If you are a Medicaid recipient, then you are likely qualified for a doula covered by Medicaid.
1. Do you have the green “mihealth” card?
If you have this card, then you may be a Medicaid receipt and may be eligible for doula services. To confirm this, you can call the number on the back of your card to find out what health plan you’re currently on and if you are eligible for doula services. No referral is needed because Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, chief medical executive of Michigan, has said in a press release that doula services are medically necessary and should be offered to families covered by Medicaid insurance. The only requirement is that you have to be currently pregnant and will be giving birth in a hospital. If you are planning on a home birth, Medicaid will cover all prenatal and postpartum visits but not the birth support itself.
2. Find out which Michigan Medicaid Health Plan that you currently have
It will be one of the following plans:
When you get on Medicaid, you usually have 30 days to pick which health plan you want to be enrolled in. You’ll get a health insurance card from them.
- Aetna Better Health of Michigan
- Blue Cross Complete of Michigan
- HAP Empowered
- McLaren Health Plan
- Meridian Health Plan of Michigan
- Molina Healthcare of Michigan
- Priority Health Choice
- UnitedHealthcare Community Plan
- Upper Peninsula Health Plan (UPHP)
- Fee for Service (Straight Medicaid) – Usually only for when you haven’t picked a plan yet.
3. Find a Doula
Once you know your health plan then use the Doula Directory on this website to find a doula in your area by county or zip code! You can also filter by Medicaid Health Plan (insurance) and languages. Find out if they are available on your “due month” and then schedule a free consult with them! It’s usually recommended to interview 2-3 doulas (over videocall, phone or in-person) then hire the one that you feel the most comfortable with.
4. If the doula and you are a good match, you’re good to go.
The doula is approved to schedule up to 12 prenatal or postpartum visit. They can attend your birth to support you and your support partner. They will bill the insurance on your behalf so you shouldn’t have to pay anything. If you opted for a service that isn’t covered by insurance but provided by doula (such as placenta encapsulation, extra visits, birth photography, massage, meal planning, etc..) then you’ll have to pay the doula directly. Some doulas will also charge an admin or travel fee.