It is very important for a pregnant woman to have insurance coverage. She will need to visit the doctor frequently throughout her pregnancy and will also need numerous screening tests to ensure the health of herself and the unborn child. Insurance coverage will be required to help cover the hospital and medical costs associated with labor and delivery.
Significance
According to the American Pregnancy Association, approximately 13 percent of pregnant women do not have health insurance. An even higher percentage is underinsured and lack adequate coverage to pay for the expenses associated with pregnancy. This can be alarming since the cost of delivery alone can fall in the range of $6,000 to $8,000.
Types
You can instead consider a maternity insurance plan that can help assuage the costs of your medical requirements. These plans will cover all or part of the blood work, doctor's visits, ultrasound appointments and hospital stay. Some examples of maternity insurance providers include Maternity Advantage and Ameriplan.
Benefits
Maternity insurance will typically carry the same rules as a traditional health care plan. You may be subject to a co-payment as well as a deductible. You will also pay a monthly premium rate to keep your coverage active. You can take the coverage out at any point during your pregnancy and cancel after delivery. On average, the maternity insurance plan will cover approximately 50 to 60 percent of the medical costs related to your pregnancy.
Considerations
You may be eligible for state assistance if you are pregnant and unable to secure maternity insurance. Some federally funded programs include Medicaid and WIC. Medicaid provides health insurance for pregnant women while WIC supplies free nutritious foods to pregnant women and, later, their infants.
Warning
Many insurance companies will not provide coverage for a woman's pregnancy if she is expecting when she signs up for the plan. Pregnancy can be considered a pre-existing condition and therefore is disqualified for benefits. Make sure you review all of the restrictions associated with an insurance plan before signing up for coverage.
Member Comments