Are you already pregnant, without health insurance? Are you looking for affordable maternity health insurance? If so, you've certainly come to the right place. We're here to help.
If you're just beginning to plan a family and are not yet pregnant, you can easily get find free maternity insurance quotes here! Just type your zip code and click on "get quotes." Remember to compare maternity coverage benefits.
In this section, we'll show you the various options available to you in obtaining maternity coverage if you are already pregnant with no insurance. We will also show you how to save on maternity costs even if you do not have maternity health insurance.
As you know, pregnancy is a wonderful stage in one's life. It is an amazing journey full of joy, anticipation and lots of surprises.
Of course, pregnancy comes with its own set of challenges. Not having the maternity health insurance is one of them.
You need pre-natal care and access to a doctor you are comfortable with during this critical period to protect your health and ensure the health of your baby.
And medical bills do add up. Without maternity health insurance, maternity expenses could cost you a lot.
How much? Maternity costs can range anywhere from $5,000 for normal delivery to $20,000 for cesarean section and varies greatly depending on the state where you live and the hospital you choose.
When you are unemployed and already pregnant with no insurance, it is extremely challenging to find individual health insurance that will insure you. Or you may get insured, but the policy will not cover maternity costs.
Fortunately, you've got options:
Consider getting a job that offers good health insurance plan. Make sure you fully understand the employer's health insurance plan before accepting a job. Some companies may require you to be employed for 30 days or more before you become eligible for coverage.
This may be fine if you are in the early stages of your pregnancy and don't mind paying for a couple of pre-natal visits. However, this could pose a major problem if you are nearing your end term.
If you are changing jobs you can not be denied health insurance at your new job just because you are pregnant. The Federal Law HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) states that pregnancy can not be considered a pre-existing condition if you were previously covered by group health insurance.
If prior to your new job, you didn't have maternity health insurance or were covered by individual insurance, you do not qualify for protection offered under HIPPAA. This means that you may be subject to pre-existing Condition waiting period under your new employer's health insurance policy.
You may be eligible for maternity health insurance under COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act) through your previous employer. This will cover you for 18 months, provided you apply for the benefits before the 60-day application period expires. However, this will generally require you to pay the full premium (plus 2% administrative cost). You may find this pricey, but definitely better than not having any insurance at all.
If your income falls within a certain range (typically up to 200% of federal poverty level depending on which state you live in), you can avail of Medicaid. Medicaid offers health insurance to pregnant women, along with several other groups of people (children, disabled, blind and people over the age of 65). There are strict regulations regarding eligibility for Medicaid, so contact your State's Health Department Services to inquire about Medicaid options.
If you find yourself without maternity health insurance, and do not meet the eligibility requirements of Medicaid then contact your Local Department of Health. Many local health departments have low cost pre-natal programs and will offer complete maternity services at a reduced fee depending on your income.
You can also seek the help of Catholic Charities or Lutheran Social Services. They offer support for if you are pregnant with no insurance, including prenatal services at reduced cost.
Go ahead and explore the above options as soon as possible. Make sure you have the necessary maternity care and services to protect your health, and insure the safe delivery and health of your baby.
Find more resources on Maternity Health Insurance Coverage:
CA - Low Cost Maternity Insurance in California If you can't get maternity health coverage through Medi-Cal, Medicare or private insurance, take a look at some resources here to help you if you're pregnant without maternity insurance in California.
State-by-State Guide to Finding Affordable Health Insurance as well as Low Cost or Free Health Care Coverage
Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas
Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina
North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming
When you are unemployed and already pregnant with no insurance, it is extremely challenging to find individual health insurance that will insure you. Or you may get insured, but the policy will not cover maternity costs. 