Is there a way to have a seperate health insurance plan from a maternity option plan?

Question

I am starting a new job that does not have benefits. I need to have insurance because my husband and I are planning on trying for a baby. I do not go to the doctor but maybe once a year, if that. Is there a way to get a cheaper health plan with a low coinsurance and a seperate maternity option with 80-100% coinsurance? Also, would a 100% coinsurance really be worth the monthly premiums in the long run for a pregnancy?

Answer 1

The only way you're going to get a majority of your pregnancy and birth covered is through group benefits, which your employer doesn't have.  In an individual major medical plan, maternity is typically sold as an option, and it's priced at 100% utilization (insurers assume that if you want it, you're going to use it).  This means either your premium rate is going to be very high (high enough to warrant instead putting the money in the bank and saving for your pregnancy) or that your coinsurance will be 100% or nearly that.  What you will get, though, is access to the insurance company's network discount, so you won't have to pay retail for the maternity/birth.

Answer 2

With individual health insurance, maternity coverage is an optional rider that is rarely a good value.  You need to sit down with a local agent. The policies available depend on where you live. An experienced agent can narrow down your options to one that best fits your needs, and that you can afford in just a few minutes. Also, be open minded about an HSA type of policy. For more info about HSA's see link below.

Don

http://mtnhealthinsurance.com

Be open minded about an HSA type of policy. For more info about HSA's see link below.

Don

http://mtnhealthinsurance.com

Answer 3

As already mentioned, maternity is a "pre-payment" plan so the extra premium is usually not worth it. You do, however, need to get a policy because, while maternity may not be covered, complications of pregnancy, such as a C-section, are covered with most policies even if they don't have maternity coverage. It's the complications that cost a lot, much more than a normal delivery.

Many people in your situation find that an HSA qualified plan is better for them because with these plans you can open a savings account where you can save money for the delivery. A local agent that works with all the major companies in your area will be able to explain these plans fully and can find the best policy for you.

Answer 4

No,  you're either buying it with maternity or without maternity but you can't get a plan just to cover maternity.  It dpends on where you live as to what kinds of plans are available with matenrity coverage.

Answer 5

You can buy health insurance without maternity, but you can't buy private maternity, stand alone.

Just think about  it,  The only people who would buy it, are the ones who, like you, want to use it.

Coinsurance is what YOU pay.  So, 100% would mean, you pay it all.  0%, I think, is what you're looking for.  Any "maternity with 0% coinsurance" you might find, is going to limit coverage to $2,000 or such.  AND, it will have a one year waiting period, before you get pregnant.  That pretty much makes it a pre-payment plan.  

You probably need to sit down and talk this all through with a local agent, who can explain what you can and can't get, and help you weigh costs vs. benefits, especially as you're already planning on putting in some pretty big claims.

**Right.  That's exactly the point of view from the insurance company, too.  What's the point of selling a coverage for $500, that you're going to get claims of $10,000 to $25,000?  You can't do it - you'd go broke.  Insurance only works, when they can spread the risk out among a bunch of people.  No sharing of risk, means you're not going to get paid out, more than they take in.  Kinda like buying life insurance on a guy dying of cancer.   And with maternity coverage, individuals don't buy it, unless they want to use it.  

Are you going to buy Cosmetic surgery  insurance coverage?  No?  Why not?  Because you don't want to use it.   Men don't buy private maternity coverage.   The elderly don't buy it.  Postmenopausal women don't buy it.  Children don't buy it, and people who don't want children, or are sterilized, don't buy it.  There's no sharing of cost, so all the cost HAS to come from you.***