How to Apply for Medical Insurance for a Baby

Congratulations on your new baby! Keeping infants safe and healthy is a concern of all new parents.
Having an established health insurance policy in place prior to the arrival of your infant provides peace of mind. Remember to add your baby to your existing insurance policy. If this is not possible, start up a new insurance policy with a private, federal or state insurance provider.

Instructions

Adding Your New Baby to Existing Insurance Plans

1. Contact your insurance company prior to your baby's due date. The phone number should be on your insurance card.

2. Question your insurance company on what maternity services are covered including: Are all doctors covered? Anesthetists? Specialized pediatric physicians if necessary? How long are you eligible to stay in the hospital after the baby is born? Does this time change if you have a C-section? Some insurance plans do not cover maternity care.

3. Register for precertification of services for your upcoming delivery. During this time, ask the insurance company about their procedures for insuring your new baby under your existing insurance policy.

4. Verify the time frame during which the baby is covered. Adding a baby to your policy may not have to be done the day of delivery.

5. Return home with your new baby and follow up on insurance needs. At this time, the insurance company will verify the new addition to your family and add him or her to your policy.

Starting Private Health Care Insurance for Your New Baby

1. Find information for private insurance carriers to begin an insurance policy for your baby. Are you self-employed, finding yourself between jobs or does your employer not provide health coverage? You do not need to go through an employer to obtain coverage.

2. Discuss insurance company recommendations with your ob-gyn. This physician would be well-informed on which companies provide the most consumer-friendly services. The physician's billing office would also be a very good source of information regarding private insurance companies.

3. Find an independent health insurance broker to assist you in finding the right coverage for your new baby. Private brokers are well informed on the pros and cons of different insurance plans. A listing of licensed insurance brokers can be found through the National Association of Health Underwriters. See the Additional Resources section below for more information.

4. Select two or three insurance companies to compare rates. Choose at least one large, well-recognized name such as BlueCross BlueShield or Humana. See the Additional Resources section for an example of private programs offered by BlueCross BlueShield. There is also a link for insurance policy comparisons.

5. Compare policies. Plan information is available on the Internet for many types of private insurance policies. To compare costs you may have to contact the insurance companies directly and discuss your payment options.

6. Fill out the required paperwork once you have chosen an insurance company.

Government or State Health Insurance Programs

1. Seek out information on government- or state-funded insurance programs for children. Your new baby may be eligible to receive coverage under federal- or state-sponsored programs such as the Insure Kids Now! program. Contact information for this program is located in the Additional Resources section.

2. Confirm the requirements for the programs by contacting the appropriate federal or state office.

3. Request and complete all required paperwork. Don't wait until the last minute! Return these forms prior to the baby's due date.

4. Place the policy in effect once your baby is born. You may need to contact the government or state agency to confirm the baby's delivery date.

5. Obtain a government or state insurance card once your insurance request has been approved.

References

• Baby Health Insurance Comparison
• BCBS Sample Health Insurance Plans
• Children's Health Insurance Program

Resources

• Insure Kids Now! Program
• Insurance Program Comparison
• Private Insurance Brokers