How to Put a Newborn on Insurance

Adding your new baby to your insurance policy immediately after he's born is crucial. Even healthy babies require routine medical care during the first months of life. The Newborns' and Mothers' Health Protection Act requires insurance companies that offer maternity coverage to provide coverage for an infant's initial medical stay, provided that stay does not exceed 48 hours for vaginal births and 96 hours for Caesarean births. Once you arrive home, however, you have a limited amount of time to add your newborn to your insurance policy.

Things You'll Need

• Insurance forms
• Social Security number

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Instructions

• 1

  Apply for a Social Security number for your baby. Your insurance company needs your child's Social Security number as soon as possible. Some hospitals provide this service for you. If yours does not, contact the Social Security Administration and request Form SS-5. You can also download the form at Social Security Online.

• 2

  Inform your insurance company of your child's birth and request the forms necessary to add him to your insurance policy. While all insurance companies have different requirements, all must allow you to add your child to your policy within 30 days after the birth.

• 3

  Fill out the forms from the insurance company when you receive them. Although the forms will ask for your child's Social Security number, it can take from one to 16 weeks to receive a Social Security number from the Social Security Administration, depending on your state. Thus, your child having his Social Security number is helpful, but not necessary.

• 4

  Make a copy of your child's birth certificate. Your insurance company will need this as proof of his birth.

• 5

  Mail the forms and the copy of your child's birth certificate to your insurance company.

• 6

  Call the insurance company after 10 days to ensure that it received your newborn's insurance enrollment paperwork and birth certificate.

• 7

  Notify the insurance company of your child's Social Security number as soon as you receive his Social Security card. This number is necessary for most insurance companies to process claims.