Maternity Coverage

The average cost of having a child in the United States is between $6,000 and $8,000 and could be significantly more depending on location, hospital, and whether or not it is a high-risk pregnancy. In addition, prenatal care for nine months can almost double that cost. As you can see, childcare is very expensive. That's why it is important for expectant mothers to have maternity coverage upon learning they are pregnant.

Why Is Maternity Coverage Important?
Aside from the staggering costs associated with having a baby, maternity coverage is important so the mother can get the medical care she needs before the baby is born. An uninsured or underinsured mother may not receive adequate prenatal care because it is too expensive. When she does not receive proper care, problems with the baby could go unnoticed, resulting in an unhealthy baby or high-risk delivery. Inadequate maternity coverage could also result in financial hardships for the mother and family once the baby is born and they are faced with high hospital bills.

What Options Do Pregnant Women Have?
If they are not covered by their own healthcare plan or their spouses, there are a number of programs and insurances available to expectant mothers to help cut the costs associated with prenatal care and childbirth.

Medicaid. Medicaid is a government-funded state program that provides medical help for families as well as individuals with low income. In order to qualify for Meidcaid or Medicare, you must meet certain income requirements. In addition, some states also provide their own form of assistance programs separate from Medicaid and Medicare that are worth looking into. A local Department of Health can provide you with more information.
WIC. Short for Women, Infants, Children, WIC is also a government program that caters to women, infants, and children (under the age of 5) who are also low-income. In addition to health care referrals and cost assistance, WIC provides vouchers for healthy food and formula for mother and baby.
Private Insurance. If your employer does not offer maternity insurance or you do not qualify for Medicaid or WIC, you may also seek out private insurance plans. These plans provide such things as ob-gyn visits, hospital stays, ultrasounds, testing and lab work, immunizations, pre-natal vitamins, newborn tests and medical check-ups, and the anesthesiologist at the hospital.

In addition, there are other alternatives, including using a midwife or discount programs designed to help offset the costs of prenatal care and delivery.
Midwife. A midwife is not a medical doctor but is certified to deliver a baby. This might be an option for women who know they have a low-risk pregnancy. A midwife traditionally costs at least half of what a regular hospital delivery would cost. However, a drawback includes hospital fees should the baby require additional medical care after the birth, making a midwife potentially more expensive than a hospital birth.
Discount programs. Some health discount programs are designed specifically for pregnant women and can provide discounts of up to 60% on ob-gyn visits, ultrasounds, lab work, and the hospital stay during and after labor. These programs are not providers, but they do work with insurance programs. They typically charge a monthly fee in addition to the percentage you pay for your medical care.

While having a baby is a very exciting time, it can also be very expensive. For this reason, it is important to research all your options in finding assistance for your prenatal care and delivery .

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