When you are pregnant, you might be thinking about a lot of things. One of these worries could be how to pay for your baby’s health care. This is one worry you can put to rest, though.
If you have your own health insurance, you and your baby will be covered as soon as the baby is born. If you or your spouse have health insurance through work, having a child is a qualifying life event that triggers a special enrollment period. This means that you can change your plan right away. During that special enrollment time, you can also sign up for a plan that gives you and your baby the coverage you need.
If you want to find a health insurance plan for your family or need help figuring out what kind of health plan is best for you, eHealth can help. Use our plan comparison tool to find affordable plans in your area, or talk to a licensed agent online or over the phone today.
How does insurance for babies work when they are born?
Insurance for a baby works the same way it works for you. The baby is covered by insurance, which will pay for all or part of the baby’s medical care. You’ll have co-pays, deductibles, etc., just like when you have health insurance.
Remember that just because you had health insurance while you were pregnant doesn’t mean that your baby is automatically covered. Whether you have coverage through your job, private insurance, or a plan through the Affordable Care Act (ACA), a baby is considered a “life event” and can be added to your plan.
You are now in a special enrollment period, which means you can change your plan or buy new insurance. Because of this change, you might be able to get a plan that costs less.
Why is it important for babies to have health insurance?
By adding a newborn to your insurance or getting a new policy for your child, you’ll pay less out of pocket for their care. For one thing, your baby gets some tests and shots as soon as he or she is born. When you bring your baby home, you’ll also need health insurance for a newborn to pay for well-baby visits. During a baby’s first year of life, you take them to the doctor a lot. If you don’t have health insurance, this will cost you a lot.
After your baby turns one, you should take him or her to the pediatrician at least once a year. This is to make sure your baby is growing normally and to make sure he or she is up-to-date on shots.
Keep in mind that if your child has any problems, you’ll have to pay for more appointments, which will cost you more money. You may also need to see a specialist, and your child may need to go through certain procedures or take medicine. All of these visits and shots can quickly add up to a lot of money, but health insurance can help cut these costs by a lot.
What are the risks if a newborn doesn’t have insurance after the first 30 days?
Medibank says that health care for newborns is one of the most expensive types of medical care. According to Parents.com, the cost of giving birth can range from $2,000 to $4,500 if there are no complications. You would have to pay out of pocket not only for prenatal, delivery, and postnatal care, but also for all the care your baby gets after birth.
Without insurance, you could end up with expensive medical bills that could make it hard for your family to pay for things. Getting coverage for a newborn in the first 30 days will help protect you and your child.
If you need to find a plan for your newborn, eHealth’s services are free for consumers, and we have dedicated support teams to help you manage your plan throughout the year. We offer support around the clock, and you can buy plans over the phone, through live chat, or on our website. You can find plans in your state by clicking on this link.
Does my individual or family plan cover my new baby automatically?
After your baby is born, he or she is covered by your policy and deductible for the first 30 days of life. This is because your baby is an extension of you, the mother.
On day 31, this extra coverage will no longer be available. All marketplace plans cover prenatal and postnatal care for mothers and some health care services for children. However, health insurance for babies is not considered an essential benefit. You must sign up for or change your health insurance plan right now if you want health insurance.
Having a child is an event that qualifies you for a special enrollment period. During the special enrollment period, you can sign up for a plan or change the one you already have without having to wait until the open enrollment period starts. You have 60 days after your child is born to sign up for the special enrollment period. Once your child is enrolled, the effective date goes back to the day he or she was born.
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