Baby Parenting Guide

Can you purchase health insurance for a baby only?

I'm expecting my first baby in October and I already have health insurance but will not be able to add my baby to mine. I know I have to wait 'till he is born to legally get insurance, but can I get insurance for only him, or do I need to be on the plan too?

Public Response to Can you purchase health insurance for a baby only?

1. I don't know about private insurance companies but some states have insurance programs that are offered to children only. Several states use the CHIP acronym - Children's Health Insurance Program. Before you look at purchasing insurance, check out what your state has to offer. You might find descent coverage and a descent price (or free in some states).
2. Why cant the child be added to your policy? If you are low income, there is the S-chip program in many states for childrens health only. It is a subsidized program. You can probably buy private insurance for the child but you should call a local insurance agent and ask what is available.
3. Oddly, yes, you can get insurance for a baby only. However, it may cost less to have the baby's other parent add the baby to that parent's insurance.
4. Even IF he's born perfectly healthy, you're not going to be able to buy a policy with a low deductible, on a newborn. So yes, you can buy one . . . after he's about six months old, but a. it will take a month or two AFTER he's born to put coverage in place and b. it's NOT going to cover the routine doctor visits and vaccinations that the baby gets. You're GOING to have a big, fat, $5000 deductible, because that first year of routine medical care, usually costs about $5,000.