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Financial Help for Premature Babies

Finding financial help for premature babies can be difficult. Fortunately, there are public and private resources that can help you cover any expenses you may incur caring for your premature baby. You can also speak with many kinds of health care professionals who specialize in helping people determine the best financial assistance path for premature baby care.

  1. Personal Health Insurance

    • Start your search for financial assistance for your premature baby with your personal health insurance. It may already cover most, if not all of the costs associated with delivery, if you are pregnant. Health insurance is often transferable to the policy holder’s children. This may require paying a higher premium but can cover all costs associated with taking care of a premature baby. Contact your health insurance provider and inquire about its policies for prenatal services and coverage for premature babies.

    Inform Your Hospital

    • Let your hospital or health care provider know ahead of time if you are expecting to deliver a premature baby and think you may need financial help, especially if you do not have personal health insurance. There may be programs that they can connect you with before your baby’s stay in the neonatal intensive care unit. Being proactive also gives you the benefit of time if there are deadlines or cut-off dates for such financial assistance programs.

    Financial Assistance Coordination

    • Contact the social work, case management or financial assistance planning department for the hospital. These health care professionals are trained to help you find the best way to pay for your premature baby’s care. This will entail helping you come up with a plan to pay for your premature baby’s care on your own or through a combination of hospital, private and government assistance. If all else fails, they can help you find a facility that you will be able to afford.

    Government and Nonprofit Assistance

    • Provided your household income is within the governmental parameters, you may be able to get public assistance for your premature baby’s care. Inquire about Medicaid if you live in the United States. Look for other low-cost insurance options in the U.S. that may cover premature babies at InsureKidsNow,gov.

      Public hospitals provide care for premature babies whose parents cannot afford to pay upfront. You may not need to pay anything if your household income is low enough. Nonprofit health care facilities such as child health and family clinics provide similar low-cost care for premature babies. Social work, case management and financial assistance planners from these institutions can help you determine all expenses.

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