How to Cover a Pregnancy With Health Insurance

By eHow Health Editor

Rate: (27 Ratings)

The average cost of having a baby is $6,378 for a normal delivery, $10,638 for a cesarean. The best way to ensure your pregnancy will be covered by health insurance is to plan ahead, making sure you obtain insurance before you become pregnant.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately challenging

Things You’ll Need:

  • Health Insurance Policy Covering Pregnancy

Step1
Try to have health insurance before you get pregnant. If you haven't had insurance coverage at all and then get insured through a group plan, the new health plan does not have to immediately cover your pregnancy and could make you wait a couple of months before coverage is offered.
Step2
Find out what kind of coverage your health plan or prospective plan provides for birth, adoption and pregnancy. Look at what type of maternity, preventive and well-baby care the plan provides.
Step3
Ask potential employers if the health insurance they offer covers maternity.
Step4
Avoid switching jobs if you are pregnant. If you do begin a new job during a pregnancy, it is possible that you might have to wait up to a couple of months for coverage.
Step5
Consider applying for Medicaid if you are uninsured and meet the program's low-income requirements.
Step6
Contact your state insurance department for more information on how to cover your pregnancy and ask what other types of low-cost insurance plans they offer.
Step7
Think about applying for COBRA to cover your pregnancy if you are between plans. COBRA is a federal law that provides health insurance for qualified workers, their spouses and their dependent children if they are between plans.
Step8
Try to get on a group health plan through your job or a professional organization if you are uninsured and pregnant. These will be less expensive than purchasing individual insurance.

Tips & Warnings

  • Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, a pregnancy is not considered a pre-existing condition, which means switching plans while pregnant should not be a problem. There are some exceptions, however.
  • Contact your health plan within 30 days of your child's birth, adoption or placement for adoption and request a special enrollment to cover the event.
  • Newborns and adopted children may not be exluded from health insurance for pre-existing conditions if they are enrolled in a health plan within 30 days of birth or adoption.
  • Under the Newborns' and Mothers' Health Protection Act, if a plan covers maternity or newborn benefits, it must allow mothers and newborns a 48-hour hospital stay after a vaginal birth and 96 hours if a cesarean section has been performed, unless it is agreed with the physician and mother that there will be an earlier discharge.
  • Contact the Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration of the U.S. Department of Labor or your state insurance department for more information on COBRA.

Comments

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GrlyGrl

GrlyGrl said

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on 9/5/2008 I just found out that I am pregnant and I am trying to get a new job now. When I get the job will the insurance I get through the company cover my pregnancy. I was told by a COBRA agent that this would be considered a pre-existing condition and that it will be difficult to get covered. Any information is appreciated. Thanks

jrosef

jrosef said

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on 6/19/2008 Do you know what the income requirment is for medicaid?
Also, I haven't been able to find a individual plan that includes maternity.
Please email me

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eHow Article: How to Cover a Pregnancy With Health Insurance

eHow Health Editor

eHow Health Editor

Category: Health

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