About Health Insurance for Pregnant Women
Prenatal care is one of the most important aspects of having a baby. Healthy growth is important for the baby from the time of conception. A healthy mom helps to accomplish this. With the rising costs of medical care, it is crucial that pregnant women have health insurance to ensure that the baby and the mother receive the proper care during and after pregnancy.
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The Facts
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In America, one out of five women have no medical insurance. That amounts to over 17 million women. Thirteen percent of the women who become pregnant each year have no medical insurance. Most insurance companies consider pregnancy a preexisting condition. Not all women with no health insurance qualify for government programs.
Risk Factors
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The risks involved with not having medical insurance before and during pregnancy include: Not having insurance before conception may keep you from having insurance during the pregnancy; not having the resources available for proper prenatal care; not getting proper prenatal care can result in low birth weight and other health problems for baby; and not getting proper prenatal care can result in health problems for the mother during or after pregnancy.
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Benefits
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The most important benefit of having health insurance before a pregnancy is having the resources available for proper prenatal care. Most birth defects occur within the first few weeks of pregnancy, but if the mother is receiving prenatal care even before conception, the risks of birth defects can be decreased. Another benefit is the offset of rising medical costs. For many people, even the cost of well checkups is beyond their reach without insurance. Having insurance during pregnancy allows you to receive the best care for both you and your baby.
Identification
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There are several types of insurance available for pregnant women. Most work-provided insurance plans cover the cost of pregnancy if the pregnant mother is covered before conception. This is the ideal situation. There are, however, solutions for the 13 percent of pregnant women in America with no insurance coverage.
Government Funded Insurance--Medicaid is a program that provides medical care for low-income families. Medicaid provides assistance for children, individuals with certain illnesses and diseases, and pregnant women. The Medicaid program is a state-run program and coverage can vary from state to state. There is also certain criteria that needs to be met, such as income. This can also vary from state to state. If you become pregnant and have no insurance, your local health department usually has information about the Medicaid programs available in your state.
Discount Plans--If you do not have insurance coverage and do not qualify for government health programs, discount health programs can help you save money on your medical bills associated with your general health, as well as your health during pregnancy. Each plan is different, with different monthly fees and different savings amounts. With some plans, you can save up to 60 percent off of your medical care. Be sure to compare different plans to find one that works for you.
Significance
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Having adequate health care when pregnant can mean the difference between having a healthy baby and one that struggles with health problems throughout her life. Of course, you want the best for your baby, and making sure that you have health care insurance so that you can provide your baby with the healthiest start in life is one of the most important decisions you will make as a parent. Before conception, you should begin prenatal visits and be as healthy as possible. Research the options available to you so that you can give your baby the best option available to her--loving care from the first moment.
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