Maternity Coverage

angmerg128

So I need some advice/any info that you can share. My fiance and I are getting married in 12 days and I am a teacher so I'm trying to decide whether or not to use their healthy  insurance. I just found out my work's insurance does not cover maternity, so I am trying to figure out what to do. Individual Health Plans do not cover maternity either. I have heard of talking to OBGYN offices and asking for a maternity package... a friend of mine told me that they run about 2500 but don't cover lab work, blood tests, or ultrasounds. We are planning on TTC pretty quickly after our marriage, so I need to figure this out for financial reasons obviously. Does anybody have any suggestions? My fiance's insurance is way to expensive to add me because he is also a teacher! Any advice will help! Thanks

tarynmichelle

I don't have much advice because I have never heard of a maternity package (although the fact that they don't cover blood tests or lab work kinda stinks as it seems like I am getting blood drawn for something or other at least once a month!). I'm not sure how old you are or your family situation, but I am actually on my father's health insurance plan because it is SO much better than my husband's, and my father has a family plan so it doesn't cost him any extra to have me on his plan. Because of Obama's new health care plan you are allowed to be on a parent's health insurance plan until you are 26 years old, even after you get married. Maybe something to look into if it fits into your situation!

b15chik

add your ob bill to your hospital bill and i'm pretty positive that will be more expensive than you paying for health insurance coverage through your dh's employer. and you also have to keep in mind if you have complications, are in the hospital on bedrest, etc etc etc.

i know some hospitals (maybe all) offer some kind of maternity thing as well like this http://www.abrazohealth.com/Files/OB%20Prepaid%20Rate%20Card.pdf. there are also standalone policies that offer maternity coverage as well, but they are expensive and all of them have a waiting period before you can become pregnant and they cover it. i ran a quick quote on a website and was quoted 474/month for one that had maternity with 70/30 coverage

unless you're planning on delivering at one of the 2 birth centers here (or home birth) which are both around $3600 for everything if paid prior to delivery (but they aren't a hospital, don't have epidurals, csections, etc), i would really look into getting insurance coverage (unless you qualify for AHCCCS).

something like that is way too big of a what if for me, but you might be comfortable just paying out of pocket and trying to negotiate your bill through the hospital. good luck with whatever decision you make!

 

CTri17

it will probably be worth it for you to be on your DH's if you are planning on being pregnant. We did that when I was pregnant even though it was absurd as far as price wise.

Now I have private insurance so no maternity coverage, but since we had a HB with the first one we plan to do the same with the second which means we will be paying OOP anyway. 

My insurance through BCBS of AZ I believe covers complications of pregnancy. And we have a deductible and then everything else is covered 100%

HTH

angmerg128

thanks for your help! the hospital package plan really helps! I am going to do a Hospital Cash Plan as well if I decide to go with no insurance... this is a lot more stressful than I expected I didn't realize employers were not required to offer maternity coverage!

angmerg128

Thank You, I called my stepdad already to look into it... I am currently on his plan but I think their insurance only considers you a dependent if you are unmarried but I am going to double check! Thanks for the advice!