Who Will Pay for Bristol and Levi's Baby?

The other day I heard a talking head on the TV saying that Bristol Palin's pregnancy was more acceptable to conservatives because, "the government wouldn't be paying for the baby." Oh really? Let's talk health insurance for a moment. Bristol is covered by her parents' insurance. When Bristol turns 18, she will have to be enrolled in college as a full time student to maintain healthcare coverage on her parents' plan. Otherwise, she will require a full time job with benefits, or a marriage certificate to a man with a full time job that includes medical benefits. Mr. Levi Johnston looks like a fine, enterprising American young man. However, without a college degree (does he have a high school degree?) what are the chances of him finding a job that includes medical benefits in America, circa 2008?

While Bristol's labor and delivery will be covered by her parents' medical plan (assuming she is under 18 when she delivers) her newborn child will not. According to New York Life, One of the biggest issues grandparents face is finding health insurance for their grandchildren. In most states, unless working grandparents are legal custodians they can't add their grandchildren to their employer's benefits plan or qualify for other employer-sponsored benefits, such as child care leave. If they are retired, health insurance cost is usually prohibitive. Two options are Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program(CHIP), which are available in every state.

Fortunately, the infant will be eligible for coverage under Alaska's state funded program called Denali KidCare. Thank God for government funded programs, eh? And, if you're already knitting a gift for the baby, make sure you include "bootiestraps" on those mukluks.

(Thanks to my pal Maureen for bringing this topic to my attention.)

Comments

[Barbara Fischkin - Huffpost Blogger]

Well, it looks like family needs made Sarah Palin into an advocate for the disabled in quite a hurry. Perhaps they will make her a socialist too!

If only she didn't need personal experience to develop empathy. True, good leaders can envision the difficulties of others lives without that personal experience.

[contemporarymom]

Hmmm, you make the assumption that no college means no health care. In today's world, college does not guarantee you a job - a career. Your blanket statements about coverage are uninformed.

[LeftRight]

But it's more likely that you'll get a job with health insurance if you've got a degree than if you're stuck with a diploma. And MUCH more likely than if you drop out!

[CamJam]

We have 5 yr old twin boys (not identical). One dx'd with ASD back on Aug 13 2007. Heath care is a nightmare and will not provide him therapy, instead only offers Ritalin as a solution. Our public schools run on a shoe string budget, understaffed and crowded with children like our son, and unable to provide sufficient proper help. We can't afford private therapy as it is very expensive - we're struggling to keep food on the table, gas in the tank, and keep a roof over our heads and pay the utilities such as water, heat ect.

I read this article about Sarah dated April 22 2008 and wonder if she will still be taking her child to therapy that he most certainly need:

"It was smooth. It was relatively easy," Palin said. "In fact it was the easiest of all," probably because Trig was small, at 6 pounds, 2 ounces.

Palin said she wanted him born in Alaska but wouldn't have risked anyone's health to make that happen.

"You can't have a fish picker from Texas," said Todd.

Palin said she won't take maternity leave but will go with Trig to doctor's visits, physical therapy, whatever he needs. She's breast feeding and plans to bring Trig to work with her, just as she did with Piper.

http://www.adn.com/626/story/382864.html

Well at least she's rich enough to pay for his therapy whether or not her health care covers it.

[Freesia2]

"Bristol Palin's pregnancy was more acceptable to conservatives because, "the government wouldn't be paying for the baby."

That what they say? Well the same conservatives were tuned into FOX when they were lambasting Brittany Spear's little sister - and somehow I don't think that they should have fretted over the family being able to afford the maternity expenses. But I guess we shouldn't notice that that young mother is wearing a Scarlet A and Bristol is wearing a Republican Red "Aye!".

The bottom line is if it's one of their conservative own, it's blessed and welcome. And if it's someone else's, then it's.... someone else's.

[JimR]

I don't know... my sense is that most people on both sides of the aisle regard this as a private issue. The "don't mess with my kid" angle, if you will.

There are so many other issues to attack Palin on that don't involve her family and focus on her inexperience and poor judgment... why not focus on those?

[darker]

Sarah Palin DECIDED to bring up her HOLIER THAN THOU criteria while excusing herself
every-whic­h-way-at-a­ll. Is SHE and her family so evangelically MORE PERFECT than others are?

She brought up her "values" idealism and DID NOT LIVE UP TO IT.
it's NO LONGER A FAMILY MATTER.

It's poor judgment not to focus on a show of such arrogance, irresponsibility and hypocrisy.
She "protected" her daughter with NOTHING.

Palin uses mythology as "birth control".
IT DOES NOT WORK. He daughter is living proof of this medieval hypocrisy.
Others should be told about this.

[LeftRight]

And let's be honest. If she was to live as a private citizen, or even just as the governor of AK none of us would CARE. It's only that she's trying to become the veep, and possibly the POTUS, and would then try to FORCE her views on the REST of us who DON'T feel the way that she does!

[JimR]

Darker,

I understand your points and even agree with most of them. But you know what? Nobody cares about the validity of the points. All people are going to see are angry liberals picking on a 17-year-old kid. Taking this line of attack would blow up in Obama's face.

[Kim Stagliano - Huffpost Blogger]

Hi, Jim. I think when Levi was trotted out on the stage at the convention to complete "the family" all pretense of privacy was lost. I really do. I have kids. And I protect them as fiercely as those polar bears Madame Governor would be happy to shoot. Health insurance is a huge issue in America. Monster huge. That's why I wrote the piece - to start the conversationo on not only health insurance, but how quickly one can say, "I don't need the government" and then find out that many of the programs are actually quite good.

Thanks for commenting.

KIM

[LeftRight]

Because this SHOWS her poor judgment! She has LONG been a proponent of abstinence only sex ed (which I'm SURE she subjected her 17 year old daughter to!) AND an opponent of birth control (which I'm SURE she prohibited her daughter from using!) AND an opponent of any sort of reasonable family planning! Let's be serious, if there was ever a circumstance where "choice" should be considered, this is it!

[jhw22]

I agree with you at one level. But all you have to do is insert one of the thousands of other pregnant teens' names and Kim's point is still made.

What the spotlight on Bristol Palin does is take the meanness from the attacks on Jamie Lynn Spears and focuses more people on the fact that if teens are having sex, then teens are going to have babies. So we need a President who cares about birth control and a President who cares about providing resources for the babies and their parents if they make a choice to have the babies.

This whole issue, without personalizing it, is a big issue. It involves health care, economics, social services, education, etc. The issue matters.

Jennifer

[ElBruce]

Oh, if he marries Bristol, I'd say the chances of him scoring an extremely well-paying job with great benefits are good... very good. I bet there are billionaire Republican donors lining up right now to give him a cushy job to make sure they don't end up on Jerry Springer.

[Grissom1001]

I have never heard of insurance that covers to any age past 18 unless the child is enrolled in college and regardless? The baby won't be.
IF these kids are living in the VP house? and being supported by the tax payers? We deserve to know this and MUCH more about Sarah "I have a problem with the truth" Palin.

[linwessels]

I've had my fair share of jobs which do not require an education. Insurance has never been a problem for me.

[LeftRight]

Then you've been DAMN lucky! I spent six years in the Navy undergoing not only an education, but learning a trade. Then I got out, and couldn't find a job providing health insurance for more than two years. I was lucky in finally finding a job which provides it, since the wife's ex was removing the kids from his insurance that year.

[SharaiP]

I'm insured through the large corporation i work at, and dependents are covered to the age of 19 without having to prove student status, that happens at the 19th birthday and can continue until they're 24. So it may not be true she's off at 18

[usna73]

You are correct. But are maternity benefits extended to dependents? Perhaps not. The larger point of the posting remains apparent either way. It is Medicaid that will foot the bill for the baby, as it does for countless childen in our country, far too many born prematurely, largely because the hypocrites of the far right deny necessary pre-natal care and advice.

Here's the bottom line: If you are poorer or darker skinned in America, your risk for disaster increases. The right wing only wants to save your "soul", not your body!

[LeftRight]

But either way the grandchild will not be covered.

[mommadona]

Bingo!

Denial = a Republican Family Value