Maternity Health Insurance
Individual Health Insurance That Covers Maternity
It is getting harder and harder to find good individual health insurance plans that
cover maternity. Most PPO Plans for individuals now completely exclude maternity.
If you are planning on getting pregnant in the near future, it is wise to consider
your health plan options early on. In other words, before you actually get pregnant.
There are still traditional HMO plans, as well as some PPO plans that offer maternity.
With HMO's it becomes a game of "is my doctor on your list" with the variour HMO
plans, and their networks. For example, The Blue Cross HMO plans for individuals
(which all cover maternity) have three different networks depending on the plan
you choose. If your OB/GYN takes the reduced network plan, you are in luck. You
can save several hundered dollars on monthly premiums. However, if she does not,
then you may have to pay more for the same care. The question to ask is, "How important
is it to use your OB/GYN?"
Keep in mind, in most modern OB/GYN practices, the doctor that delivers could be
any number of doctors from your personal doctors practice, but unless the stars
align and you happen to go into labor at the same time that your personal OB/GYN
is on, you will likely have one of the other doctors in the practice there to deliver.
If you are like my wife, and have very long labors, then you may even see two or
three of them depending on their shifts!
There is a new plan type on the market that promises to revolutionize health care
and how it is delivered. It is called an HSA or Health Savings Account. These plans
are basically high deductible health insurance that only covers basic wellness before
you get pregnant.
Now, if you are already pregnant. You have other problems. If you are already preganat
individual health insurers in California decline for pregnancy as a pre-existing
condition. Not all is lost though! There are some state programs for low income
such as Access for Infants and Mothers, also known as AIM, or sometimes
we may be able to put you onto guaranteed isssue group health coverage. Call me
at 877-758-7587 to discuss your options. There is no cost or obligation, and I will
be happy to point you in the right direction and identify all your options. Even
the phone call is free.
Read more about
Health Insurance and Maternity Coverage