pregnancy-related expenses

How Will I Pay for My Medical Care?

When you choose adoption, you never have to pay for your medical expenses during the adoption process when you work with an adoption agency.

Once you start to work with an adoption agency and pair with an adoption specialist, the specialist will ensure all your medical expenses are 100% covered.

Your adoption specialist will find you an insurance policy (or help you apply for Medicaid if you’re eligible) that covers your medical expenses. Your adoption professional also is skilled in finding supplemental financial assistance to cover any remaining medical coverage you may need during your adoption process.

When you choose adoption, the following medical expenses are covered:

• Your pregnancy: You’ll need to frequently visit your doctor when you’re pregnant. When you choose adoption, all your prenatal care is covered.
• Your delivery: All medical expenses related to your delivery (including your hospital stay) are covered by your adoption agency.
• Post-pregnancy care: You also will not have to pay for your medical care after your delivery for a period. Every state has different laws regarding the accepted period.

How Will I Pay for Other Pregnancy-Related Costs?

Although you now know the answer to the common question, “do you need insurance for giving your kid up for adoption,” is no, you may still be concerned about how you’ll cover all your other expenses during your pregnancy.

Similar to how your adoption specialist knows how to help you find health insurance, apply for Medicaid, and find other financial assistance to help cover all your medical needs, they also can help you get the financial assistance that will cover your additional living expenses.

Other common living expenses prospective birth mothers can get financial assistance for are:

• Rent (or your mortgage)
• Housing utilities
• Food
• Transportation
• Maternity clothing
• Phone service
• Travel expenses to meet the adoptive parents (if necessary)
• And more

It’s important to understand that in addition to helping you find and get financial assistance, your adoption specialist also will help you map your adoption plan. Your adoption plan contains all the details you want your adoption to have.

Typical adoption plans include:

• Your adoptive family preferences: You are in control of choosing your child’s adoptive family. Your adoption specialist will send you adoptive family profiles to consider until you find the perfect hopeful adoptive family for your baby.
• The adoption type you want: You can choose an open adoption, semi-open adoption, or closed adoption. The type of adoption you choose will indicate how much information you exchange with the adoptive family and the type of communication you maintain with your baby and the adoptive family. 
• Your birth plan: This includes where you want to give birth, who you want at the hospital when you give birth (and if anyone will be in the delivery room), and if you want any contact with the adoptive family at the hospital.
• Post-placement communication plans: You get to determine how often and what types of communication you’ll maintain with the adoptive family.

Next Steps

Now that you know the answers to the questions, “do you need insurance for giving your kid up for adoption,” and “can I give my baby up for adoption if I’m on Medicaid,” it’s time to reach out to an adoption agency if you’re ready.

If you’d like help connecting with an adoption agency, you can contact us today.

Remember: You can always choose to place your baby no matter your financial circumstances.