| Maternity Insurance In The US | | | | Your HSA, on its own, can be helpful even if the |
| When we discuss finding maternity coverage, we | | | | major medical plan does not cover maternity. You |
| know that we are probably attracting two groups | | | | could use your cash balance, for instance, to pay |
| of people. One group is planning ahead for the | | | | for prenatal care. |
| time when they would like to have a baby. In this | | | | Supplemental Insurance - Some disability policies |
| case, no family member is actually pregnant yet. | | | | may cover time lost from work because of a |
| This is, of course, a much better time to find | | | | pregnancy. I have also seen some supplemental |
| maternity coverage. The other group of people | | | | hospital or illness policies that will pay in case of |
| who are reading this article already has a pregnant | | | | maternity. These plans are unlikely to accept |
| family member. In this case, they are probably | | | | anybody who is already pregnant though, and I |
| scrambling to find some help covering all of the | | | | have never seen one that would cover the whole |
| bills associated with having a healthy baby. This will | | | | cost of maternity. |
| be a little tougher, but there are still some options. | | | | Save Money - If you can afford it, and you have |
| If You Are Planning Ahead For Pregnancy. | | | | no maternity coverage, or you do not have much |
| If nobody in the family is pregnant yet, but you | | | | maternity coverage, you can save for it like you |
| plan on having a baby in the future, here are | | | | save for a down payment on a house or new |
| some common ways to find maternity health | | | | car. |
| insurance. Some of these options, like payment | | | | If You Are Already Pregnant Without Maternity |
| plans or group health, may still work if you are | | | | Insurance |
| already pregnant too. | | | | Public Health Insurance - CHIPS is the federal and |
| Group Health Insurance - A work related health | | | | state children's health insurance plan. It also covers |
| plan usually covers pregnancy. This is probably the | | | | pregnant women. Your income must be less than |
| easiest and most common way to find maternity | | | | the guidelines, but it is a good option for people |
| coverage. If your current employer does not | | | | with moderate incomes. You will be restricted to |
| offer this, it may be time look for for one who | | | | using the doctors on hospitals that participate, but |
| does. | | | | you should be able to find medical care in your |
| A pregnant woman may still be covered on her | | | | area. Very low income people with few assets |
| parent's insurance if she is young enough. There | | | | may qualify for Medicaid. |
| could be other qualifications like she must be | | | | You may also be able to find low cost clinics and |
| unmarried or a student too. A wife should be | | | | hospital systems in your area. Visit PPARX.org |
| covered by her husband's policy if they opted into | | | | because they have a search by zip code. |
| that coverage. And of course, she would be | | | | Your local Department of Health and Human |
| covered by her own employer's plan if it covers | | | | Services is another public resource. Again, these |
| maternity. | | | | options are probably going to work the best for |
| Individual Health Insurance - I am not an expert | | | | people with limited incomes. |
| on the private health plan market in every state. | | | | Payment Plans - Some OB-Gyns and hospitals |
| In my own state, I can tell you that most family | | | | have payment plans for the normal cost of |
| or individual plans do not cover normal maternity | | | | maternity. You may need this if you lack |
| costs, or they cover them with a very high | | | | coverage, or if your own health insurance will not |
| deductible. The basic health plan should cover | | | | cover the bulk of the cost. It would actually be |
| complications of pregnancy. So a C section should | | | | better to check this option out before you are |
| be covered. However a basic private health plan | | | | pregant, but if you are pregnant, it is an option to |
| probably does not cover office visits, tests, or a | | | | research. Try asking your current doctor or a |
| normal delivery. | | | | nearby hospital. You might also search online for |
| The only health insurance company that I know | | | | maternity payment plans in your area. |
| of that offers a maternity rider (option) is Time. | | | | Private Loans - Many maternity doctors will give |
| This will vary by state, and it is an extra option | | | | you a fee schedule for normal deliveries. Even if |
| with an extra premium. It also has a waiting | | | | they have a payment plan, you may do better |
| period before it will pay benefits. If you think that | | | | with your own financing. I hesitate to advise |
| you need this benefit, you must take it well | | | | anybody to go into debt, but when you are |
| before anybody gets pregnant! | | | | safeguarding the health of a mother and baby, |
| HSA Health Insurance - In some states, there is | | | | this may be something to consider. |
| an individual HSA (health savings account) major | | | | Are You Pregnant or Planning To Get Pregnant? |
| medical plan with a maternity rider (option). The | | | | Keep in mind that a normal US delivery costs |
| health savings account part of the plan is a tax | | | | $5,000 - $10,000. This cost will be multiplied if |
| deductible account you must contribute to before | | | | there are any major complications. In a perfect |
| you need it. The major medical has a maternity | | | | world, this would all be planned for before |
| option you can choose. Keep in mind that this | | | | conception. I am not writing this to preach |
| option will have a waiting period before it will pay | | | | because I am aware that this does not always |
| any benefits so this will only work if you plan | | | | happen because we are humans living in an |
| ahead. But if you do plan ahead, your HSA | | | | imperfect world. The most important thing is to |
| balance should help you defray the costs of the | | | | make sure that the mother and baby have the |
| higher deductible. | | | | best possible health care. |