Our insurance agency receives several inquiries regarding health insurance including maternity coverage.
Our clients want their coverage to begin immediately. And they need to know which insurance company offers plans with no waiting period for pregnancy.
The good News: All Affordable Care Act Plans Must Now Offer Maternity Coverage.
Even if you’re pregnant, ACA plans must accept you. There is a catch, however. They do not have to accept you outside of the Open Enrollment window. Open Enrollment begins on November 1st and runs through January 15th.
If you’re outside of Open Enrollment, you will need a Qualify Life Event to enroll in a new plan. These event usually revolve around loss of other creditable coverage.
Maybe you lost coverage from work or perhaps you moved and could your insurance plan would not cover you in your new resident State. Another example would be losing your parent’s insurance at age 26.
In those cases, a new ACA Marketplace plan must accept you no questions asked. They cannot ask any health related questions nor ask if you’re pregnant. You will usually be covered at the beginning of the next month.
Maternity Insurance – No Waiting Periods
There’s more good new here too. Many plans before the advent of the Affordable Care Act has waiting periods before maternity coverage began. Sometimes it was six months, other times it could be an entire year.
That is no longer the case. ACA-type plans will begin coverage right away. There are no waiting periods whatsoever.
This is not the case with short term health insurance plans, however. They do not cover pregnancies and, in fact, can turn you down for coverage if you’re already pregnant.
You most likely do not want to purchase a short term health plan if you’re pregnant or want a plan offer maternity benefits. ACA and group (employer-based) plans are best for immediate and full coverage for pregnancies.
Contact Us Today For Personal Assistance
If you are unsure of your options when it comes to maternity insurance, please contact us. A lot has changed with the implementation of the Affordable Care Act.
We can help you understand the rules, regulations and timelines so that you can enroll in the health insurance coverage that best suits your needs and future.