How to Purchase Maternity Insurance

Statistics show that at any given time 40 to 80 million Americans are without health insurance. Being without insurance is a concern for any individual, but that worry is compounded in a woman of childbearing age. The good news is that even if your employer does not provide insurance, it is still possible to purchase private maternity insurance. You can have the peace of mind that if you are pregnant or if you get pregnant, you and your baby will be covered.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Decide on the amount of coverage you need and how much you are able to spend each month on maternity insurance. Remember to leave room in your budget for co-pays and deductibles, as these are common with most insurance plans.

2. Look into the maternity insurance options that are available. A simple online search can provide a good jumping-off point. Additionally, talk to the providers of your auto or home insurance, since often they will also sell health insurance or be able to point you in the right direction.

3. Read the details of each plan carefully. Check the coverage for prenatal care, labor and delivery and also for initial care of the baby once he is born. Remember to look at what will be covered if there are complications that require extra medical care, a Cesarean section or an extended stay in the hospital.

4. After making your decision, apply for the insurance plan and once accepted, pay your first payment. Be sure to keep your premium payments up to date since a lapse in payment may cause you to be dropped from the insurance plan, leaving you and your baby without coverage.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are already pregnant and find that you cannot afford maternity insurance, look into state-provided health care plans such as Medicaid or CHIP. Many women find that their pregnancies can be covered at little or no cost to them.

Resources

• PregnancyInsurance.org