Average Cost

• The average cost of maternity insurance can vary depending on the state and the insurer that provides the health insurance policy. Costs can include prenatal care, the delivery and any costs for the hospital stay and additional services that are provided. The cost for a pregnancy can range from $2000 up to $10,000 or more, especially if there are any complications that occur during birth.
  
  

Insurance When Pregnant

• Maternity insurance will be difficult to obtain if it is needed after a woman becomes pregnant. Many insurance companies have a waiting period or a pre-existing exclusion that applies to new health insurance policies. Coverage for maternity can be purchased through many state programs if a health insurance policy is not available from a private health insurance company. Federal insurance laws such as CORBA and HIPAA also exist to assist women who are pregnant.
  
  

Know Your Health Plan

• Health insurance plans may have various benefit and coverage options for maternity or pregnancy. This includes prenatal tests such as an ultrasound. Some health insurance plans may also require having some types of services pre-authorized before insurance will pay for the cost. The length of a hospital stay beyond the minimum required by law should also be known.
  
  

Covered Services

• Most health insurance policies provide maternity coverage for various types of services. Services include doctor's visits, sonograms as well as hospital stays and any lab work that needs to be done. Any type of prenatal care that is required such as a scheduled ultrasound is also covered by most types of health insurance policies.
  
  

Dependent Coverage Laws

• Many states have dependent child laws that require health insurance policies to provide coverage for newborns for the first 31 days after birth. A federal law called the Newborns' and Mothers' Health Protection Act provides for women who give birth in a hospital. Health insurance policies are required by the law to cover a minimum amount of time a woman can stay in a hospital following the birth of a child. State laws may also provide additional protections that exceed the federal law.