A High Risk Pregnancy Saved by Medicaid

For pregnant women across the country, Medicaid is often a lifeline. This rings true for one of the Tennessee Justice Center’s clients, who was navigating the challenges of a high-risk pregnancy.  

When our client's condition made it impossible to continue working, she lost her job, and with it, her private health insurance. The sudden loss of both income and coverage added unimaginable stress to an already overwhelming time. Fortunately, as a pregnant woman in Tennessee, she qualified for TennCare, the state’s Medicaid program. She quickly enrolled. In this time of uncertainty, TennCare helped her stay afloat. 

Thanks to TennCare, our client received the care she needed for a safe birth. When she was unexpectedly admitted to the hospital before her scheduled inducement date, she didn’t have to hesitate or worry about cost. This meant she could focus entirely on her health and her baby’s well-being. And with 12 months of postpartum coverage, she left the hospital knowing she could continue to care for herself and her newborn without the burden of medical debt. TennCare gave her the freedom to focus on raising a happy baby, and it increases the chance of her baby living beyond his first year of life. 

In Tennessee, Medicaid covers about 50% of all births. But proposed federal cuts to Medicaid threaten the stability of this essential lifeline, putting mothers and babies across the state at risk. Tennessee already has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the country and that rate could rise even further if access to care is reduced. Protecting Medicaid isn’t just about policy—it’s about people.