Health Insurance (possibly a stupid question)

greeneyed_bride

Ok, this might be a stupid question, but...

A few weeks ago, someone on one of the boards suggested getting the forms to add baby to your insurance policy, filling them out ahead of time, and bringing them to the hospital. Then you can add the baby's info and mail it from the hospital so you don't forget. I thought this was a great idea (especially because DH works in the hospital where I'm delivering, so he can actually just walk over to the office where we need to drop off the forms while we're still in the hospital.)

I'm filling out the forms, and it asks me to check the boxes for the coverage we want/need for the baby. I know that we need health and drug coverage for the baby, but... do we need dental coverage?? I'm due February 23, so the baby probably won't start getting teeth until July-September. Plus, DH will finish his residency at the end of June, and he has already signed a contract with another hospital, so we'll be getting new insurance starting July 1. The baby probably won't have any teeth yet! Do we skip the dental coverage? 

greeneyed_bride

Oh geez. I just realized that we only pick the desired coverage for the whole family, not for each individual. So it's a moot point. I knew it was a stupid question!! I blame pregnancy brain...

fyrefairie

don;t feel bad,  insurance forms are a pain even when you don't have preggo brain

greeneyed_bride

Ok, wait. Wrong again. There's a separate form that we have to fill out to add baby to our dental coverage. My original question still stands.

NiniJ55

You don't need dental coverage for at least the first year.  DS got his first 2 teeth at 4 months of age.  typically the first dental visit is around 18 months old.  I did not do dental coverage for Tristan becuase the visit for him was only like $60 - so I saw no reason to have him covered for dental at this time.

The pediatrician checkes their teeth at each visit.... of course they are not dentists -- but still.

Mrs.MauiBride24

no dental.

fyrefairie

if you are really concerned and have already picked a pediatrician call and ask their opinion but i wouldn't think you would need it before July...you might weight the cost of the additional premium against the cost for a dental visit if by some weird chance you needed one that soon

greeneyed_bride

Thanks, ladies! That's kind of what I figured, but I just wanted to make sure.

Lisa9926

Just medical the first year, no dental of vision.  At 1, I would get dental and only vision if you think there is a problem.

sweetky_06

We're not planning on adding our baby to dental or vision for the first year.

Ashley&Scott

We're getting dental coverage for the baby because it's only $5/mo & he'll have teeth before our next open enrollment.

If the cost were significant we may have decided to wait another year. 

lindseymik13

It would depend on how much it is.  I just did DS right away because its a pain (IMO) to do it later and it covers the whole family.

LillyGrrl

Naw no need for dental.  You might want to talk with your dentist about when he typically starts seeing children. Ours recommended age three, same for the eye doc.

AshWest

You may want to check the cost of adding the baby to dental, some plans are the same cost for "family" no matter how many dependents are covered. If it doesn't change the cost, why not? At least you know you are protected. If the cost was a lot different I would say wait.

lilwildthing

It was so inexpensive to add DS we did right away, and will with this one too. Of course, we were/are not changing insurance companies.