How to afford a 1.5 Million Dollar NICU Baby & 4 Million Dollar Pregnancy Medical Crisis

Many wonder how you can afford a 1.5 million dollar NICU Baby and 4 million dollar pregnancy medical crisis. That outrageous number doesn't include two times a week high-risk appointments, several emergency room visits, an emergency c-section, my week-long hospital stay attempting to get me stable enough to discharge, my daughter's NICU stay, or all of the lifesaving producers performed in an attempt to save her life on July 18th. In total, our medical bills reach about 4 million dollars.

 So how do you afford it?

The truth is …. You don’t afford it.

After the initial shock of discovering I was pregnant with multiples wore off, I began to grasp how complicated the next nine months would be. Then it hit me: this is going to be expensive. As I reviewed our insurance benefits, my anxiety began to rise. My husband had selected a high-deductible plan, which included a $4,000 deductible for each family member. This meant that I would meet my $4,000 deductible after the twins were born, and each baby would also need to meet a $4,000 deductible. Our total out-of-pocket expenses didn’t max out until a staggering $15,000.

I pleaded with the insurance company to allow us to switch plans, but unfortunately, I had no success. Thankfully, we are financially responsible, and my husband has a good job, so it was manageable. However, it was disheartening to watch that money leaving our account. Even though we had the funds, it didn't alleviate the stress. Just because you’re in a medical crisis doesn’t mean the bills stop coming. I had to learn to be resourceful.

Tip #1: Working from Home

I had to go on bed rest very early in my pregnancy. Fortunately, many companies now offer work-from-home opportunities. There are numerous YouTube channels that provide alerts about remote job openings, and you can also ask your current employer if they can accommodate you during this time. LinkedIn is another excellent resource for finding work-from-home positions nationwide. I was fortunate to have a job and skill set that allowed me to work in a hybrid capacity. Once I could no longer drive, I transitioned to working from home and attended weekly Zoom meetings. Fred's job also permitted him to work from the hospital during the week when I needed to recover, which continued throughout our NICU stay.

Tip #2: Allow People to Help You

Fred and I have always been hesitant to ask for help. However, during this challenging time, we had to humble ourselves and accept assistance. Towards the end of my pregnancy, I was going to the doctor twice a week and frequently needed emergency medical attention. There was no way my husband could take time off work to drive me to all these appointments, so my dad drove me over an hour away twice a week, which was a blessing. Additionally, my mom graciously watched and home-schooled our other children free of charge, allowing me to focus on my medical needs. On several occasions, our daughters stayed with friends when emergencies arose.

Tip #3: Buy Used or Accept Used Baby Items

As a general rule, whether your baby is in the NICU or not, used baby items can be a great option. There's no need to buy everything new, especially since this stage of life is short. People are often happy to give you items their little ones have outgrown, so graciously accept these gifts. You can also reach out to buy-nothing groups if you're looking for something specific. Additionally, consider creating a baby registry and hosting a baby shower—people will want to celebrate with you! This can help you obtain essential items that you may need to buy new, such as a car seat.

Tip #4: Tell People What You Need

Don't hesitate to humble yourself and communicate your needs when friends and family ask how they can help. During our time in the NICU, our hospital was over an hour away, and gas cards turned out to be the most helpful gift we could receive. We spent a significant amount on gas throughout our experience. If your hospital doesn’t provide food for parents, a good suggestion would be a DoorDash gift card.

Tip #5: Accept the Food Offerings

When people offered to bring us dinner, I initially underestimated how helpful it would be. However, it turned out to be a tremendous support! Every night after leaving the NICU, we either received a home-cooked meal or enjoyed leftovers from the previous night. It was such a blessing not to worry about food. Whenever I looked in the refrigerator, there was always something ready for dinner or lunch. Many hospitals also provide parents with three meals a day during their NICU stay. While the food might not be gourmet, it definitely helps with hunger. Let's be honest—eating out three meals a day for 77 days isn't practical. A simple free grilled cheese was enough to satisfy my hunger most afternoons!

Tip #6: Never, Ever Stay 29 Days in the NICU.

Now, here’s the crucial information you’ve all been waiting for—the 30-day NICU stay. Once you reach 30 days in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, your family becomes eligible for institutionalized Medicaid. Praise the Lord! This means your medical bills will be covered. We no longer had to worry about our portion of the 4 million dollars in medical bills. A 30-day NICU stay is the magic number, and once our social worker informed us of this, a lot of our stress diminished.

Tip #7: Ask a Social Worker.

Social workers are always around in the NICU, so make sure to utilize their services and let them assist you! Their job is to make your life easier and help lessen your burden. They were the ones who informed us about the insurance benefits kicking in at the 30-day mark and handled all the necessary paperwork. They also arranged for meals to be sent to our home, delivered 600 diapers, provided CVS gift cards for baby products, connected us with a foundation for an Owlet sock, and ensured that all of our baby's feeding needs were covered.

Tip #8: There Is a Foundation for That.

Every year, millions of babies are treated in the NICU, and numerous parents establish foundations to support families navigating their own NICU experiences. One foundation sent us a huge package of helpful NICU items, another provided a graduation outfit for Cole, and yet another sent us an Owlet sock. We received a beautiful package when we lost our baby, Calvary. I never applied, but there are even foundations that offer monthly financial assistance for parents who can’t work during their baby's stay. Additionally, although I never used the Ronald McDonald House, it is a fantastic option for families whose babies are receiving care far from home.

In conclusion, there are numerous resources available to assist you during this medical crisis. I will link many of the resources mentioned below. Accepting help can be challenging, but remember not to underestimate the blessing of support. Allow others to help you, and resolve to pay it forward as soon as you get the opportunity.

Resources & Links

Meal Train Websites: - www.mealtrain.com - www.takethemameal.com

Diapers, Meals, CVS Money: This resource is specific to the Aetna Medicaid that covered Cole after we reached 30 days in the NICU. You will be assigned a caseworker for your baby through your insurance, and they will provide you with all the helpful information you need. If they don’t, be sure to ask!

Briggs & Barrett Project: This foundation provided us with a free Owlet monitor. I am incredibly grateful for it, as we use it every single night. After having Cole connected to monitors constantly for 77 days, it was a huge relief to have a monitoring system at home. There were multiple instances where I wouldn’t have known Cole was having an episode requiring medical attention without the monitors. My anxiety about not having them was significant when we returned home, and this resource alleviated some of that worry.

Emma & Evan Foundation: They sent us a beautiful graduation cap and gown for Cole's big day leaving the NICU, which was very special! You can find them at EveFoundation.org or through their Facebook page, The Emma and Evan Foundation.

Lily's Hope Foundation: They provided us with a wonderful box filled with essential items for NICU families, along with gifts for our daughters. They offer packages for sibling care, transition home needs, hospital care, and emergency supplies. These are the specific foundations that we relied on and were fortunate to benefit from. While you are at the NICU, feel free to search online for other foundations; there are hundreds ready to support you during this time.

Used Baby Items: Buy Nothing Groups and local second hand mom sales sites are local to your area, and you can easily find them by searching on Facebook.