Do I Have to Tell Them I Am Pregnant When I Sign Up for Health Insurance?

A woman who becomes pregnant can expect to incur a number of medical costs over the following nine months. These can include costs incurred from prenatal exams, the baby's delivery and post-natal care. To cover the costs, many women rely on health insurance. A woman is required to tell a health insurance company that she is pregnant. However, this does not mean that the company is allowed to deny her coverage.

Disclosure

• According to an article published in the "American Journal of Bioethics" by professors from the University of Michigan, University of Pennsylvania and University of Chicago, it is illegal for a person to lie to their health insurance company when signing up for service. While not necessarily prosecutable under the law, a person who lies when signing up for health insurance risks losing the policy if the company uncovers the falsehood.

Significance

• A woman who lies about being pregnant could risk being denied the benefits afforded her by her coverage if her pregnancy comes to light. While a health insurance company could theoretically not ask her whether she is pregnant, most insurance companies seek to get a complete picture of new clients' health, so this is unlikely. No law bars companies from asking if a woman is pregnant.

Pre-Existing Condition

• According to Insure.com, federal law prohibits health insurance companies from considering pregnancy a pre-existing condition. This means that if a woman is getting ready to sign up for a new group health insurance plan, the health insurance company cannot deny her coverage, whether she is the primary person being insured or just a dependent. The woman must, however, observe the required waiting period before joining a new employer's health insurance plan--usually one to three months.

Misconceptions

• According to the website The Truth About Insurance, it is a common misconception that the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, better known as HIPAA, forces insurance companies to insure pregnant women. In fact, the law only means that a pregnant woman cannot be denied coverage by a new employer if she switches jobs. Insurance companies are still allowed to deny pregnant women coverage under a number of conditions.

Individual Plans

• Although a woman cannot be denied coverage if she switches group plans, if she is without health insurance, she may be denied coverage if she is applying for an individual plan or may be placed into a high-risk pool if she is joining a group plan without having one previously. According to Insure.com, it is nearly impossible for pregnant women to purchase individual health insurance plans.