If you are pregnant, are considering becoming pregnant, or have someone on your health insurance plan that is pregnant or will become pregnant, then this is “The Maternity Insurance Article” for you. This article aims to explain some of the maternity options available to you and debunk some common myths concerning maternity insurance, maternity riders, maternity discount plans, and other types of maternity coverage.
If you are pregnant and do not have maternity coverage, you will not be eligible for maternity coverage under an individual health insurance plan. Those with the foresight to plan and purchase some maternity coverage before they become pregnant are rewarded, while those who wait until they are actually pregnant are, of course, not afforded individual maternity coverage. (If you are pregnant and have access to a group plan through you or your spouse’s employer, now is the time to seriously inquire about your enrollment options as many group health insurance plans usually cover maternity just as they do any other illness). Naturally, sick people always want health insurance, and people with a pregnancy in the family always want some form of maternity insurance.
If you are not pregnant and would like to add additional maternity coverage to your individual health insurance plan, then there are a few things that you should know. Most individual health insurance policies will allow you to measure maternity coverage in the form of a rider for an additional cost. It is quite common for a maternity rider to have a waiting period of at least 12 months before paying any maternity benefit. Some other maternity riders allow full benefits to be paid up to a set amount after 12 months, and 50% of the benefit paid out beginning immediately.
So how much does pregnancy really cost anyway? How much of a maternity benefit should I be certain to have? How much can I anticipate paying out of pocket for the pregnancy and related expenses? These are all important questions, and the answer may be, “Not quite as much as you at first think.” According to FloridaCompare.gov, the statewide average charge for normal delivery is $1,689, while the statewide average charge for a cesarean section is $14,458. As you can see, there is quite a range in the cost depending on if there are any complications present during the pregnancy.
The important thing is to know the available options and obtain maternity insurance and health insurance before you need them!
To compare multiple quotes from top health insurance companies like United Healthcare, Aetna, and Humana, view free health insurance quotes.