Will our first child's birth be covered by insurance?

Question

My wife and I live in Japan. We have health insurance but would like to have the baby in the United States. If I get health insurance from an American job, would the child's birth be covered or count as a preexisting condition? We can prove that there were no gaps in our health insurance coverage.

Answer 1

I believe they cannot deny you insurance because of a pregnancy. I know that there are laws against that. You should contact the HR department of your job, they have a liason with the insurance company and can get you answers.  

Answer 2

The 1996 HIPAA law states clearly that pregnancy can not be used as a pre-existing condition exclusion, with or without prior coverage.  It doesn't matter if you go from one plan to another or from no coverage to coverage.  It's federal law.

Your wife's pregnancy and the birth of your child will absolutely be covered, and if the insurance company gives you a problem, inform them of the HIPAA law

Answer 3

My insurance company started insuring me after I became pregnant as I had insurance in my previous country (Canada) for when I became pregnant. As you have been in another country, many insurance companies will accept foreign insurance as previous coverage. You will just have to prove you were out of the country, that you were insured for more than a year etc.

Of course it depends on the company. I would contact them before your move.

Answer 4

i do not know but i believe it should be covered by any insurance

Answer 5

It really depends. Some insurance companies will call it a pre-existing condition and some will not. I am in the processes of switching insurance now (within Blue Cross Blue Shield) and my pregnancy is not considered a pre-existing condition.

The other issue is a secondary diagnosis to pregnancy such as Gestational Diabetes can count as a pre-existing condition.

Answer 6

If you currently have health insurance and you get a new job and the new insurance starts prior to the old insurance ending, and as long as it's not a very small company, most insurance companies do not have a 'pre-existing condition clause' when you had previous coverage, even if it's in the middle of a pregnancy.  I had this EXACT situation (without the Japan situation). So the only issue might be if they don't consider 'Japanese insurance' the same as regular old insurance.  I'd suggest calling United Healthcare and just asking the general question if you can get someone to help you.