Last fall, health insurance coverage was expanded so that all children living in Quebec could have access to health care, regardless of where they were born or the immigration status of their parents. With this gesture, Quebec has reaffirmed the importance of giving each child the best possible start. The Quebec government is now studying what appears to be essential in the eyes of experts: also covering health care during pregnancy.
Who does not have access to pregnancy monitoring in Quebec?
For the most part, these are women who immigrated to Canada to flee political or family violence in their country of origin, to join their spouse already residing in Canada and to offer a better life to their children. These women are not visiting, are not doing tourism: they are waiting for a resident status.
When they arrive, they often live in difficult conditions: low income, precarious employment, too small or unsanitary housing, etc. Lacking the means to pay for pregnancy monitoring or health care, they tend to do without. In fact, the costs for pregnancy monitoring and childbirth for people without health insurance can reach between $9,000 and $17,000, an amount impossible to pay for these families in the process of establishing themselves.
Pregnancy: a crucial period for the development of the child
A child’s development begins while it is still in its mother’s womb. The WHO also recommends 12 medical visits to closely monitor the progress of a pregnancy. Tests and ultrasounds can detect multiple pregnancies, fetal abnormalities or other conditions that can lead to complications during childbirth.
By detecting these problems early, it is possible to intervene and positively influence the development and health of the child. In the long term, these interventions can even reduce the risk of chronic diseases, such as diabetes, and promote the educational success of the child.
An investment rather than an expense
According to a study carried out in California, the fact of not subsidizing the prenatal follow-up of migrant women with precarious status would result in an increase in the births of premature and low birth weight babies, which increases the risk of difficulties or developmental delays in children. the child. This would result in health care expenditures seven times greater than the initial savings. Another study published in 2015 and carried out in Germany, Greece and Sweden concluded that access to prenatal care for pregnant women with irregular status allowed the state to reduce health care expenditure.
In short, access to health care during pregnancy is essential both for the health of the unborn baby and for that of the adult he will become. However, it is to our advantage as a society to give the best possible start to these children who will actively contribute to building the Quebec of tomorrow.