Remind Me August 1st to Look Into Baby Health Indurance

When you are expecting a child, there are many things that might be on your mind during your pregnancy. One of those concerns could be healthcare coverage for your baby. Fortunately, this is one concern you may put to rest.

If you have your own healthcare plan, you and your child will have coverage immediately following birth. If you or your spouse have health insurance through an employer, you will be able to change your plan right away, since having a child is a qualifying life event that triggers a special enrollment period. That special enrollment period also allows you to enroll in a plan to get the coverage you and your baby need.

If you are looking to find a family health insurance plan or need help figuring out which type of health plan is right for you, eHealth is here for you. Compare affordable plans in your area with out comparison tool or speak to a licensed agent online or over the phone today.

What are the risks of not having newborn coverage after the first 30 days of birth?

According to Medibank, health care services for newborns are among the most expensive medical expenses. According to Parents.com, birth can cost between $2,000-$4,500 dollars depending on the method of delivery without complications. You would not only have to pay for prenatal, delivery, and postnatal care out-of-pocket, but for all care that your newborn receives after birth.

Without insurance coverage, you could end up with expensive medical bills that can create a financial strain on your growing family. Getting newborn coverage in the first 30 days will help you protect both you and your baby.

If you need to find a plan for your newborn, eHealth's services are free to consumers and we offer dedicated support teams to help you manage your plan throughout the year. We offer 24/7 support and the ability to purchase plans through a phone call, live chat, or our website for your convenience. Click this link to find plans in your state.

Does my individual or family plan automatically cover my new baby?

After your baby is born, your child is covered for the first 30 days of life as an extension of you, the mother, under your policy and deductible.

Starting on day 31, this extension of coverages ends. While maternity care (both pre and postnatal) and some health care services for children are essential benefits that are covered by all marketplace plans, health insurance for babies is not included as an essential benefit. To get health insurance at this time, you must enroll in or change your health insurance plan.

Having a child is a qualifying life event that triggers a special enrollment period. During the special enrollment period, you can enroll in a plan or change your current plan without waiting for the open enrollment period to begin. The special enrollment period extends for 60 days after your child's birth. Once enrolled, the effective date is retroactive to your child's birthdate.

What if I can't afford health insurance?

You have options before giving birth if you are having a difficult time affording health insurance. Even if you don't think you qualify based on income for programs like Medicaid, you should still apply because you may be more likely to receive coverage if you are pregnant. With Medicaid, you don't have to wait until the annual open enrollment period to apply and enroll; you can enroll in coverage at any time of the year if you qualify.

Additionally, there are facilities – such as Planned Parenthood – that sometimes offer prenatal care at lower-rates depending on your income.

If you don't have health insurance and aren't planning on getting health insurance, you can look into applying for CHIP. The Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) is a way to get health insurance for families who have a difficult time affording health insurance for themselves or health insurance for babies or older children.

While CHIP coverage varies state to state, CHIP provides coverage for the following services in all states:

• Check-ups
• Immunizations
• Doctor visits
• Prescriptions
• Dental and vision care (which are ordinarily covered through a parent's health insurance)
• Inpatient and outpatient care
• Laboratory and X-ray services
• Emergency services

Keep in mind that in some states CHIP may provide more covered benefits for your child. The eligibility guidelines for CHIP vary from state to state, but like Medicaid, you can enroll at any time.

Where should I start shopping for health insurance for babies?

It is a good idea to start looking into health insurance for your newborn before you give birth. You can start looking for individual and family health insurance that will meet your coverage needs with eHealth. eHealth offers access to thousands of affordable plans from major companies across the US to make it easy for you to find the right plan for your needs and budget. eHealth also offers unparalleled support from licensed agents to answer any questions you may have about newborn health insurance.

Remind Me August 1st to Look Into Baby Health Indurance

Source: https://www.ehealthinsurance.com/resources/individual-and-family/health-insurance-for-newborn-babies

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