If you are considering having children in the future or have already had children, there is important information you should know about maternity coverage and its benefits. You should do enough research to make sure that you will receive a health insurance plan that includes maternity benefits within the coverage. Some plans will include these benefits, while others either have no maternity options or offer optional maternity coverage at an additional cost. United and Humana are two carriers that offer maternity benefits as an optional buy in most states. Prices range from $50-$300 per month but you must have purchased the option in advance of becoming pregnant in order to be eligible.

   There are various guidelines which can help you determine if you are eligible for maternity coverage. If you think you are pregnant but do not have insurance and do not have a physician's diagnosis, your pregnancy may not be considered a pre-existing condition. If you receive insurance before visiting a doctor, you may be covered. However, there are different rules depending on the company, so consulting a broker is an excellent idea. If you are uninsured, believe you are pregnant, and a doctor just confirmed the pregnancy, it is unfortunately too late for you to obtain insurance. You will not be able to buy an individual plan until after the birth and maternity coverage cannot be added to your current plan. There is an exception to this rule; your policy will cover complications from pregnancy. Examples of complications include emergency c-sections, miscarriages, tubal pregnancies, and gestational diabetes. Prenatal care and the fee for delivery will not be covered. 

   There are also some guidelines to adding your child to your health insurance plan after delivery. With most carriers, your baby can be added after the initial well baby visit is performed prior to leaving the hospital. You should, to be safe, call to add your baby to the policy within 30 days from the date of birth. If you are adopting a child and are purchasing an individual health insurance plan, you will be able to add the child to your plan, but will be subject to medical underwriting and the standard application process.