TriCare, just like the overwhelming majority of health insurance, does not cover my services. However there's a change coming in 2025 that gives service members and their family another option to fund a homebirth.

Starting this year, military members can have a Flexible Health Care Spending Account or FSA. This account can be used to pay for services not covered by Tricare, including midwifery fees for a home birth.

The benefit of a FSA is that it uses pre-tax dollars which effectively gives a discount of whatever your tax rate is for anything you use those funds to pay for.  

Of course there are other ways to fund a home birth including: 

• Start saving for a home birth in a regular savings account. This option is available for everyone and can be a great way to get a head start on funding a homebirth, or to supplement FSA funds if needed. You can start funding the birth before baby is more than a twinkle in your eye.
• Use a gift certificate. Some midwives may offer gift certificates so family and friends can support you in getting the birth you want. If the midwife doesn't offer gift certificates, she may be willing to if asked.
• Add funding for the home birth to your wish list for a baby shower.  
• Declutter and have a yard sale or sell things online.
• Bartering for all or a portion of the midwifery fee may be an option if the midwife is open to barter. 

Having more options to fund a home birth when insurance doesn't is helpful, especially when an option lets you use all your money instead of what is left after taxes.

This year hit me with a few surprises.  As I look back, I want to share the gifts that I'm thankful for this year.

• Local midwives: Bethany Page and Rachel Andresen were a Godsend when I was unable to serve my clients. They stepped up and took excellent care of my clients
• My clients: my clients were understanding and supportive while I was in the middle of my health crisis and as I recovered. I was touched by their kindness and accommodation of my situation
• Babies: babies are always a gift, but attending births after I had recovered was extra special.
• My husband:From insisting I go to the Emergency Room, to bringing me food and Sonic Cherry Limeades while in the hospital, to driving me to my appointments and taking or picking up birth supplies from the local midwives, not to mention cooking, laundry and taking care of me, he was my rock.
• My son: My son helped where he could. Hospital visits, phone calls, staying with me when my husband needed to go out but I wasn't in condition yet to be left alone. Encouraging me to rest and recover, encouraging me to go slow and ease back into things.  He even cleaned my kitchen when I just wasn't able to do it myself.
• My midwifery assistant: She was also my home health nurse so she knew what medical issues and challenges I was dealing with. From carrying my bags so I wasn't lifting too much to reminding me to eat, drink and take breaks, she was a huge blessing.
• My medical providers: The surgical team checked on me every single day I was in the hospital.  They did a great job letting me know what I would need to do to navigate life after I got home.  I wouldn't be writing this if it wasn't for them.

This year gave me huge challenges, but it also gave me so many gifts. I am truly blessed to be a midwife and amazed and thankful for so much support this year.