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Tips for Finding Maternity Health Insurance Coverage

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Tips for Finding Maternity Health Insurance Coverage

Tips for Finding Maternity Health Insurance Coverage

Pregnancy can be a very exciting time in a couples lives; however, it can also be a complicated time when dealing with medical insurance. Many health insurance companies are very particular about what they will and will not cover during a pregnancy, since this is a very expensive event. Unlike an expensive illness, maternity coverage is something that most insurance customers will need and many of them will need it more than once, which means a huge expense to insurance companies. Below are several tips to keep in mind when shopping for an insurance policy that includes maternity coverage.

  1. Make sure you look for an insurance policy that includes maternity coverage now, with plenty of time left before you will actually need to use it. Sometimes you will have up to a 24-month waiting period before your insurance policy will start to cover maternity related expenses.
  2. Make sure all pre-natal care is covered, including items such as vitamins, wellness, monthly visits, and extended care, if you don’t want to have to pay out-of-pocket for them.
  3. Although most insurance companies will cover an emergency cesarean section, they may not cover an elective one. Therefore, if you know that you will likely elect to have this procedure, you will need to make sure that the policy covers this before you purchase it.
  4. If you plan to use a midwife or a doula, you will need to make sure that this is an option that is covered by the policy. Although you may be able to afford to pay a doula to be present at the birth, a midwife will be with you all through your pregnancy, taking the place of an OBGYN; so it is important that you have the coverage for this if you need it.
  5. Likewise, if you think that you might want to give birth at a birth center or even at home, then you will need to make sure that the policy you choose covers these options. Although it is “free” to have a homebirth, you and your baby will still need to be looked at by a physician, which your insurance may not cover if you had a homebirth that was against their policy rules.
  6. If you already have an OBGYN, make sure that this provider is part of the policy’s network to avoid paying extra out-of-pocket expenses. If you will be choosing a new OBGYN, look over the list of providers included in the policy’s network before you purchase it.
  7. If you travel frequently, find out if the policy will still cover your delivery and recovery if you unexpectedly go into labor while you are in another state or in another country.

Remember, as a parent-to-be you are going to want the pregnancy and birth experience to go as smoothly and joyously as possible, but dealing with insurance hassles will only get in the way of that goal; therefore, it is important to plan a head and discuss all of these issues when choosing an insurance company, so that you are not disappointed when it is finally time to use your maternity coverage.