WIC: How the program has changed

[mamawhit322]

I'm not on WIC, but in Mississippi they have a warehouse that you go pick up your food at. Some of the stuff is totally nasty too- the milk comes in a box and you keep it in your pantry until you get ready to use it (to get it cold). Yick. If you're baby can't have Enfamil formula, you are out of luck because they don't give you anything BUT Enfamil.... even if you get a "note" from your pediatrician saying they need Similac (or whatever). I know in Louisiana the ped. can do that for you if your baby has a reaction.

[nursebrittney]

honestly, I don't think anyone should complain about any help they are getting with their baby. Not everyone qualifies for WIC and I would personally love to have free enfamil formula for my baby, but I do not qualify. Keep that in mind when you get upset about the free items you are getting. Many of use don't even get that!

[mommytaylor]

Originally Posted by Ggbwg When i lived in Council Bluffs, IA they would give you checks to use at the Farmers market during the summer. I loved that so much! We would always get corn, watermelon & cucumbers.

They still do We weren't on WIC this summer since we didn't financially need it like before though we still qualified, so no farmers market checks here (though I still supported the farmers markets every week). The previous summer we did the checks - it was wonderful to get everything so fresh and support local farmers!

With a cutback in my work hours we're on it again, and really love the changes!

[cbms]

*I* *LOVE* the new WIC! Both my daughter and my son can not tolerate cow's milk, and they can now get soy! I also love the fresh/frozen/canned fruits and veggies-as we eat a lot of fresh produce. I get 6.00 for each of my little ones and 8.00 for myself. It's a HUGE help as we're facing a financial crisis due to my husband's wage and hours cut.

[cbms]

(and I personally love the cereal options-multi grain cheerios are my FAVORITE)!

[mamawhit322]

Originally Posted by nursebrittney honestly, I don't think anyone should complain about any help they are getting with their baby. Not everyone qualifies for WIC and I would personally love to have free enfamil formula for my baby, but I do not qualify. Keep that in mind when you get upset about the free items you are getting. Many of use don't even get that!

I stated that I wasn't on WIC- I don't qualify either, my DH makes too much. But even before we were married and I qualified, I still wasn't on it. We didn't need it and we didn't want to cheat the system. I have this sense of mind that if I got on then, when we didn't need it and abuse the system, one day there would come a time when I *did* need it and we wouldn't qualify.

I just don't like the fact that if a baby can't tolerate Enfamil and needs Similac or even a prescribed brand, the family wouldn't be able to get that from the WIC office/warehouse... they give what they are sponsored with.

[elizabethhouts]

Originally Posted by mamawhit322 I just don't like the fact that if a baby can't tolerate Enfamil and needs Similac or even a prescribed brand, the family wouldn't be able to get that from the WIC office/warehouse... they give what they are sponsored with.

I am pretty sure they would still be able to get what they need. Enfamil and Similac are just the brands. Like if a baby can't do Enfamil Lipil, they might put them on Enfamil Prosobee (soy) which is just the Enfamil version of Similac Isomil. If they are a preemie they might put them on Enfamil Extra Care of Enfamil Premature (has extra calories) vs Similac NeoSure. Enfamil Nutramigen vs Similac Alimentum, etc. (In my state) the income for WIC is also the income for Medicaid for children under 19. I would think medicaid would pay for prescribed formula if WIC did not. I am sure there is a way for them to get prescribed brands if it is a nutritional necessity despite an inability to get Similac if it's what they prefer.

[CW&M Mom]

Originally Posted by nursebrittney honestly, I don't think anyone should complain about any help they are getting with their baby. Not everyone qualifies for WIC and I would personally love to have free enfamil formula for my baby, but I do not qualify. Keep that in mind when you get upset about the free items you are getting. Many of use don't even get that!

as someone whose had a baby who couldn't drink regular infant formula....not allowing a Doctor to decide what formula, in certain circumstances, the baby should drink is absurd.

My son could only drink nutramagin...$25 a can. We used 3-4 cans a week. Regular formula made him poo chunks of blood.He had what is called Allergic Colitis....Milk Soy Protien intolerance. If I had lived there and they wouldn't of allowed us to get the formula we needed what help would they have been? We only qualified for a few months anyways...so normally I had to shell out $350 month on formula. You imagine what's that like when your only making 30K a year family of 4.

Free isn't helpful if you can't use it due to medical issues.

[CW&M Mom]

Originally Posted by elizabethhouts I am pretty sure they would still be able to get what they need. Enfamil and Similac are just the brands. Like if a baby can't do Enfamil Lipil, they might put them on Enfamil Prosobee (soy) which is just the Enfamil version of Similac Isomil. If they are a preemie they might put them on Enfamil Extra Care of Enfamil Premature (has extra calories) vs Similac NeoSure. Enfamil Nutramigen vs Similac Alimentum, etc. (In my state) the income for WIC is also the income for Medicaid for children under 19. I would think medicaid would pay for prescribed formula if WIC did not. I am sure there is a way for them to get prescribed brands if it is a nutritional necessity despite an inability to get Similac if it's what they prefer.

Medicaid is not going to pay for formula unless the infant is tube fed, inborn error of metabolism, Eosiniphil esophogitis ect.. and at that point your talking about Formula that is $65 a can or more (small can). Most babies need different formula's for vomitting, reflux or colic...and medicaid is not going to intervene in those conditions. Also most states have very different numbers for WIC vs Medicaid.

That being said.....if you live in a state whose WIC has strict rules for changing formula...I suggest you have your child be seen by a pediatric GI get a firm dx on the issue...have them fill out the official paperwork (not just a script) for the specific formula and if needs be throw out that the word Failure to Thrive at them...and they usually will bend. No state is going to make every single child take just one formula...because there are medical issues where children HAVE to be on specialized formula...but that doesn't mean WIC will tell you the whoops to go through to get there KWIM.

Now if the issue...is your child only tolerates regular similac for instance not regular enfamil...then your really going to be screwed...because that is never going to be a good enough reason for the "strict" states WIC program to bend. Then I might just find an alternative route with the formula I'm allowed to get the formula my child actually needs .

[CW&M Mom]

Oh one last thing. If your child has been given the dx of Failure to Thrive or has one of the following conditions or similar up above and you don't qualify for WIC $$ wise...most states actually will take a small percentage of children who don't qualify $$ wise but actually qualify medically wise...in other words. If that child is in danger of there parents not being able to afford there special formula...so the child will suffer as a consequence...WIC with some pressure from the pediatrician of GI will usually take that child on as well.