Question: Does Health Insurance Cover Birth Delivery

• How much does Medicaid cover for birth?

All Health Insurance Marketplace® and Medicaid plans cover pregnancy and childbirth. This is true even if your pregnancy begins before your coverage starts. Maternity care and newborn care services provided before and after your child is born are essential health benefits.

Add Your New Baby To Your Insurance Plan

To make sure your newborns health care is covered, add him to your plan as soon as possible. Once your baby is born, contact your insurance company to inform them of the birth, Daggett says. Youll need to give them babys name and date of birth and possibly other types of personal information. If you have employer-provided insurance, you can contact your companys HR department and they may be able to process that change for you. Also, find out your states policies in regard to coverage. Typically, your baby will be covered under your plan for the first 24 hours after birth, and in most cases you have 30 days to add your baby to your plan. However, keep in mind that health insurance companies want to bill well-baby visits as soon as your baby has a Social Security number.

What Does Medicare Cover For Pregnancy And Delivery

Medicare Part B may help cover the cost of these medical services provided in your doctors office or ordered by your doctor and provided in a clinic or outpatient setting. Once you have met your Medicare Part B deductible, Medicare will usually pay 80% of the cost of prenatal and post-partum medical care. You will typically pay 20% of the Medicare approved amount for these services. Medicare does not cover your infant after delivery.

Medicare Part A may cover inpatient hospital services, including the delivery of your infant and your hospital stay. Once you have met your Medicare Part A deductible, Medicare will usually pay 80% of the Medicare approved amount for hospital services and you typically pay 20% of the Medicare approved amount.

Medicare may also help pay the cost of pregnancy-related care. Medicare coverage may extend to the treatment you receive if you have a miscarriage, generally paying 80% of the Medicare-approved cost after you have met your annual deductible. Medicare coverage is available for abortions in circumstances under which pregnancy is the consequence of incest or rape or poses a serious threat to your life if you were to carry your unborn child to term. Medicare does not cover elective abortions if you choose to terminate your pregnancy for other reasons.

You May Like: How Long Do I Have Insurance After I Quit

How Much Your Pregnancy Will Really Cost You

We wish we could give you a firm number, but prenatal health care and delivery costs vary radically. How much youll pay will depend on factors like where you live, whether you have any complications and whether you have a vaginal birth or a c-section. But here are some ballpark figures: Prenatal care and delivery costs can range from about $9,000 to over $250,000 . But before you freak out, know that were talking without insurance. With health insurance, the bulk of these expenses could be covered but thats not always true.

I have health insurance. What should I expect to pay for prenatal care and delivery?

Policies that cover maternity costsGood news: If you have insurance provided by your employer and the company employs at least 15 people full-time, your insurance must provide maternity services.

The percentage of prenatal and maternity costs that will be covered depends on your insurance carrier and which plan you have, but typically, employee plans cover between 25 percent and 90 percent of costs. Keep in mind that this is after the deductible has been met and that there may be a separate deductible for each family member, so youll likely be paying a bit more than that out of pocket. In other words, if each family member has a $2,000 deductible, youd have to pay the first $4,000 of expenses for both your and babys medical care, plus whatever else your plan doesnt pay for.

How can I make sure my health insurance provider pays for as much as possible?

Birth Centers May Save You Money

Ifyoure medically low risk, it may be worth looking into the possibility ofgiving birth in a birth center instead of a hospital. In an AABC study, birthcenters were shown to be a safe place to give birth for medically-low riskwomen. Additionally, birth centers are significantly less expensive than givingbirth in a hospital ward and have a high rate of patient satisfaction.

Birthcenters are characterized by

• Havinga relaxed and warm atmosphere
• Theoption to return home shortly after giving birth
• Providersthat may include nurse-midwives, direct-entry midwives, or nurses working withan obstetrician
• Beinga freestanding facility, on hospital grounds, or inside a hospital

Accordingto Centsai.com, giving birth in a birth center costs around $12,000, whereasgiving birth in hospital costs nearly three times that amount on average.

Ifyou cannot get insurance while pregnant and are medically low-risk, it may beworth looking into giving birth in a birth center as opposed to a hospital tosave money. According to the American Pregnancy Association, a birth centermight not be the right fit for you if you are expecting twins, are diabetic orhave preeclampsia.

Additionally,the American Pregnancy Organization recommends asking the following questions before choosing a birthing center:

Fora longer list of questions, and more information on birthing centers, you canvisit the American Pregnancy Organizations website.

You May Like: When Does Health Insurance Stop After Quitting Job

Can Uninsured Women Enroll In Marketplace Coverage Upon Becoming Pregnant

Only if it is within the established open enrollment period or a woman qualifies for a special enrollment period , does not have a plan that meets MEC through Medicaid or an employer, and meets income and immigration criteria. Note that except in the states of New York and Vermont, pregnancy does not trigger an SEP.

Under the ACA, people who do not qualify for Medicaid coverage that meets MEC, and have incomes between 100% and 400% FPL, qualify for advance premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions , which they can use to reduce the cost of health insurance purchased through a Marketplace. Those with pregnancy-related Medicaid in the three states that do not constitute MEC are eligible for Marketplace subsidies. Certain lawfully-present immigrants with incomes under 100% FPL subject to Medicaids five-year ban in their state are also eligible for APTCs. Undocumented immigrants are not eligible for APTCs, CSRs, or Marketplace insurance.

Does Health Insurance Cover Breastfeeding Services

Yes. Most health insurance plans must cover breastfeeding counseling, support, and equipment during pregnancy and after birth, for as long as youre nursing.

Health insurance must cover the cost of a breast pump. But plans may have guidelines on the type of pump they will cover and whether you get it before or after the baby’s birth, among other rules. Your covered pump might be a rental or a new one youll get to keep.

You and your doctor will decide what breastfeeding services are right for you. Health insurance plans often follow your doctors breastfeeding recommendations. Some plans may require your doctor to pre-authorize services before your insurance will cover them. Talk with your doctor and contact your health insurance provider for more information about breastfeeding coverage and benefits.

Also Check: Can You Add A Boyfriend To Your Health Insurance

What Services Can I Expect To Be Covered

Maternityservices covered by health plans include:

• Outpatient services These services include prenatal and postnatal doctor visits, gestational diabetes screenings, lab studies, medications, etc.
• Inpatient services such as hospitalization, physician fees, etc.
• Newborn baby care
• Lactation counseling and devices

Its important to keep in mind that your coverage may vary depending on what plan you have since insurers can choose how they cover these benefits. Additionally, out-of-pocket costs are dependent on several factors, such as the metallic tier of coverage you have, deductibles, copayments, and which providers you choose.

What Has Changed About Maternity Coverage

While all individual, family, and group plans must cover pregnancy, that wasnt always the case. Before the ACA, maternity coverage wasnt a guaranteed benefit. Before 2014 only around 12% of individual plans on the market listed pregnancy as a covered benefit, according to the National Womens Law Center. Only nine states required maternity coverage before 2014.

Maternitycoverage was previously only offered by a limited number of plans or had to beadded on as a special rider in addition to a plan. These riders also usuallyhad a waiting period.

Additionally,before the ACA, pregnancy was considered a pre-existing condition, which meantinsurers could decline or raise coverage prices for expecting mothers.

Thismeant that pre-2014 coverage could be denied or made more expensive to pregnantwomen by health insurance providers.

Read Also: Insurance Lapse Between Jobs

If Youre Pregnant How Do You Know What Health Insurance To Choose

When youre choosing your health plan, look at the plan summary. Each plan has a summary that includes the expected costs of pregnancy care. Every plan uses the same summary form, so its easy to compare costs and services. You can find plan summaries in the Health Insurance Marketplace. This is an online resource that helps you find and compare health plans in your state. If you are working, you may also have health insurance through your employer. Check with your employer to learn about the plan summary and benefits.

If You May Qualify For Medicaid Or Childrens Health Insurance Program

• Medicaid and CHIP provide free or low-cost health coverage to millions of Americans, including some low-income people, families and children, and pregnant women.
• Eligibility for these programs depends on your household size, income, and citizenship or immigration status. Specific rules and benefits vary by state.
• You can apply for Medicaid or CHIP any time during the year, not just during the annual Open Enrollment Period.
• You can apply 2 ways: Directly through your state agency, or by filling out a Marketplace application and selecting that you want help paying for coverage.
• Learn how to apply for Medicaid and CHIP.

You May Like: Starbucks Benefits For Part Time Employees

What Delivery Costs And After

Most health plans will cover much of the costs of delivery and aftercare, but, as with any other stay in a hospital or other health care facility, you may need to pay part of the bill. Your costs may include having to meet your health planâs deductible as well as copays or coinsurance.

Your deductible is the money you have to spend before your insurance helps pay for your care.

Copays are a flat fee you pay when you see a doctor, such as $20 per visit.

With coinsurance, you pay a percentage of the cost of your medical care.

You can find out what services are covered by your plan and what your costs are likely to be by looking at your health plan’s summary of benefits or by calling your insurance company.

Here are some things you might want to look for to confirm whether your plan covers these services, and if so, how much of the bill youâll be expected to pay:

• Labor and delivery services in the setting you choose, such as a birthing center, home, or hospital

Q: How Much Does An Ultrasound Cost Will My Health Plan Pay For An Ultrasound While I’m Pregnant

A: First, it depends on the type of ultrasound you have done. There are different kinds, and some cost more than others. You might pay $100 or less for a few of them, but you’ll pay $300 to $600 or more for most.

Health insurance often pays for at least one ultrasound during pregnancy, but don’t take that to mean your plan will cover its cost completely. You might still have to deal with copays or co-insurance. Also, some plans cover more than one ultrasound when you’re pregnant if your doctor thinks it’s medically necessary.

Recommended Reading: What Benefits Does Starbucks Offer Employees

Find Out Exactly How Much Is Covered

Some plans cover only a percentage of costs. Find out what percentage by looking specifically under the maternity section of your policy. Be aware, though, sometimes coverage isnt as straightforward as youd expect. Find out what your plans definition of maternity and childbirth is, says Michelle Katz, LPN, MSN, health-care consumer advocate and author of Healthcare Made Easy. For example, one of Katzs clients went through IVF treatments and her policys definition of pregnancy did not cover multiples. She didnt see that fine print until after she gave birth to triplets and was billed hundreds of thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket costs.

To avoid these surprises, do your research. Sit with your ob-gyn and ask her to list the tests shed like you to have, write them down, then go to your insurance plan and highlight the sections and double check whether theyre covered, Katz says. A lot of times policies online are not updated, so be sure youre working with accurate information.

Go in with eyes wide open, Gundling adds. Have an open dialogue to make sure that your obstetrician and hospital are aware that you want to be in network so that you can get the highest care at the lowest price.

Health Insurance For Pregnancy 101

Shopping for health insurance can seem as complex as doing your taxes and it becomes even more complicated if youre pregnant. So it first helps to understand the various health insurance terms youre likely to hear:

• Premiums: The amount of money youll pay your insurance company monthly for coverage.
• Out-of-pocket cost-sharing: What you pay personally to your practitioner for medical visits and procedures as part of your health insurance plan.
• Co-pay: The amount of money you pay for each in-network doctors visit , which usually ranges from $25 to $50 .
• In-network co-insurance: The percentage youll pay toward your medical bills if you have a bigger procedure at an in-network doctor or hospital .
• Deductible: The amount you pay before your health plan starts paying some share of the expenses. If your deductible is $3,000, youll pay for co-insurance out-of-pocket until you hit $3,000 at that point your health insurance starts paying for some of the expenses up to your out-of-pocket max, when theyll start paying for everything.
• Out-of-pocket max: The most youll pay for health care in a year. This amount does not count your monthly premiums but does include copays and coinsurance you continue to pay after you hit the deductible.

Since pregnancy is a high-cost health expense even for women with health insurance, youll want to focus especially on the cost of premiums and the co-insurance to keep your overall costs as low as possible.

You May Like: Starbucks Health Insurance Deductible

Everything You Need To Know About Health Insurance And Pregnancy

Allmajor medical insurance plans today cover pregnancy. This coverage includesprenatal care, inpatient services, postnatal care, and newborn care. Theseessential services were put in place by the Affordable Care Act and help makeit easier for both planning and expectant mothers to get insurance.

However, its stillimportant to understand how health insurance works concerning pregnancy sinceevery pregnancy is different and will incur different costs.

If you dont haveinsurance and are pregnant, you may qualify for government health insurance programs,and if you dont, there may be free or discounted care options available to youin your area.

How Do I Know What Specific Benefits Are Covered

Healthplans are required to provide a Summary of Benefits and Coverage documents. Thesummary will detail how each specific plan covers the cost of pregnancy andchildbirth. If you are pregnant or plan on getting pregnant, review thisSummary to see how your plan or to compare how different plans cover childbirth,this way you will know what to expect and are less likely to get any surprisemedical bills.

Keepin mind that these services are covered by major medical plans even if you gotpregnant before your coverage starts. Thanks to the ACA, pre-existingconditions are covered, this includes pregnancy.

Itsalso important to consider that if you have a grandfathered individual healthplan this is not the kind of plan you get through your employer, its a planyou buy yourself arent required to cover pregnancy and childbirth. If you havea grandfathered individual health insurance plan, you may want to call yourinsurance company to learn about your plans pregnancy and childbirth coverage.

You May Like: Starbucks Insurance Benefits

How Much Youll Pay To Have A Baby

The amount you will pay out of pocket for the costs of childbirth will depend largely on whether or not you have health insurance, and if you do, on the cost-sharing structure of the plan you choose. If you do have health insurance, you may have to pay your deductible towards your inpatient care when you deliver your baby. You could also have copays or coinsurance towards things like medications, physician services or radiology.

Lets use an example to illustrate total out of pocket costs for a mom-to-be with health insurance coverage. A 32-year-old woman and man in Wayne County, Michigan, got married and planned to have a baby in 2015. Their marriage was a qualifying life event for enrolling in an insurance plan on MI’s health insurance exchange, so they started looking at their options. She called her obstetrician and the hospital where she planned to deliver and learned they were both in-network with the UnitedHealthcare plans on the exchange, so they only considered those.

Sample Patient Costs with Deductibles and Coinsurance

The chart below shows various scenarios assuming different United HealthCare plan options for the couple. We’ve assumed they live in Livonia , and for simplicity, have only shown healthcare costs just for the expectant mother. Patient costs assume deductibles, copays, coinsurance as well as any limits or exclusions for the mother:

Questions to Ask Your Health Insurance Provider