Getting Health and Maternity Insurance When You are Already Pregnant
Finding pregnancy insurance via a private health insurance company while you are already pregnant is difficult or impossible. Insurance companies will usually consider an existing pregnancy a reason reject an application. They will consider the pregnancy to be a preexisting condition.
The suggestions below might not be or might not be pertinent to your situation. There are different laws in different states. The restrictions and limitations you may find on a given policy may mean that a preexisting medical condition you expect to be covered isn't.
It is important to understand your insurance contract before you buy it.
It is also important to keep any existing health care insurance policy you may have until you are covered by the new contract. Even if your current health insurance policy does not cover maternity expenses, you should think seriously before canceling it.
There are three main reasons that you should do this. The first is that you might have an otherwise covered illness or injury not associated with your pregnancy that triggers a large medical expense. The second is that you might have or develop a serious medical medical condition that will keep you from getting coverage in the future. The third reason is that even though the medical expenses of a normal pregnancy might be excluded from your plan, your plan may include coverage for the complications of pregnancy. Complications of pregnancy are considered a disease. A normal pregnancy is not.
In many situations, private health insurance will not be an option. Most insurance companies will automatically deny new coverage for pregnant women. However, there are some exceptions.
Group or employer-sponsored insurance may offer an opportunity for you to get coverage. These types of policies are governed by different regulations. Medical history is less often a factor in your being eligible for a group insurance contract.
Group medical insurance policies will often cover pre-existing health conditions. If, you can get coverage via a group policy before you give birth, you may be able to get the health insurance company to cover most of your health care bills.
Of course, the group coverage plan in question will need to cover maternity. Not all will. Many health insurance policies will specifically exclude maternity related expenses.
In a typical pregnancy most of the health care will be needed just before, during and immediately after the birth of the child. This means that if you can get coverage before you have your child, you can avoid most of the health expenses.
If your employer offers group health insurance, and they will have an open enrollment period before your due date, you may be able to get coverage for your expenses in the maternity ward. This can help you dramatically reduce the bills you will need to pay.
If your spouse or domestic partner has group medical insurance coverage available via his or her place of employment, you might be able to take advantage of his or her next open enrollment period. This may also be a viable option for you.
If you are not married now, but get married to someone with group medical insurance, you may be able to get insured by their policy during a special open enrollment period. Getting married usually allows a spouse be insured by the other spouse's health insurance plan right away without waiting for the next open enrollment period.
The tactics listed above might not work for you. Group health insurance often provides the best coverage. However, if you are not able to get coverage that way there might be programs available from your local, state or from the federal government that can help you limit your financial responsibility.
To For suggestions about the choices you qualify for via other stratagems and via local, state or federal-based programs, contact the hospital where you plan to give birth to your baby. They might be able to give you suggestions based on the options available in your town. You will find health insurance quotes and group health insurance on the author, Alston J. Balkcom's website.
Labels: complications of pregnancy, get pregnant, group medical insurance, health care insurance, health insurance company, health insurance policy, pregnancy complications, pregnancy tips, private health insurance