Baby Parenting Guide

How to enroll baby in health insurance.?

Hi, I am pregnant and due on June first and we are looking for health insurance for the baby I am on my husbands but it would be terribly expensive to add him to it, our older daughter is on an individual plan, so im planning to give them a call and see their rates... how do you go about getting health insurance for a newborn? do you have to wait until you have their birth certificate to enroll? what should I look for in a health insurance policy.. I would really appreciate suggestions thank you

Public Response to How to enroll baby in health insurance.?

1. you need to let the insurance company that you choose know when you are due to have your baby, They will set up the plan but they will not activate it until the baby is born.
2. Are you sure it would be more expensive to have a family plan through your husband? WHat is your daughter on? Does it cover more than just "well visits" (visits for normal check ups). It is very hard to look into insurance. You have to be aware of: deductibles (your cost before the plan pays)...deductibles can range from $0- $3000 or more. Co-pays. (your cost AFTER deductible is met) usually something like $20 when you go to DR. sometimes co-pays are 200-500 if someone is hospitalized. MY point is ...that although it may be expensive to put your children on your husbands plan....in the long run it might be cheaper. To enroll a newborn in an exsisting plan (like your husbands) you would have to call the plan. If it is a new plan, you'll need to call each individual plan you are looking at and get directions. Each work differently. Usually the cheaper a plan is per month the more out of pocket expense you will have when one or both of your children get sick or hospitalized. Hope this was at least helpful
3. The baby needs health insurance the day it's born to pay for things like circumcising if it's a boy, shots..etc. I would look for something with low co-pay visits for a doctors appt.
4. You can't technically enroll the baby until it is born and you have the social security number. If you are wanting to find a good insurance in the mean time I would call around to different insurance companies and explain to them that you are due and when and see if they can guide you to a good plan. Because babies have so many well visits I would look for a plan that has a low copay for doctor's visits because you will be paying this a lot in the first year and thereafter.