A positive pregnancy test causes a range of emotions from excitement to worry about the costs involved. With rising health insurance costs, many families choose to go without or choose lesser coverages to reduce the costs. Health care coverage during pregnancy provides needed financial and health support for the expecting mother and the baby.
Importance
Health insurance that covers pregnancy-related expenses provides access to quality health care throughout the pregnancy. A woman without pregnancy coverage often does not receive adequate prenatal care. Prenatal care ensures the health of the mother and the baby. It allows the health care provider to identify potential complications in the pregnancy, which may prevent serious problems.
Pregnancy Costs
Even a normal, healthy pregnancy comes with a hefty price tag. A vaginal delivery without complications typically costs $6,000 to $8,000, according to the American Pregnancy Association. You also incur the costs of the prenatal care from your obstetrician on top of the delivery costs. A Cesarean birth or a vaginal birth with complications can add several thousands of dollars to the total. A baby who is premature or faces other health problems will likely spend time in the Newborn Intensive Care Unit, NICU, which increases the total significantly. Giving birth without insurance leaves you open to the potential for a huge medical bill.
Insurance Plans
An employer's group insurance policy usually offers the highest levels of coverage for maternity care. Pregnancy is not considered a preexisting condition on a group policy if you are switching from one policy to another with a lapse, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. You may face a waiting period if you didn't previously have coverage or if there is a lapse. A pregnancy is considered a qualifying event that allows you to sign up for an employer's group policy even if it isn't the normal open enrollment period. A group plan typically covers a large portion of the prenatal care and delivery fees, as well as the newborn's care after he is born.
Individual insurance policies can call pregnancy a preexisting condition which means they won't pay for the coverage. Some individual policies don't offer coverage for pregnancy. Choosing a plan that provides maternity coverage saves you in the future if there is a possibility you will become pregnant. The levels of coverage for maternity care also vary from one plan to the next.
Alternative Options
Special health care discount plans present an alternative for pregnant women without traditional health insurance. The plans simply offer a discount on the medical costs. Because it isn't actual insurance, you receive a discount on services for preexisting conditions. The specific discount and costs associated with the discount plans depend on the specific program you choose. Some health care providers offer a discount to patients paying in cash. Calculate the costs of the discount program including its fees compared with the discounted cost of paying with cash to make sure it will save you money.
Medicaid is a federal-funded program but operates on a state level. The program offers medical coverage for families with limited incomes. Income eligibility guidelines vary by state.
Considerations
Securing health insurance before you become pregnant offers the best results and avoids restrictions or denial of coverage. Some women consider falsifying their conception dates in an attempt to gain coverage under a new insurance policy. Giving an inaccurate conception date makes it difficult for your health care professional to assess your baby's health and development. Ultrasound technology allows a doctor to get a very accurate date of conception so they will eventually find out that the baby was conceived earlier than thought.
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