Affordable Health Insurance for Babies

During a baby's first year, parents must diaper, feed and clothe the child, as well as provide her with adequate health care that includes immunizations, checkups and emergency care. Fortunately, new parents have several health insurance options that can alleviate some of the healthcare expenses associated with raising an infant.

Types

• Parents and guardians can have several different types of health insurance options available for children. Privatized health options include employer-based health insurance and individually purchased policies. Under private plans, parents can choose the amount of health coverage they want for their children. Alternatively, the federal government offers some health insurance options for babies that include Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Plan (CHIP). Both programs are federally funded, but regulated by the states. Pregnancy Medicaid covers eligible low-income women and their babies during pregnancy, child birth and the first year of the child's life. Similarly, CHIP is available to children in every U.S. state based on family size and income.

Coverage

• According to the Academy of American Pediatrics, parents should bring babies to the pediatrician for checkups at least nine times in the first three years of life. Health insurance plans should provide benefits for regular checkups, as well as vaccinations, hospital in-patient and out-patient care, emergency room care and prescription drug coverage. Babies are also subject to other screenings that test for jaundice, phenylketonuria (PKU), hearing disorders and other abnormalities and health conditions. Insurance should provide benefits for these tests, as well.

Rules

• Parents who have private health insurance, whether individually purchased or employer-based, must add a new baby to the policy within a timely manner after birth, or else risk losing coverage for the new child. Most health insurance companies require parents to enroll new babies within 30 days of birth, as well as provide them with the child's Social Security number as soon as it is issued. Failing to follow the health insurance company's requirements could result in a lapse in healthcare coverage for the baby until the insurer's next open enrollment period.

The Affordable Care Act

• Under the Affordable Care Act of 2010, babies and children can no longer be discriminated against by health insurance companies for preexisting medical conditions. No insurance government or privatized provider may deny coverage to a child or rescind coverage if the child becomes sick. Additionally, all new health insurance plans purchased after September 2010 must provide the policyholder with free preventive care, including well-baby checks and routine immunizations.