Insurance: The Gateway or Roadblock to Care

This page offers MCC's research on the difficulties women face obtaining insurance and our report on medical malpractice.  MCC also checks which Medicaid plans are accepted at local birth centers and hospitals in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties. 

Medicaid Insurance Accepted by Regional Maternity Unit

The Department of Public Welfare funds five Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) to serve Medicaid eligible families.  These MCOs are: HealthPartners (HP), Keystone Mercy (KM), AmeriChoice (AC) and the two new Medicaid plans, Aetna Better Health (AE) and CoventryCares (CC). Below is a chart showing which MA plans are accepted at local hospitals.  Generally, women make prenatal visits and give birth at a facility that has a contract with their healthcare plan. In emergency situations no one is turned away because of their insurance plan, or lack of insurance. 

Hospitals are not required to accept all insurance plans so pregnant women may have to change providers or their insurance plans.  Adding to the confusion, individual doctors within a hospital may not accept the same plans as the hospital.  We investigate what options women have based on their insurance.  To eliminate confusion and ensure care for all women regardless of income, all non-profit hospitals and providers associated with them should accept all Medicaid health plans.

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Bucks County

Table Key: HealthPartners (HP), Keystone Mercy (KM), AmeriChoice (AC), Aetna Better Health (AE), Coventry Cares (CC)

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Chester County

Table Key: HealthPartners (HP), Keystone Mercy (KM), AmeriChoice (AC), Aetna Better Health (AE), Coventry Cares (CC)

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Delaware County

Table Key: HealthPartners (HP), Keystone Mercy (KM), AmeriChoice (AC), Aetna Better Health (AE), Coventry Cares (CC)

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Montgomery County

Table Key: HealthPartners (HP), Keystone Mercy (KM), AmeriChoice (AC), Aetna Better Health (AE), Coventry Cares (CC)

*Maternity unit is closed, hospital is still open.

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Philadelphia County           

Table Key: HealthPartners (HP), Keystone Mercy (KM), AmeriChoice (AC), Aetna Better Health (AE), Coventry Cares (CC)

*Maternity unit is closed, hospital is still open.

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Birth Centers     

Table Key: HealthPartners (HP), Keystone Mercy (KM), AmeriChoice (AC), Aetna Better Health (AE), Coventry Cares (CC)

Our Insuring Health Births Report Arrived Mother's Day 2009!

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Medical Malpractice & the Maternity Crisis Report

Medical Malpractice & the Maternity Crisis: Is there a connection? This paper explores the link often made in public debates between the high costs of medical malpractice for providers and the growing maternity crisis. MCC finds little evidence that these costs are the cause of the crisis. MCC'S Childbirth at a Crossroads report offers recommendations on reversing this trend. 

Please visit our Childbirth Crisis News page to read recent articles or Take Action on important issues!

Last Updated August 2010