Discounts for Health Insurance while Pregnant
If you don’t think you’re low-income and aren’t sure if you’d qualify for the services we talked about in our pregnancy health insurance article (it’s always a good idea to check just in case), there may be other options you can look into as a pregnant, mother-to-be. They do come at a cost, but at a much more reduced cost than other traditional pregnancy health care plans.
Maternity Advantage is a discounted health care program that can help pregnant woman save upwards of 60% on things like prenatal doctor visits, sonograms, lab work, and the hospital stay when you give birth. Although Maternity Advantage itself isn’t health insurance, it works with provider maternity networks to find the best plan that will work for you. All the benefits available through Maternity Advantage are still offered to you even after you find out that you are pregnant.
AmeriPlan is another discount plan that is currently available in all U.S. states except Alaska. AmeriPlan can help save up to 50% on health care services, and is a great choice for expecting mothers. Benefits include physician, hospital, and ancillary services (i.e., lab work, tests, x-rays). Since AmeriPlan, like Maternity Advantage, is not insurance, all pre-existing conditions are covered, there are no deductibles, no waiting periods, no claim forms, and no annual limits. This all sounds too good to be true, so make sure you look into every little detail of these plans before making your choices.
Little Ways to Reduce Costs
Even if you work out something where you are getting the care for you and your baby that fits with your budget, there are other little things you can do to keep your costs down. If you know you are going to be delivering at a hospital, call ahead and speak with someone in the administrative office. Ask if the hospital offers a sliding scale for payments, and if they would be willing to work with you to set up a payment schedule.
In reality, many hospitals do offer services like this, but they don’t publicize them and people don’t know to ask about them. If you and your doctor are confident that you are going to have an uncomplicated birth, look into giving birth at a birthing center. They can cost half of what it costs to deliver your baby in a hospital, and many of the centers offer the sliding scale, payments and accept programs like Medicaid.
Don’t allow stress over health insurance get in the way of what should be one of the most amazing experiences of your life. You should be rejoicing in the wonders that your body can do, not tearing your hair out over health insurance.
April 7th, 2010 at 11:12 am
The protection offered by building and contents insurance, may cover a expensive home and all of its contents against a many risks, but if you are one of the many people struggling to afford the mortgage that comes with a new home your first home then there are various government initiatives to help, it is not hard to find them.
July 22nd, 2010 at 8:30 am
Healthcare reform is awesome! I’m 5 month’s away from having a baby that my regular insurance wouldn’t cover, cause I hadn’t been with them for 12 months. Today, I got a plan (from MedHealthInsurance.com) that covers all the expenses RIGHT AWAY! So much for worrying about pre-existing conditions