Conference turris::womannotes-v3

    Lori,
        Have you tried the Digital EAP? I don't know much about it myself,
    I've been w/ DEC 10 years (in Canada) and never even knew about it
    until reading about in _wn_ last year. Being on contract, I don't know
    if you can make use of it or not. There must be _someplace_ in DEC that
    can provide assistance or direction. (I hope)!
    Hang in there, something good has got to break for you.     dep

    My daughter has a friend who finds herself without insurance in
    the last month of her pregnancy.  She is married to a young man
    in the service who is being discharged on June 18 and their baby
    is due on July 9!  They have insurance until June 18, but have
    been informed that it is up to them after that!  We were very
    surprised and needless-to-say so were they.  
    
    They have been stationed in Germany and she's back here waiting 
    now for him.  Debbie (wife) has been investigating all the 
    possibilities and found only one.  They will be eligible for
    medi-care once her husband is discharged under the following
    conditions only:  Neither of them can be employed and they can
    have NO other form of insurance.  I can't think of anything else
    that might be of assistance to you and that option is not a good
    one, but maybe there would be some way it might be helpful to you.
    
    It's so unfortunate to take away from a time that should be special
    for all of  you.  

    re basenote
    
    Are you in Massachusetts?  Near Boston?  I happened to see an ad on a
    Boston television station the other night regarding folks with no
    insurance and they suggested calling the Mayor's Health Line -- perhaps
    you could start there -- 
    
    P.S. I didn't write the number down, but you could start with Mayor Ray
    Flynn's office in Boston.
    

  Based on her node name, Lori appears to be in the GMA (Greater
  Maynard Area).

                                   Atlant

    Ten years ago when my son was born I had no insurance and a job that
    paid minimum wage ($3/something an hour).  I tried to get pre-natal
    care at the local health department and was told that I made too much
    money.  The social worker said that I could get full benefits if I had
    no job but no benefits based on the salary I was making.  I would not
    have been eligible for AFDC until after the baby was born.  I had to
    leave my job about 4 weeks before my son was born and my employer gave
    me a bonus ($200); that was the extent of the money that I had and of
    course, rent was due.
    My hospital bill was about $2500 (I had a C-section and we were there
    for 5 days).  That sounds cheap now, but then it seemed like an
    enormous amount of money.  I was summoned to the hospital cashier the
    day that we were discharged and we set up a payment plan ($30./month)
    until the bill was paid.  (Actually they were very nice about the whole
    thing).  I left the hospital broke, scared, feeling alone because there
    was no "daddy" around, and with a new baby to care for.  Three days later I
     read in the paper that the company I had worked for was bankrupt; 
    no job to go back to.
    
    I stayed out with my son for six weeks and luckily my family was very
    supportive during this period of time.  I went back to work as a temp
    as soon as I was able to leave him and before long had a permanent job.
    
    The point is this...we made it.  I eventually paid the ob/gyn, surgeon,
    and hospital off, although it took time.  I got by without having to
    rely on assistance from the state.  The main reason I didn't want to
    was the hassle and the fact that once you're dependent on a government
    agency they can really get into your life--I didn't want that.
    
    I came to work for DEC when Matt was 2 years old and have been here 9
    years.  It has not been easy and we certainly don't live a life of
    luxury but we get by better than some couples I know that haven't been
    so lucky with employment.
    
    I think it's very sad that there has to be a welfare system at all but
    understand its necessity; I believe that it is a self-perpetuating
    system and know of literally generations of a family that have lived
    the welfare way of life.  But I think that if you make up your mind you
    can do it on your own and will be a stronger person for it.  I know I
    am.  I certainly wish Lori the very best.  

    A woman I know recently gave birth to her baby gratis at Burbank
    Hospital in Fitchburg. Evidently there are certain (private?) funds
    available for people who cannot pay a hospital bill. I know that, for
    example, if you are eligible for welfare (and being unemployed that
    would certainly apply to you), all medical bills from the hospital are
    paid, at least at Burbank. Perhaps you can check with local hospitals
    to see what they have in place for similar situations. 
    
    Good luck, and congratulations on the baby.
    
    Estelle