Governor Cuomo / Pataki

The Governor's (Cuomo) successful prenatal assistance program has expanded health care to hundreds of thousands of working poor and pregnant women, who might not otherwise have been able to afford health care. (1994)
"Quality health care for new and expecting mothers can help to ensure the healthy start in life that all of New York's children deserve," Governor George Pataki said. "This legislation will build on our ongoing efforts to improve the health and well-being of children across the State by ensuring that pregnant women in need are not cut off from these critically important services."
To ensure that women now receiving these critical prenatal services are not cut off from this care?-and that services are available to pregnant women in the future?-Governor Pataki is proposing legislation as part of his package of 30-day amendments to the Executive Budget.

What health insurance coverage can I get if I'm pregnant?

A pregnant woman applying for health insurance is not eligible for Family Health Plus but may receive full coverage under Medicaid and/or New York's Prenatal Care Assistance Program (PCAP). Pregnant women should call the Healthy Baby Hotline at 1-800-522-5006 to get answers to their questions regarding income eligibility and to find a PCAP provider near their home or work.

If a woman becomes pregnant after enrolling in Family Health Plus, she will be given the option of continuing her enrollment with Family Health Plus or changing to Medicaid. She should contact her plan and her local social services office to discuss her options and to be sure that her baby will get health care coverage.