Pregnancy and Insurance Question

Hi,

Question 1: My husband recently started a new job and we are currently in the 90-day wait period with the group health insurance plan - our covereage begins October 1st. We think I am pregnant and our first trimester doctor's visit will be necessary around October 8th. Our maternity costs will be covered by the insurance right? Even though I got pregnant in the waiting period? The plan has great maternity benefits but I am just concerned that they may refuse coverage because I got pregnant during the waiting period?

Question 2: I have previously received treatment for abnormal smears (Cryosurgery, ECC, cone biopsy). My last smear was clear after treatment. I have to have repeat paps every 3 months - if the next one was abnormal with my new insurance company, would they treat me? Do you think they would class it as pre-exisiting because I have had to be treated before?

Question 3: Our baby daughter died during my last pregnancy shortly after delivery because of incompetent cervix, as a result this pregnancy will be high-risk and will require surgery and caesariean - this will be covered by the insurance too right?

I hope I have posted these questions in the right place.

Thanks for any help you can offer :-)

[amberd5191]

Personally I think yes they would be covered (to all 3). As long as it is a plan through an employer and not a private plan. I would recommend if you are for sure pregnant to get on some assistance while you wait for the insurance to kick in just in case a need arises and you can't afford the cost. Good luck.

[jennyb473]

without a lot more information no one can answer this question for you.   It all depends on the terms of the policy - is it a group policy?  What country are you in?  

I don't have an extensive background in insurance, but it would really all come down to the actual policy and what it states.....

good luck to you

[tatorbug40]

All of the rules actually are different from state to state if you are in the usa-

first, if your husband change jobs from a company where he was on a group plan, he was offered something called cobra (or a similar extension of benefits)-  he has 45 day (I think that is the terms) to accept the cobra, or extension of his benefits.  It is slightly expensive, typically- but you only have to pay in during your 90 day wait, and then you can cancel it- this might be something you want to look into.

If you are moving from one group plan to another group plan, it is typically hard for them to exclude things, but I would recommend he sit down with the company HR administrator and ask her these questions-  when he filled out the forms from health insurance, they will ask about past medical history-  if the insurance company did not send an exclusion amendment to be attached to your policy specifically outlining that they will not be responsible for any of your past complications, then you should be ok...  

but to make sure you are covered, and you don't exceed the gap where you can be between policies (which might be only 60 days) I would check into the cobra-  

but like jenny said, there is a lot that goes into it, so many different types of companies, and they differ from state to state.  I would seek the help of your husband’s administrator.

Good luck, and congratulations!

[tiredbuthappy]

i don't know about your insurance, but I started a new job when I was 8 weeks pregnant. After 3 months, my new insurance kicked in and everything was covered. This included specialists during pregnancy, my c-section, etc...

[AnnieBrooke]

I would first take a pregnancy test.  If you are pregnant, contact the HR department at your husband's job and speak to the person who handles the insurance, or talk to a rep at the insurance company itself (the HR person will refer you if she doesn't know the answers).  It doesn't sound like asking them directly will change anything about the benefits package, you will either be covered or you won't, (or you will after a certain point) so you may as well ask at the source.

[Marescah]

Thanks for the answers.

A little more info for those who may have more idea on the ins and outs of the insurance... We now live in South Carolina, we moved just last month from the Philippines where we were based for my job as an international teacher, so although we had group insurance, it was not within the states and therefore we couldn't use COBRA. Our new insurance policy is a group BCBS policy through my husbands employer.

To 'Tired But Happy' - what did you do about your natal appointments during the waiting period? I will likely need my first appointment before our waiting period is over and I can only imagine how much a sonogram costs without insurance in the States.

I am in new territory as far as insurance goes - I am British but my husband is American which is why I am living here.

Thanks for the help everyone.