Pregnancy, Childbirth and Newborn Health Insurance

If you are a new or expectant mother, your health insurance should ideally cover everything, from prenatal and maternity care for you, to pediatric visits and immunizations for your baby.

The process associated with child birth can easily result in one of a couple's single highest medical bill. To avoid being caught off-guard, you have to know your coverage prior to making your first obstetrician or midwife visit. Be aware of the terms and conditions of your health insurance coverage and how to maintain your coverage in case you lose or quit your job. Ask information from your company's benefits department or directly from your health insurance plan's customer service hotline.

Here are some questions that you need to ask:

1) Does your plan cover prenatal and maternity care?
2) Will your medical insurance provider need preauthorization for any of your prenatal or maternity care?
3) Will you need to contact your health insurance company upon admission to the hospital for labor and delivery?
4) To see an obstetrician, is a referral from your primary care doctor necessary?
5) Will medical insurance cover the cost of prenatal tests such as ultrasound and amniocentesis?
6) Is there a limit to your hospital stay after delivery? Will the plan cover for an extended stay if medically necessary?
7) Does the plan have an annual reimbursement limit?

If you want to use a certified nurse midwife to deliver your baby or want to deliver your baby in a birth center or at home, find out what coverage your plan provides in these situations. Insurance coverage varies so it will be prudent to check first before making any of these birthing arrangements.

With the birth of a new baby comes an increase in medical bills these fees arise from your pediatrician, the nursery (in case you have opted to deliver in a hospital), and in some cases, the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). In fact, the first piece of mail your baby will receive with his or her name on it is a medical bill statement. So, be sure to ask your health insurance provider these questions prior to your baby's arrival:

1) How can you include your new baby under your insurance coverage? How much will it cost you?

2) In the event that your child will need to stay at the NICU, will your plan cover for this expense?

3) Does your plan cover well-child care? Your newborn needs visits to the pediatrician and standard vaccinations that need to be covered by your insurance plan.