Newborn Insurance Coverage in California
Importance of Newborn Insurance Coverage in California
Caring for newborns is one of the costliest insurance claims. To ensure that your new addition is covered and to minimize costs, it is important to plan ahead. Planning for a new member of the family, especially in the first 30 days, can be overwhelming.
If you have not yet decided on insurance coverage for your newborn in California prior to their arrival, it can be easy to overlook this important aspect while adjusting to life as a new parent. When you do remember, there is often paperwork that needs to be completed, and coverage is not instant. This leaves your new bundle of joy at risk of being without health insurance and you with significant financial burden in the form of post-partum out-of-pocket expenses.
To ensure your baby is protected, it is recommended that you plan ahead and research insurance options before your little one arrives.
Your individual or employer insurance plan may not cover your new baby.
If you have a health insurance policy, your newborn will be covered under the mother's policy and her deductible for the first 30 days of life.
However, starting on day 31, your baby will need to have their own policy. This could mean adding your newborn to your employer insurance plan or turning your individual plan into a family plan, but keep in mind that the process requires time, paperwork, and money.
Failure to secure coverage immediately after birth could result in missing out on fully-covered well-baby checkups during those first few critical weeks.
Additionally, if your baby goes without coverage between the mother's insurance and their own insurance plan, you may be subject to a 20% cost penalty during the first year of coverage, which is already the most expensive year for health insurance.
Parents Don’t Have Health Insurance
Parents without health insurance face a significant financial burden when it comes to covering the costs of their newborn's birth. According to a recent study, vaginal deliveries and c-sections in California can cost anywhere from $15,000 to $45,000. This can be a daunting expense for new parents to bear. Moreover, if the parents are uninsured, all expenses must be paid out of pocket, which can be an added financial strain.
Although newborn babies are typically covered under their mother’s health insurance policy for the first 30 days, this does not apply if the mother herself is uninsured. In such cases, complications that arise during birth or shortly after can add to the financial burden. It is therefore highly recommended that parents seek health insurance coverage before the arrival of their newborn in order to avoid such risks.
Covered California Quotes for Families
The Covered California Health Exchange is a government agency created to aid Californians in complying with the Affordable Care Act. To abide by the requirements of this act, individuals must have insurance coverage from a qualified health plan that meets the government’s standards. Although enrollment is typically limited to the open enrollment period, individuals who have recently had a child may apply for Covered California health insurance coverage outside of this period.
Different individual health plans have different structures and levels of coverage for your health expenses. However, according to the ACA, all health plans must meet the minimum essential coverage requirements, which ensures that no one can be refused coverage during the Open Enrollment Period due to any pre-existing medical conditions.
As you prepare for the arrival of your newborn, it is important to consider the best options for insuring your family’s health. Currently, adding your precious bundle of joy to your existing plan may come at a high cost. However, there are alternatives that you may want to explore, such as enrolling in a new insurance plan that better fits your growing family’s needs. With the right plan, you can ensure that both you and your partner are covered, even before the baby is born. By taking this proactive approach, you can rest assured that your family’s health and well-being are protected, no matter what life may bring. If you are expecting a newborn, you may want to consider looking for a new insurance plan for the following reasons:
- Adding your newborn to your current plan is expensive.
- You and your partner are currently uninsured.
- You both wish to enroll in an insurance plan together after the baby is born.
To find the right plan for you, just complete a straightforward online form with some basic information, such as your income. Once you do, you’ll see a range of options in your search results, with details to compare that include:
- Carrier Name (Kaiser Permanente, Anthem Blue Cross, etc.)
- Plan Category (EPO, PPO, HMO)
- Plan Type (Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze HSA or Bronze)
- Full Price of Plan
- Price You Pay
- Subsidy Amount You Qualify For
- Link to “View Benefits”