The best time for a woman to secure affordable health insurance coverage is before getting pregnant. Although an expectant mother may be able to get health insurance coverage while pregnant, many health insurance companies consider pregnancy a preexisting condition and may exclude that condition from a new policy.
Even Medicaid, the health insurance program for low income individuals and families, impose limitations to the type of health coverage they provide pregnant women. Someone who is pregnant may indeed be able to secure Medicaid coverage, however the cost of delivering the child (the average cost is $6,000-$8,000, and more for a high risk pregnancy) may need to be paid out of pocket by the insured.
Even if you have an individual health insurance policy, it may take a long period of time for a maternity rider to become active. Many health insurance companies require a 6-12 month waiting period for the maternity benefits to take effect. Even if you have regular health insurance, if you discover you are pregnant, they may not cover the expenses associated with the pregnancy. They key is to try to secure maternity health care coverage before you need it.
The types of health insurance coverage are decided state by state. There are also a handful of states such as Utah, California, Texas, Florida and Colorado that offer short-term maternity health insurance coverage.
It is important to seek any maternity health care coverage you can while pregnant. Even if it may be limited, some insurance is better than none.
You have always wanted a baby, and you have decided that 2009 is the year to grow your family, but money is tight. Since prenatal care is so important, you should start searching for free maternity health plans before you conceive.
Both paid and free maternity health plans are challenging to find. Many health insurance companies, including Medicaid, consider pregnancy a pre-existing condition and may limit the amount of coverage they will provide.
Free maternity health plans vary from state to state, as currently health insurance is not a national prerogative. There are some government-funded programs for those who qualify. As previously mentioned, there is Medicaid, which provides medical assistance for low-income families and individuals.
Not to be confused with free maternity health insurance, another option is WIC, or Woman, Children and Infants. States are provided federal grants to run a program to help low-income, pregnant, breastfeeding, and non-breastfeeding postpartum women. WIC grants money for health care referrals, supplemental foods and nutrition education. The program applies to infants and children up to the age of five who are found to be at nutritional risk.
Free maternity health plans may not be in abundance, so aside from private health care or Medicaid, there are options available for discounted maternity care. Programs such as AmeriCare and Maternity Advantage are paid programs. Once you sign on for one of these plans, you can receive significant discounts on maternity care.
If you are planning on having a child, it is best to add on pregnancy coverage to your existing health plan before you are actually pregnant. Some health plans may also require you to purchase a pregnancy rider, as they may not cover your pregnancy-related costs.
If you already have an existing...
Read full article: Adding On Pregnancy Coverage to Existing Health Plan
