new insurance at end of pregnancy??

allen4tl

I know there have been ALOT of posts about insurance but I didn't find one to resurrect that was dealing with what we are potentially. 
I am hoping for some thoughts on how you all think this could play out. I am 35 weeks pregnant and my husband just got a great job offer. He wasn't looking for a new job as he has a good one already but the opportunity presented itself to him. It doesn't require us to move or any significant life changes except that he would start 2 weeks before our due date.  My big issue/concern is the health insurance. I am covered under his current insurance and the new company has a different insurance company they offer. Will a new insurance company even cover me at 38 weeks pregnant?  I will be calling my midwives to make sure they accept the new insurance of course. The other concern is that there is a chance when he tells his current company and puts in his 2 weeks that they will tell him to just be done that day. Leaving a 2 week gap that he isn't working and new coverage hasn't started. Will the old coverage be good through the end of the month? I don't even know which insurance company to call and or what to ask them to ensure that IF he accepts the offer we wouldn't be without. What other potential issues/questions do we need to navigate as we consider this? 

proudparent2b

Your husband will have to ask his new employer, but typically insurance doesn't kick in until he's been at the new company for at least 3 months.

Your best options will likely be:
1. Having your husband elect COBRA- this will allow him to continue his current benefits with his current company until the new benefits kick in.

Note: this option can be pricy, depending on your benefits and how much his current employer subsidizes them in COBRA status.

2. You and your husband will be eligible to move over to your company's insurance, assuming you are currently employed. You qualifying events are: 1. change of job for husband and 2. birth of baby.

Note: if you plan on taking maternity leave, you'll need to find out how your company addresses benefits during leave. For example, my company covers my benefits 100% while I'm on leave, but I have to repay them upon my return. Typically the repayment occurs over 3-4 months to make it more reasonable.

Hope this helps!

evalynn24

Insurance companies cannot deny coverage just because you are pregnant. Also, I would think most employers would cover their employee through the end of the month, even if they are leaving. My employer does this, but they also allow you to be added to their insurance on the 1st of the month following your start date.

You will definitely need to find out from the new employer when they begin coverage because it will depend on what they have written in their insurance policy. Like PP said, COBRA may be his best option if there is a month or two lapse in coverage.

Sharra13

We have a similar problem!!  Hubby finally got the job he has been wanting forever (way better pay and way better schedule--only 3 12hr shifts a week).

His new job insurance starts "on the 1st of the month after 30 days of employment." Thank gosh we checked ahead of time and decided to have him start his forst day at the end of March, so insurance will kick in May 1st. If he had waited just a few days more, it wouldn't start until June!

Meanwhile, we found out that his current job's insurance ends AT midnight on his last day of work (which is totally crazy--I thought they had to continue it for 30 days or something). And of course I'm still $18 away from my deductible to get my free breastpump...awesome timing. 

So, we'll have a gap all of April. We checked into cobra and it's INSANE. I expected around 1K maybe--they quoted him $2700!! Something about the first month being high and after that it is $1500...It would seriously almost be cheaper to pay a hospital bill out of pocket...

We are just going to have to go online and sign up for our own healthcare for April. We did it before, when hubby was part time and finishing school. Signed up on the healthcare.gov site--It was around $500-$600 for pretty decent coverage through BCBS.

This baby had better NOT come early. 

proudparent2b

@Sharra13 Employers have three options when it comes to when insurance ends: first of month, day of termination, or end of month.

I definitely agree that COBRA can be expensive! I'm in benefits admin. and we see employees being charged anywhere from $1-$5,000 per month, depending on which benefit(s) they decide to elect.  It's really always the medical that drives the cost sky high. Dental and vision are typically reasonable, but like everything else, it depends on the employer.

NB817

I think your first step should be have your H ask his new employer exactly when it would start if he took the job. Then go from there and see if he could somehow find out what would happen if he left his current job. That's harder without sending off alarms that might be leaving. 
IF his current employer says adios the day he gives notice then maybe he should see if he could start the new job immediately?? 

I left a job once and wrote a letter of resignation and instead of using the date I turned in the letter they used the date that I wrote the letter and then retroactively took away my insurance coverage leaving me with $600 bill that I wasn't expecting. So just find out as much as you can so you are prepared. 

GlenLakeLove

This happened to us with our first! He changed jobs April 4 (was due May 15). His new insurance wouldn't kick in until May 1 so we had a gap. Cobra was insane so what we did was we spoke to HR at his old company (he left on great terms - just relocation from 100% travel job as a govt consultant) - and they extended us until the end of April so we wouldn't have a gap or have to pay anything insane. Also check on any health savings accounts or flexible spending accounts - they amounts typically zero out at the end of your employment so use them up if you have them (order from the FSA site, etc. They cover breastfeeding supplies, too!)

i I will say that billing afterwards was a little nuts as my OB bills delivery as a "full term of service" but we told the OB to fight it out with the insurance and they did! 

Dantzscher32

I have a similar issue. DH switched jobs recently. He left is job on 26 February and didn't start the new one until 7 March. I thought we were only going to have a week without coverage. Turns out, the new insurance doesn't kick in until 1 April !! 

I talked with my OB's staff. I was willing to be self-pay for my two visits in March. They said how they bill OB patients is different. They bill the whole pregnancy at the end upon delivery. So, they are going to go ahead and bill the old insurance company for the visits I have had. Then, once I deliver, they will bill the delivery and the remaining appointments to the new insurance company. 

I have been a nervous wreck for an entire month knowing my whole family has no insurance. We took a trip to Florida the week DH was unemployed and it was hard to relax. I can't wait until 1 April!

amovin21

As others have said; you cannot be denied coverage because of being pregnant (at any state of your pregnancy) since it's no longer considered a "pre-existing condition." However, definitely check to see when the new benefits would take effect as that's the biggest concern, IMO.

jenashawn

@proudparent2b Goodness! I'm glad I saw that note about figuring out how your company handles insurance premiums while you are out on maternity leave... we have our whole family on the plan through my work, and since I won't be getting paid for any of my maternity leave, that is likely going to be a mess. Thank you for the heads up! Something I hadn't thought of at all!

okcountrygirl

Y'all should be covered until the end of whatever month he leaves his current job. I went from FT to PT at the beginning of November and my insurance still covered me until the last day of November. I was told that's how things normally work.