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What happens when new mothers don’t have insurance? Help us find out.

Women are getting kicked off Medicaid quickly after giving birth or aren’t qualifying for care to begin with.

More than half of all maternal deaths occur after the birth, sometimes six or more weeks postpartum.
More than half of all maternal deaths occur after the birth, sometimes six or more weeks postpartum.
More than half of all maternal deaths occur after the birth, sometimes six or more weeks postpartum.
Getty Images

This story was co-published with ProPublica.

The United States remains one of the most dangerous high-income countries in the world for women to give birth. And with the uninsured rate rising across the country — particularly among low-income people — an already dangerous situation could deteriorate even further.

More than half of all maternal deaths occur after the birth, sometimes six or more weeks postpartum, including a rising number linked to chronic conditions such as cardiac-related illnesses and mental health disorders. It’s no coincidence that many American mothers lack adequate health insurance during this critical period of their lives.

That’s why ProPublica’s Nina Martin and Vox’s Julia Belluz are teaming up for a reporting project about the gaps in health care insurance that women experience during and after pregnancy.

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To do this right, we need to hear from you. Please help our reporting by completing the callout below or emailing the reporters at maternal@propublica.org.

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