Update! parents insurance NOT covering!

krittag

A while ago I wrote asking anyone who was on their parents insurance still (united states only) because they were 26 and younger. Well I've been on the phone all week with insurance companies and brokers. Turns out my current insurance which is thru my parents is NOT covering anything maternity related. Because I am a dependent on the policy. Pissed doesn't even begin to describe it I'm pregnant and insurance less and can't obtain any state help or maternity/ baby programs! Anyone with the same experience? Or Any Advice is so appreciated!

leah665

See if you qualify for Medicaid, or even though it's controversial right now healthcare.gov. I've known people who have actually gotten good plans from there.

krittag

I'll look into healthcare.gov for sure thank you. Already tried medicaid and didn't qualify for anything.

lanaloulittle

Does your state have a health insurance program? I was on the Oregon health plan last year because I was unemployed and couldn't afford insurance out of pocket. I don't know if you have anything like that in your state, or what maternity coverage it has but another option to look into.

cgummie

I'd call your state's medicaid office or look into a clinic that will allow you to pay based on your income to get your prenatal visits to an affordable price. I know my area has organizations that aim to help those without insurance.

gatormom73

These insurance companies really just irk me. Its rediculous how much everything cost it makes me want to puke! The just rob people.

mommy_wife_nurse

What are the companies?? I'm on my mom's, step dad's, and step mom's, and all 3 pay for it. 2 are blue cross blue shield and one is through mayo.

lcmcgaw

Insurance disgusts me. Because I have hyperemesis I needed a special order prescription, luckily I have insurance but without it it would have cost $6,500 for a 30 day supply. It's crazy. Good luck I hope you find some answers

hdnetmro

Since you don't qualify for aid I'm assuming you are working? Have you talked to your employer usually that would constitute a change of life and you can get ins even though it's passed the usual deadline. Not sure it's like that where you are but just in case.

jenspeake

See below link.  This is a federal law that you have to be covered as long as the plan you are on covers maternity benefits.  Unless your parents health plan does not have maternity benefits.  Is your baby going on SO's plan when born?  If so then his coverage will cover the birth.

https://www.dol.gov/ebsa/publications/newborns.html

Liberty1025

jenspeake said:

See below link.  This is a federal law that you have to be covered as long as the plan you are on covers maternity benefits.  Unless your parents health plan does not have maternity benefits.  Is your baby going on SO's plan when born?  If so then his coverage will cover the birth.

https://www.dol.gov/ebsa/publications/newborns.html

I

Not if you are not the primary policyholder.

https://kaiserhealthnews.org/news/andrews-q-and-a-dependent-pregnancy-benefits/

The benefits were extended to 26 under the ACA for children of policyholders becuase of the argument that "I am not independent of my parents. I am still dependent on them (basically, a child)". Once that child says their having a child, they cant really be dependent anymore, their kid is the "dependent" and as an adults, new parent needs own insurance. Where would it end? Does grandchild now have the right to be covered?

ClaireBear90

Insurance is so dang complicated. I was in a similar position with our first. I had no insurance at the time (this was before the new healthcare stuff went into effect). I had been trying to get insurance before I got pregnant, but was denied for stupid things like a pre-existing condition of allergies and asthma! But that's a whole different story...

I did not qualify for any kind of assistance, not that I really wanted to go that route anyway. Our birth center had a 40% discount for self-pay/uninsured patients who paid on time. Our total bill for the entire pregnancy/birth was $2800, plus separate bills for lab work. It was a big bill, but it wasn't astronomical like it would have been if I had been seeing an OB-GYN or having a hospital birth. Something to consider, if you're at all interested in an out-of-hospital birth. I hope you can get your maternity bills covered though!

jenspeake

I work in insurance and this happens all the time because plans are allowing dependents to stay on until age 26.  The carriers always still cover the birth of the baby and that is it because it is happening to the insured.  Grandchildren just cannot be added to the plan permanently unless the grandparent is taking over legal guardianship.

mkwisenburg

This happened to me with my first and I did not qualify for state founded coverage either. When I explained the situation to my doctors office they were very helpful and lowered my bill drastically. They Actually ended up charging me what Medicaid would have paid them for the services had I been on for first 5 months that it took my insurance company to say they weren't covering it. Explain the situation and see if there is anything they can do for you. It never hurts to ask, the worst they can do is say no.

mommy_wife_nurse

Liberty1025 said:

jenspeake said:

See below link.  This is a federal law that you have to be covered as long as the plan you are on covers maternity benefits.  Unless your parents health plan does not have maternity benefits.  Is your baby going on SO's plan when born?  If so then his coverage will cover the birth.

https://www.dol.gov/ebsa/publications/newborns.html

I

Not if you are not the primary policyholder.

https://kaiserhealthnews.org/news/andrews-q-and-a-dependent-pregnancy-benefits/

The benefits were extended to 26 under the ACA for children of policyholders becuase of the argument that "I am not independent of my parents. I am still dependent on them (basically, a child)". Once that child says their having a child, they cant really be dependent anymore, their kid is the "dependent" and as an adults, new parent needs own insurance. Where would it end? Does grandchild now have the right to be covered?

The insurance will cover YOU, but no, not your child. Prenatal, delivery, and postnatal is covered if like said before by someone, there are maternity benefits on the benefits plan. What company of insurance is saying you are not covered??

jjuarez95

What I did was I had to call a social worker and she said my mother had to call and say I am no longer a dependent to get Medi-cal that was the only way I got insurance and it covers everything. but I do put that I live with my grandmother instead of my parents on the papers

happyfeet2015

When I was pregnant with my daughter 9 yrs ago. I was on my dads insurance and they wouldn't cover my pregnancy, but things may have changed since then. I was approved for Medicaid though. Did they say why you weren't approved? My neice how ever is 16 and on her dads military insurance and it is covering her pregnancy.

krittag

Thanks everyone. The companies are washington teamsters (Cigna) and sound health wellness trust. I have called both of them and they both are stating it's because I'm the dependant. I don't know what more I can do besides get my own plan privately. It just sucks cause I'm already insured .

megggles

If you are mature enough to bring life into the world, you should be mature enough to be on your own insurance plan.

Ree0123

@krittag I'm on Cigna and they've covered everything so far

deanna1313

@krittag do you work? Can you get insurance through work?
This should be a qualifying life event and you should be able to pick up insurance anytime even though the deadline has passed.

jenspeake

Through work she would have to have a qualifying event so she would not be able to get it through work until she has the baby.  She could go onto an individual medical plan, through Wellmark for example, at anytime but not group coverage.  My husband is on one of those and it costs us $225 a month.  I would try bringing this ACT up with Cigna that I mentioned above....the only reason they wouldn't cover this is if your parents plan doesn't offer maternity coverage....which is rare.  You could also try going to your state insurance commissioner to find out more details.  (Sorry....not trying to be pushy but want to make sure you get the coverage you are supposed to!!!  I know this isn't cheap even if you HAVE insurance.)

VioletandRose

megggles said:

If you are mature enough to bring life into the world, you should be mature enough to be on your own insurance plan.

Oh come on. You know it isn't that cut and dry. If I were 26 or under and my parent's insurance plan was better or less expensive than the one I could get through work or individually, you'd bet I would take advantage of it. "Maturity" has nothing to do with it. Insurance is EXPENSIVE, even with the new healthcare laws. Even if the OP has her own full time job, she couldn't switch now if she wanted to; she'd have to wait until open enrollment or a "life event" – aka, when the baby is born. It looks like her parent is in a union; unions usually have excellent insurance plans. Maybe their policy is that dependents are free or drastically reduced, and that is why she stayed on as a dependent. You don't know what her circumstances are.

gabrielafrnqyepez

@VioletandRose I agree with you I would have stayed on my parents insurance for a lot longer if I could have but once I finished school it finished as well, people are so critical and just don't consider what comes out their mouth as rude !!! HOW RUDE ¡!!!! I have noticed that a lot on these forums, you don't know what life situations people are faced with! Were here to help each other if you have nttn positive to add to the forum skim thru and move on!

krittag

@megggles , if you don't have anything nice to say get the hell of my post. Why would I go pay 300-400 a month when I have free insurance being offered to me?! You would do the same and you know it. Talk about maturity, you're comment was quite immature and unnecessary. Thanks for all of your help ladies. I appreciate it and am doing my best to get this covered so I don't owe thousands of dollars out of my own pocket.

allielouu

I didn't qualify for Medicaid so we signed up on healthcare.gov.. We make to much for Medicaid, but with healthcare.gov we got a tax break bc of out income.. Which lowered out monthly premium and out out of pocket maximum. Some of my bills have been pretty high since it was just supposed to be 10 percent of certain things such as labs.. I got a bill for one lab test for 177.. I don't mind as long as once I meet my out if pocket I don't have to pay any more bills except my monthly premium..

Liberty1025

krittag said:

@megggles , if you don't have anything nice to say get the hell of my post. Why would I go pay 300-400 a month when I have free insurance being offered to me?! You would do the same and you know it. Talk about maturity, you're comment was quite immature and unnecessary. Thanks for all of your help ladies. I appreciate it and am doing my best to get this covered so I don't owe thousands of dollars out of my own pocket.

Well if it's free, you probably shouldn't complain that things aren't covered when I'm sure that was in the documentation given with the plan. If I was planning on getting pregnant or was having unprotected sex, that's on me to know if my plan covers maternity care. I'm not saying I wouldn't have stayed on my parentsm too, but it's up to you as the consumer to know what you are getting. They give out benefits paperwork for a reason - most people don't read it. Caveat emptor.

And you can't dictate how people respond to Internet posts.

megggles

I'm really sorry so many took offense to what I said. I thought I was stating the obvious. When you make the decision to have a baby, it's time to put your big girl panties on and get a big girl insurance plan. Are they outrageously expensive? Hell yes. Having a baby is really frigging expensive, and one of the many related expenses is insurance. (Most factor in food, diapers, day care, but forget about insurance!) I guess it never even occurred to me that people who are still under their parents' insurance have babies. Duh, I know. I would never have expected my parents' insurance to cover me and my unborn child had I become pregnant back then.

I'm sorry you're having such a hard time figuring everything out. I'm also sorry I had nothing helpful to add to the conversation. It was just something I was thinking, and I think a lot of other people were thinking too. I hope you're able to find something you can afford. Best of luck.

jenspeake

I have my own opinions on the subject but I'm here on these boards to help....not judge.   To each their own.

spraklepea

I'm really surprised to hear this. Of course your child wouldn't be covered but id think your medical expenses would be. Time to go through the policy with a fine toothed comb. Good luck!

deanna1313

@jenspeake Not true from my previous employer. I took care if the health insurance for the employees there and the qualifying life event was the pregnancy. If you found out you were pregnant they would insure you immediately so you would have prenatal care.

nrocke129

I agree with your comment that unions usually have really good insurance coverage, but sometimes they remove certain things or have odd limitations. My husband has insurance through his union as a whole his union does not cover step children. My daughter from a previous relationship cannot be covered in his plan so our options are pay for insurance out of pocket for her, which is equal to what I receive in child support each month, or he adopts her and still lose the child support.

karlimeliss

This may sound crazy, but does your boyfriends job offer a family plan? You could get married. The way our country is set up is not for the working class. The loop holes don't ever seem to work to our advantage. My fiancé who I've been with for 10 years works for a small company so his boss does not offer family plans. I work 2 nights a week and weekends but do not qualify for insurance at my work. We have a 3 year old and cannot get married until I can go back to work full time because then my son and I would not qualify for any insurance except for private and it would cost us over 10 thousand dollars a year. Once both kids are in school I plan on returning to work fulltime and getting married and carrying the insurance. It may sound like I am scamming the system but we both pay taxes and have since 16. I went to private school and I plan to send my children to private school so I figure the government will have 2 less children to pay for in the public school for the next 13 years. I would be happy to pay more in taxes if we didn't have to worry about healthcare and childcare.

krittag

I'm married. My husband's job doesn't offer health insurance. Thanks for all the helpful advice everyone. Doing my best to get it figured out.

karlimeliss

I am surprised your covered at all being married. Good luck! If it makes you feel any better the first year the babies born you spend way less money than you think! You don't go anywhere and if you nurse them they eat for free!

Ree0123

@karlimeliss they have to cover you regardless of wether you get married. The cutoff is 26 no matter what you do or your life events.

LiveNLove44

I'm surprised to hear that your prenatal care isn't covered. On most insurance plans that I've talked about with women in my area, we're covered for prenatal care and the labor and delivery. The infant's care thereafter is based on another insurance (for us, it's through DH's independent coverage). It sounds like PPs have mentioned some great resources. Good luck with your search for an answer!

karlimeliss

Another way the insurance companies win in the end. I hope you are able to find an affordable solution.

paisleybee

Very interesting...being married and staying on your parents' insurance... hmm. Okay. But regardless of your situation you need to find a way to get your own insurance so you can cover your child. $300-400/month for insurance. I'd be seeking better employment with insurance or something. Yeah you may owe a few thousand out of pocket for your pregnancy but it's time to start worrying about your child's future and preparing for them.

kaylerjean

I'm in the exact same situation as you, except I qualified for Medicaid as I only work part time and my boyfriend and I don't share an income or live together. Look into low-cost clinics in your area, most base their fees on your income. I live in Las Vegas and found a clinic that charged $375 a month for as many visits as needed. It covered basic care and had set fees for extra services such as extra ultrasounds or tests done.

savsimon

My parents have blue cross and they are covering all my maternity. I would definitely check with the state you should qualify for Medicaid (I would talk to your doctor it may take awhile for you to get on it unfortunately) or call the company again!