In most states finding health and maternity insurance through a private health insurance company while you are already pregnant is difficult or impossible. Insurance companies will usually consider an existing pregnancy a reason not to offer coverage to a woman. They will consider the pregnancy to be a pre-existing medical condition.
The suggestions below might not be or might not be appropriate to you. There are different laws in different states. The restrictions and limitations you might find on a given policy may mean that a pre-existing health condition you expect to be covered isn’t.
It is important that you know what is and isn’t covered by your medical insurance policy before you purchase it.
It is also important to keep any current health care insurance policy you might have until you are officially notified that the new one is in place. Even if your current health insurance policy does not cover maternity expenses, you should think carefully before canceling it.
There are three main reasons that you should do this. The first is that you may have an otherwise covered sickness or injury not associated with your pregnancy that triggers a large health care expense. The second is that you might have or develop a pre-existing medical condition that will keep you from getting coverage in the future. The third reason is that even though the health care expenses of a normal pregnancy might be excluded from your plan, your contract may include coverage for complications. Complications of pregnancy are considered a disease. Pregnancy is not.
In many situations, private medical coverage will not be an option. Most insurance companies will automatically deny new coverage for pregnant women. However, there are some exceptions.
Group or employer-sponsored medical insurance may offer an opportunity for you to get coverage. These types of policies are governed by different regulations. Medical history is less often a factor in your being eligible for a group health insurance contract.
Group insurance policies will often cover pre-existing disease or conditions. If, you can get coverage through a group plan before you give birth, you may be able to get the health insurance company to cover most of your medical expenses.
Of course, the group coverage contract in question will need to cover maternity. Not all will. Many health insurance policies will specifically exclude maternity related expenses.
In a typical pregnancy most of the health care will be needed just before, during and immediately after the birth of the child. This means that if you can get coverage before you have your child, you can avoid most of the health expenses.
If your employer offers group health insurance, and they will have an open enrollment period before your due date, you might be able to get insurance to cover your expenses in the maternity ward. This can help you dramatically reduce your financial exposure.
If your spouse or domestic partner has group medical insurance available at his or her place of employment, you might be able to take advantage of his or her next open enrollment period. This may also be a viable option for you.
If you are not married now, but get married to someone with group insurance, you might be able to get insured by their policy during a special open enrollment period. Getting married usually allows a spouse be insured by the other spouse’s insurance plan right away without waiting for the next open enrollment period.
The strategies listed above will not work for every woman. Employer-sponsored health insurance often provides the best coverage. However, if you are not able to get coverage that way there may be programs available from your local, state or from the federal government that can help you limit your exposure.
To For advice about the opportunities accessible to you via other stratagems and through government-based programs, contact the hospital where you plan to give birth. They may be able to give you the information you need.
