Sorry, this is long, but since insurance is complicated, I want to be sure I'm clear on everything.
I am on my own insurance plan currently which will cover me through the birth (and beyond if I want it), but as I intend to stop working after the baby is born am looking at options other than COBRA continuation of my current benefits as they are extremely pricey.
I know that once the baby is born he can be added to DH's insurance without any problem. My question is, does this qualified change in status qualify me to be added to his plan as well or just the baby? According to this excerpt from the Department of Labor website, it sounds like, yes, I should be eligible as well:
"How does giving birth to or adopting a baby affect my
rights to enroll in my health plan or health insurance coverage?
Under HIPAA, you, your spouse, and your new child have a
special right to enroll in your health plan upon the birth, adoption, or
placement for adoption of your new child, if you, your spouse, and your new
child are otherwise eligible to enroll in the plan. You must request
enrollment in the plan within 30 days of the birth, adoption, or placement
for adoption. Your plan or insurance issuer may not treat your or your
spouse as a late enrollee in this circumstance. So, for example, the longest
preexisting condition exclusion that could be imposed on you of your spouse
is 12 months. Your family's coverage under this type of special enrollment
must be effective as of the date of the birth, adoption, or placement for
adoption."
The issue I'm having is that the entire website is written to the new mother as the policyholder. So, I'm not sure if the rights are exactly the same if my spouse is the policyholder and not me. (Here is the website).
DH works for a huge company so navigating through to get all the answers has been complicated. This is my project for today - even if I have to sit on hold for an hour. Any insight you ladies have would be great.
Re: Anyone knowledgable about insurance (HIPPA, Qualified Change in Status)?
What Buffy said. When #1 was born DH and I were on separate policies. His birth qualified him to go on either policy, but we couldn't go to a family plan until open enrollment. We all went on my plan at enrollment.
When I resigned mid-year it was a qualifying event for us to all go on DH's plan.
This! I'm in HR as well. The loss of your job qualifies you to be added to his plan.
Believe me, I've been on hold with them for 30 minutes :-). They are generally very helpful, but you sometimes have to wait a while to speak with them.
Thanks for the info ladies!