In today’s medical system, it costs an average of over $6,700 to have a normal delivery and almost $11,000 to have a baby by cesarean section. For many expectant couples, this can be very difficult – if not impossible – to pay. Not only is the cost of the delivery enormous, there may also be some lost income if the mother is unable to work during the pregnancy. A couple also needs to take into account any time that will be lost from work during maternity leave when estimating the total costs of the pregnancy.
If you aren’t already pregnant and plan to become so, you need to go ahead and get yourself some health insurance. Although the monthly premiums may seem high, they’re nothing compared to the expenses you’ll pay for your pregnancy if you aren’t insured. As long as you are covered before you become pregnant, almost all insurance plans will cover you, although there may be a short waiting period if you’re enrolled with private health insurance.
If you’re already pregnant, there’s a pretty good chance you will have to wait a couple of months after your insurance goes into effect before you’ll be covered. However, each insurance company is different, so it’s best to call ask if and when your pregnancy costs will be covered. If you aren’t covered right away, ask how long the wait will be. A good insurance company should be able to tell you exactly when your coverage will begin.
If you’re looking at insurance plans before you get pregnant, you might want to consider where you want to have your baby. With all of the new insurance programs on the market today, not all plans are accepted everywhere. If you have a specific hospital in mind, or if you want to use a specific doctor, be sure they are accepted by the insurance company’s network.
Many employers offer insurance to their employees, so look into this option if you aren’t already enrolled. The premiums on employer-sponsored plans are generally much lower than private policies, and you won’t be dropped if you make too many claims. If you’re already enrolled and are unable to work while you’re pregnant, you should not lose your employment. You may have to pay your insurance premiums to keep the policy in effect during your leave, but federal law protects your position when you become pregnant.
If you’ve recently changed jobs or quit your job before you realized you were pregnant, you should be able to use the COBRA insurance option. This allows you to continue your health insurance for up to one year until you are able to secure another health coverage policy. While the premiums may be expensive, it’s definitely worth the expenses if you’re pregnant. If you’re interested in participating, contact your previous employer for more details.
If your income is low, you may quality for Medicaid. This federal program will pay for all of your hospital bills, prenatal and perinatal care; as well as provide well-baby checkups for your child. There are strict income requirements to qualify for the program, but they may be able to suggest alternative state programs if you don’t meet the guidelines.
If you’re having difficulty getting insurance, keep in mind that it’s against federal law for you to be denied medical care for you or your unborn child. A medical facility cannot refuse to treat you, although you’ll still be required to pay for any bills and expenses incurred. If you have no insurance when you go into labor, continue to the facility you wish to have your baby at and contact the hospital’s accounting office to determine if any payment plan options might be available to you.
Labor and delivery is stressful enough on you and your family without have to worry about the costs associated with a pregnancy. If at all possible, get on a good insurance plan before you become pregnant to minimize the chance of running into financial problems when you’re finally expecting.
