Okay, so we're debating the merits of tricare covering the pregnancy of an unmarried civilian female when the babydaddy is a military male.

On the other side of this- if a civilian female gets her prenatal care through medicaid, once paternity is established as a man in the military, should medicaid then pursue babydaddy for expenses?

Do they do it for civilians? I have no experience with it, I don't know.

why shouldn't the female be responsible for part of the expenses???

Sure... but for 50% of the expenses, regardless of military status. You make a baby, you get 50% of the responsibility.

why shouldn't the female be responsible for part of the expenses???

That's a good idea; I should have phrased it at 50% of the expense.

they should pursue 50% f the costs

I think that both parties should be responsible. However if they started doing that then i could see a big jump in women not wanting to get medicade/care for fear of owing money to the gov.

I think that both parties should be responsible. However if they started doing that then i could see a big jump in women not wanting to get medicade/care for fear of owing money to the gov.

Also a good point. If we hold the father responsible, then we should hold the mother responsible as well.

And then well... it's not really "free" prenatal care anymore, is it?

So I guess the debate is whether it should be provided free of charge or not. If you are going to charge the father, you should also charge the mother.

Sure... but for 50% of the expenses, regardless of military status. You make a baby, you get 50% of the responsibility.

Well, if his only insurance would be Medicaid then that would be pointless, but I think it's a good idea to pursue him for half the expenses. Realistically, the expenses would probably be covered by Tricare, but that would be a way of making sure the baby was listed in his records as his dependent and was therefor eligible for medical care under Tricare.

OTOH, if the guys were told that if they make a baby and don't marry the momma they'll be responsible for half the expenses out of pocket (and don't expect Tricare to cover it), it might make a few of them think twice about random sexual encounters. Especially if it turns out to be a high-risk pregnancy or delivery- that can cost a ton of money.

Well, if his only insurance would be Medicaid then that would be pointless, but I think it's a good idea to pursue him for half the expenses. Realistically, the expenses would probably be covered by Tricare, but that would be a way of making sure the baby was listed in his records as his dependent and was therefor eligible for medical care under Tricare.

OTOH, if the guys were told that if they make a baby and don't marry the momma they'll be responsible for half the expenses out of pocket (and don't expect Tricare to cover it), it might make a few of them think twice about random sexual encounters. Especially if it turns out to be a high-risk pregnancy or delivery- that can cost a ton of money.

Hmm... so was your question more should the father's insurance be pursued? Because I was seeing it as, "Congratulations, you're a babydaddy. Here's how much you owe." Nothing to do with insurance. I was going the out of pocket route. But if we do that, shouldn't the mother also have to pony up? It takes two to make the babies.

I guess i see it as pointless seeing as how there are soo many in arrears in child support this would be no different. Also i wouldn't think that Tricare would allow payment out so we are still back to out of pocket costs..

I think men aren't as dumb as they act and they damn well know that no glove can equal a child, but sometimes the other head wins out. Some men just don't care anyway

Hmm... so was your question more should the father's insurance be pursued? Because I was seeing it as, "Congratulations, you're a babydaddy. Here's how much you owe." Nothing to do with insurance. I was going the out of pocket route. But if we do that, shouldn't the mother also have to pony up? It takes two to make the babies.

To be honest, I was originally thinking of hanging him with the bill. Then I thought about it and figured it would probably be his insurance. Then I thought some more and read responses and realized yeah, it takes two.

But you know, if it was some mid-level exec at IBM who knocked up someone who wasn't his wife, the payment would probably have to come out of his pocket since his insurance wouldn't cover the non-eligible girlfriend.........

Argh. Too much to think about. But yeah, I think that if this stuff were to get pursued, then there might be less of a problem with unintended pregnancies and fatherless kids. If he sees a very real potential for getting hit for a lot of expenses, he might be a little more careful about wrapping that salami, ya know???? :D

50% responsible. Heck he already made a 50% donation to the zygote that started it all. :D

Most custody agreements include a provision that the father has to provide medical coverage for the child, on top of child support.

I'd like to see an insurance company pay for prenatal care for someone who isn't married to the father, I've never heard of any of them doing that. Sure it sound reasonable, but insurance companies are not reasonable.

I had to fight for two years with my previous insurance company to pay for the two delivery charges my OB charged when the twins were born, because I was told "it's physically impossible for you to have two babies in less than nine months." Eventually my Dr's office just un-charged me, so to speak.

Sure... but for 50% of the expenses, regardless of military status. You make a baby, you get 50% of the responsibility.

Absolutely 1000000000% agree.

If the couple was married, it'd be a different story.

I actually think ALL prenatal/pregnancy/childbirth care should free. This is a government so dead set on the rights of the unborn, that it needs to put its money where its mouth is. right-to-life should not end at birth.

Sure... but for 50% of the expenses, regardless of military status. You make a baby, you get 50% of the responsibility.

:yes