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Affordable Maternity Insurance

Pregnancy is one of the happiest times in a woman's life, and the last thing a woman wants to worry about is money. Unfortunately, according to Cost Helper, the average cost of a healthy pregnancy in America for a woman without health insurance is between $9,000 and $17,000, while women with insurance can cut their bills down to $3,000 or less. Women can find affordable pregnancy coverage through their employers and government-sponsored options, but purchasing a private insurance policy could mean more expensive premiums.

  1. Private Health Insurance

    • Few individually purchased private health insurance plans include maternity benefits for pregnancy. While this leaves you on the hook for lab work, sonograms, visits to your obstetrician and for the birth of your child, most insurance plans will nonetheless cover any complications that may arise during your pregnancy. Some insurance providers offer maternity riders or endorsements to supplement your policy, though you will pay a higher premium for adding these benefits. Be aware that you may have a waiting period of up to 12 months or more before your insurance company will pay benefits for pregnancy.

    HIPAA

    • The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, or HIPAA, regulates group health insurance plans, making it easier for employees participating in an employer's group insurance plan to receive quality maternity care at affordable rates. Unlike individually purchased health insurance plans, most group plans include pregnancy benefits at no additional charge to the employee. Additionally, there is no waiting period before you can receive benefits unless you are pregnant prior to enrolling in your employer's health plan, at which time your insurance company can recognize your pregnancy as a pre-existing condition and refuse pregnancy coverage for up to 12 months.

    The Affordable Care Act

    • Beginning in January 2014, provisions in The Affordable Care Act will make it mandatory for all health insurance plans, including those purchased privately, to provide maternity benefits as part of all policies, without the need for an optional maternity rider. Additionally, women will not pay higher premiums for pregnancy coverage or any other health condition. Until 2014, all new health insurance plans must provide counseling, screenings and vaccines recommended for a healthy pregnancy at no cost to the policyholder, regardless of whether or not the policy includes maternity benefits.

    Considerations

    • If you have limited income and resources, you may qualify for pregnancy Medicaid. Issued and regulated by each U.S. state, Medicaid is a federally and state-funded program that provides comprehensive benefits to a mother and her unborn child throughout pregnancy. Eligibility guidelines vary by state, but many states offer Medicaid to women in households with income at or below 133 percent of the federal poverty level. If you do not qualify for pregnancy Medicaid and must pay cash for your hospital and obstetrician's services, many hospitals and clinics offer cash discounts to uninsured pregnant women who opt to pay in advance or shortly following the birth of their child.

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