US citizen giving birth in Canada

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Well, I lost my job and health insurance and I'm pregnant.

My husband says just go to Canada to have the baby, healthcare is free and the baby will be a dual citizen...we'll go rent a cabin for a couple of months...

Is it really that easy? If it won't be free, what could I expect it to cost? I know he gets crazy ideas in his head from time to time, but I'm starting to get a little worried.

Motorcycle Mama, have you thought of possibly doing Telehealth? You might want to check that out. And if sitting for long periods aggravates the sciatica, it is possible to get wireless hands-free headsets, so you can stand up and walk around the room.

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Even people with disabilities work. Yes, even those who are blind......paying their own way.

Oh, well, you don't need to tell me that. Tell it to the old man. I never told him he couldn't work. In fact, he is brilliant with his hands, can fix anything and people who talk to him think he is a doctor or attorney, never realize he only finished the 10th grade.

I hate to sound callous but if sciatica were my only health concern I would be grateful. Nope it's not always easy but I don't make excuses. It's possible to work with sciatica, even pregnant.

I love the ol' drill sergeant routine. As a matter of fact, my only problem "isn't" sciatica (which is likely short term in my case, anyway). Mental sickness runs in my family and I have been plagued with it since I was very young. Of all the sicknesses to have, I'd be willing to bet mental sickness is the worst. To add to it, I have major damage to both fronal lobes (actually shows up as two holes on the MRI) of my brain from trauma when I was 13, which has resulted in severe depression and seizures. But I didn't make excuses or let it get me down. I somehow drug my fat ars out of bed in the mornings and got myself an education. But if I was really trying to make excuses I guess I would have mentioned it here, though. And by the way, I worked full-time up until the night I had my last one, so there.

I have no problems with people being on government sponsored programs if they are truly in need but I've not always had insurance and have had medical issues since birth. It just took perseverence and a long time to pay all the bills off.

I've not always had health insurance, either, and I've got a gallbladder full of stones, untreated sleep apnea (even the pathetic insurance I had wouldn't help cover any expense for that) and a mouthful of rotten teeth to prove it. Maybe my health issues aren't as bad as yours, but I don't have good health because my life is easier, either.

I've been turned down for Medicaid. I'm not an "undocumented immigrant", for one thing, my income for the month of January was too large, and I own one too many vehicles and my property is worth too much. I'm just too privledged.

But maybe that won't matter in Quebecois?

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Specializes in ED, PACU, OB, Education.

:angryfire :madface: :nono: :o

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Specializes in Neuro Surgery,telemetry.

is giving birth really that expensive? if you have a too large income, had a vehicle and your property is worth too much, then giving birth shouldnt be a problem financial wise. u may claim some benefits for your husband which will help you financially, i am sure the US government will not gonna turn down their citizens. before me and my husband got married, he qualified for a free nursery program here in CA. they take care of kids ages from 1-5 years old, he has a big salary himself but takes care of his son alone. the government isnt really that selfish and greedy to people in need. try again especially when the social worker sees your situation, pregnant, sick, only one working with hubby who cannot work. i am sure they can help u with it.

why would you like to have a free birth if birth is the only problem? unless theres more on the story.

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UMMM...as a Canadian citizen that pays a huge amount of tax....14% sales tax and 40% income tax...so that I can have "free" healthcare, I would really appreciate if you stayed on the US side of the border!

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UMMM...as a Canadian citizen that pays a huge amount of tax....14% sales tax and 40% income tax...so that I can have "free" healthcare, I would really appreciate if you stayed on the US side of the border!

Nope, sorry, can't do it. (And BTW, there isn't a whole lot of difference in what I pay for my taxes vs. what you pay.)

As far as being able to have the funds because I own three vehicles instead of one...they don't care if the total for the vehicles together is less than $10,000. The only thing that matters is you are allowed ONE vehicle, regardless of whether or not it is worth more than someone else's THREE vehicles.

I have called many hospitals around but they are very tight lipped about what the cost is, even a ballpark figure. All I could find on the internet was a woman's bill for $18,000+ for an uneventful delivery. I'll go squat under a tree before I get in the hole for that. They say healthcare is a privledge not a right but it seems to be a right for illegals who flood the country and strain the system, just not for working taxpayers.

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Okay, so if I follow your logic, you condemn illegels for coming into the US and using the healthcare system without paying but it is okay if you do the same thing in Canada. And you would rather "squat under a tree" than go into the "hole" for the birth of your child. WOW.....

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Specializes in Peds.
nope, sorry, can't do it. (and btw, there isn't a whole lot of difference in what i pay for my taxes vs. what you pay.) unless you're working and making darned near $100,000 a year, you are no way near paying 40% in taxes. you admit that you're only working a little bit on weekends. also, can you name one state that has a 14% sales tax that is verifiable? we pay 6.5% here.

as far as being able to have the funds because i own three vehicles instead of one...they don't care if the total for the vehicles together is less than $10,000. the only thing that matters is you are allowed one vehicle, regardless of whether or not it is worth more than someone else's three vehicles. if your hubby won't work and now you won't work, maybe you could sell your three vehicles to pay for your medical care.... also, get rid the the unnecessary expense of the internet. there are a lot of things people can to do save money.... get rid of cell phones, internet, cable tv or satellite, eating out, etc.

i have called many hospitals around but they are very tight lipped about what the cost is, even a ballpark figure. all i could find on the internet was a woman's bill for $18,000+ for an uneventful delivery. i'll go squat under a tree before i get in the hole for that. they say healthcare is a privledge not a right but it seems to be a right for illegals who flood the country and strain the system, just not for working taxpayers.

you have a lot of nerve downing the illegals for doing what you are planning on doing anyway. i don't like what they're doing either but if you would bother to get a job, you could get insurance coverage. at least you're here legally (i'm assuming) and can get a job with insurance.

your concern for your child really shows through from your sqatting under a tree comment. on the other hand, a couple of hundred years ago, that's just the kind of thing that happened all the time. women worked until they gave birth, gave birth, strapped the baby on their back or somewhere and went right back to work.

there are clinics all over for the working poor. of course, you would still have to pay a little of the cost of having your baby. what a shame huh?

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I live in Canada and we pay alot of our hard earned money on taxes...I wouldnt dream of going to the usa to have a baby, not would i expect someone to do the same. If you live in the usa, have your baby there.

Dont come feeding off of our health care system just because you wont pay for yours. I know healthcare in the states is VERY expensive, but im sure there are options available to you...or what about having your baby at home with a midwife? Would that be cheaper? Im not too sure about that aspect of it...

Good luck with your pregnancy (babies are the cutest! :D) and hope you find a solution to your problem that works out for you and your husband. There must be some financial aid or medicare? that can assist you with delivery costs. Even a full time job that isnt hard on your sciatica should cover you. Hope everything works out for the best!

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Many people in the US don't have healthcare. However, have you considered a charity hospital, making payments on the bill or placing the child for adoption (then the adopting parents would pay the bills)?

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Specializes in Oncology/Haemetology/HIV.

I'm with the idea of putting the child up for adoption.

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Okay, so if I follow your logic, you condemn illegels for coming into the US and using the healthcare system without paying but it is okay if you do the same thing in Canada. And you would rather "squat under a tree" than go into the "hole" for the birth of your child. WOW.....

You're darn right I would.

You may not know it, but most births in the world are unassisted.

I don't think I would be illegal in Canada.

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