I’m covered as a dependent under my parent’s plan and I’m pregnant. Will my parent’s plan cover my prenatal care and delivery? Will my parent’s plan cover my baby after he’s born? | KFF (2024)

FAQs

I’m covered as a dependent under my parent’s plan and I’m pregnant. Will my parent’s plan cover my prenatal care and delivery? Will my parent’s plan cover my baby after he’s born? | KFF? ›

If you are pregnant and covered under a parent's health insurance plan, their insurance will cover your pregnancy and childbirth. However, it is always a good idea to check with the insurance company because there may be some limitations or exclusions.

If your parent is covered under a health plan offered by an employer with 50 or fewer workers (“small group” plan) or through an individually purchased ACA-compliant health plan on or outside of the Marketplace, then the plan is required to cover your prenatal care and delivery.

For the first 30 days of your newborn's life, he or she will be covered as an extension of the mother, under her policy and her deductible. Starting on day 31 of the newborn's life, your baby will need to have his or her policy.

Insurance After Pregnancy: Pre-existing health conditions are covered only after completing the waiting period. So existing pregnancies are typically not covered under maternity insurance. Age Limit: Most health insurance providers specify an upper age limit to provide pregnancy insurance.

Once you're on a parent's job-based plan, in most cases you can stay on it until you turn 26. Generally, you can join a parent's plan and stay on until you turn 26 even if you: Get married. Have or adopt a child.

Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), pregnancy and maternity care are covered as essential health benefits. Pregnancy by itself doesn't qualify you to sign up for health coverage or make changes outside of the Open Enrollment Period.

Under health care law after the ACA, insurance companies can't deny you coverage or charge you more money to care for pre-existing conditions.

Free prescriptions and NHS dental care. You are entitled to free NHS prescriptions and NHS dental care (check-ups and treatment) during pregnancy and for 12 months after giving birth. Your child can also have free prescriptions and NHS dental care until they are at least 16 years old.

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.

When to Get Coverage. Your insurance company requires you to add your newborn to your policy within the first 30 days after birth in order to be covered under your plan. The sooner the better!

Can you be denied insurance for being pregnant? ›

Health plans can no longer deny you coverage if you are pregnant. That's true whether you get insurance through your employer or buy it on your own. What's more, health plans cannot charge you more to have a policy because you are pregnant.

Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna and Kaiser Permanente offer the best health insurance plans for pregnant women. If you have coverage through your employer, your health insurance might be cheaper than buying a plan on your own. Medicaid and CHIP are good choices for low-income pregnant women.

Can I add my girlfriend to my health insurance if she is pregnant? Unless you're legally married, you usually can't add a girlfriend to your health insurance plan, even if she is pregnant. The only exception is in states that allow domestic partners to be insured on the same health insurance policy.

If you are dependent on a parent's health insurance plan, it will not cover your newborn as a dependent. But it will cover prenatal care and childbirth. Because plans offer coverage during pregnancy and childbirth but not for the newborn, this is called the pregnancy loophole.

Your out-of-pocket maximum and yearly deductible may also change when you add your newborn to your plan. In most family plans, you will pay an individual deductible for each family member, as well as a plan deductible that applies to the whole family.

When Someone Turns 26. Your coverage will end on your 26th birthday. When you lose coverage on your 26th birthday, you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period. This lets you enroll in a health plan outside Open Enrollment.

Unless you're legally married, you usually can't add a girlfriend to your health insurance plan, even if she is pregnant. The only exception is in states that allow domestic partners to be insured on the same health insurance policy.

As having a baby will be a big change for your homelife, it can be a good idea to update your insurance agent or provider about the new member of the household. While having a child won't outright affect your homeowners policy, you may want to raise the limits of certain coverages after having a newborn.

You lose your parents' health insurance in California when you turn 26.

In most cases, even at the highest levels of insurance, pregnancy and childbirth is not covered unless there is a problem. However, if you have any problems and need medical intervention, this could be covered by your private health insurance.