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Christine & Joe
We became active in June 2007 and in December 2007 were contacted by a birthmother. Thank you Parent Profiles! Our beautiful baby boy was born in March and we couldn't be happier or more blessed.
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Insurance
If you've just found out you're pregnant or you're planning to start your family, it's a good idea to review your maternity insurance coverage. You may be surprised by what you find.
If your family has a low income, you may actually qualify for maternity insurance through Medicaid. Medicaid's Healthy Start Program offers maternity insurance coverage on a sliding scale based on your income. The insurance could be free, or you may be asked to pay a small monthly fee.
Many women already have an HMO insurance plan through their place of employment. HMO maternity insurance usually offers the best coverage. You can expect to pay a general co-pay of $5-$10 dollars per monthly prenatal checkup, and a nominal hospital fee for the birth, usually between $500-$1000 dollars, all depending on your individual plan.
Other types of maternity insurance strictly offer a straight hospitalization plan, where the insurance company pays 80% of the delivery bill and you are responsible for the other 20%. Look closely at maternity insurance coverage of this type, for hidden costs. Some maternity insurance plans require you to pay up to the first $2000 before they kick in their 80% on the remaining balance.
It's also a prudent idea to make sure your maternity insurance will cover a possible high risk pregnancy, which will definitely involve much more medical care and cost than the typical pregnancy.
Many maternity insurance plans, especially HMO maternity insurance, will require you to use a doctor from their list of obstetricians they have contracted with. If you haven't already chosen an OB, this might not be as much of a problem as having to part with a trusted physician when he's not on the list.
You'll also want to verify whether you can add your newborn to your insurance plan, and just how soon that deadline comes after birth. There are a lot of costs involved with bi-monthly pediatrician checkups and vaccinations that a good insurance plan will cover.
Checking your employer's maternity leave policy is just as important as checking your maternity coverage. Most companies have a standard 6 weeks maternity policy, and others are more flexible. Sit down with your employer to be certain you are both on the same page and agree about maternity leave expectations.
Wading through different types of maternity insurance coverages can be a daunting job, considering the number of variables involved. It may be a better idea to consult with your company's Human Resources professional to help you with your final decision about a maternity insurance plan that fits your needs.
If you don't have a pediatrician, ask for a list of pediatricians who are covered under your insurance plan, or check the health plan's Web site for a search engine on participating physicians. If you do have one, make sure your child's doctor participates in your current health plan. And, find out if your insurance covers well-baby visits.
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