Re: question about medicaid and vaccinations

January 9, 2004

this is one of the issues that scared me into doing vaccinations. I didn't want

social services popping in one day and taking my baby away. I didn't do the

research to see what my rights really are as a parent with this issue. It's

infuriating that we even need to think about this issue.

question about medicaid and vaccinations

Hi. I am currently a SAHM and my husband has recently gone back to

graduate school full time. We will soon be losing our current

health insurance and are looking into options for the year or so (to

get us through grad school). We have an 11-month-old daughter who

has not had any vaccines yet, and I would like to keep it that way.

Because of our income (or lack thereof), she is eligible for

coverage from Medicaid through the state (PA). Does anyone hear

have experience with that? Do they take note of the vaccination

status? How hard will they push us to have her vaccinated?

I've heard stories about social services threatening to remove a

child from his/her parents for not vaccinating, and I really don't

want to have to deal with that...I'd rather pay for insurance out of

our savings than deal with that.

If anyone has any thoughts or experiences with this, I'd greatly

appreciate it (if you could email me privately too, that'd be

helpful; I don't always get to all the messages on this list between

chasing my daughter around the house! tjsmoker )

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

January 9, 2004

my son's were both on Medicaid for about a year, they would only send us

" reminder cards " for vaccines, but that was it, nothing else, we are in

michigan.

Sara

question about medicaid and vaccinations

>

> Hi. I am currently a SAHM and my husband has recently gone back to

> graduate school full time. We will soon be losing our current

> health insurance and are looking into options for the year or so (to

> get us through grad school). We have an 11-month-old daughter who

> has not had any vaccines yet, and I would like to keep it that way.

> Because of our income (or lack thereof), she is eligible for

> coverage from Medicaid through the state (PA). Does anyone hear

> have experience with that? Do they take note of the vaccination

> status? How hard will they push us to have her vaccinated?

>

> I've heard stories about social services threatening to remove a

> child from his/her parents for not vaccinating, and I really don't

> want to have to deal with that...I'd rather pay for insurance out of

> our savings than deal with that.

>

> If anyone has any thoughts or experiences with this, I'd greatly

> appreciate it (if you could email me privately too, that'd be

> helpful; I don't always get to all the messages on this list between

> chasing my daughter around the house! tjsmoker )

>

> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

----

>

January 10, 2004

It is scarey but if you have a good doctor and an exemption letter in your

childs records then that should be enough.

I have two boys and both times I was on NYS social services. First son I

was bullied into it by the Dr's office. I stopped before the second son was

born, knowing all along it was WRONG. Unfortunately I had already had too

many in my first son, but no bad reactions or permanent damage I can see

anyway. But the second doctor was supportive and I got a letter from the

state after they " searched through his records " at his office saying I had

not vaccinated my son according to the " recommended " vaccinations.

I called the Dr. scared to death thinking I'd lose my insurance because of

this and he wrote a letter for me to keep saying, " I support the PARENTS

decision for NOT vaccinating and will keep this person and her children in

my care, it is NOT a law they have to do this! " I was amazed, and hope I

still have this letter somewhere just to prove to others, it is NOT a law.

Anyway, I had no problems, *phew* but have heard of others that had. I

think you have to stick to your guns and have an exemption letter filed with

their files.

I have the laws in my exemption of NY and the Senete Bill in there so they

really can't argue too much with the laws.

Western NY