Insurance in the US

[I Love Lucy]

OH and I just found out we are pregnant and we're not sure how this will effect us when we get married as far as insurance goes. I'm currently covered under my parent's insurance and OH has his own.

We were planning to get married in August and I was just going to go on his plan then (we didn't think we would get pregnant as quickly as we did). But now that I'm pregnant, would that be considered a pre-existing condition and therefore not something his insurance would cover?

If his insurance wouldn't cover me and the pregnancy, am I able to remain on my parent's insurance even if I'm married?

If so, what does that mean for our baby? Could he or she go on my OH's insurance once he or she is born?

 

[NennaKay]

I've been doing some reading as far as insurance is concerned, because i'm trying to figure out the best route for my DH and myself...

So far it's all a big jumble. What I've gathered is:

(*) Under HIPAA, group insurances cannot turn you down because pregancy is exempt under the pre-existing conditions clause (however I'm not sure what is classified as "group insurance")

(*) As far as I know you can stay on your parents insurance as long as you meet the following criteria:

-you are not emancipated
-you are under the age of 18
-you are a full-time student under the age of 25
-you are unmarried

(*) Private insurances (those held by small companies with 50 employees or less), CAN call pregancy a pre-existing condition and deny your insurance.

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I'm still trying to figure out how my insurance will have to work. My OH lost his job in April and is uneligible for unemployment. He finally found another job in June, but he has to wait 90 days before he can get their insurance. I have been without insurance since August of 2010. I dropped down to part-time work and lost my benefits... Later (December 2010) I quit work to be a full-time student as my work could no longer schedule me around my classes.

My OH and I got married in July 2011 and he applied to have me put on his insurance plan... It took forever! Paperwork got lost, they fired people in HR and I never got insurance on my husband's plan. In April 2012, I had STILL not been put on his plan and he was fired. So now neither of us have insurance. His new job pays just over 1/2 of his last job... so that sucks.

I need to know:

(*) if there will be a waiting period for me to be put on his insurance?

(*) if I have to wait a certain amount of time to become pregnant on my OHs insurance?

(*) are there alternatives insurances that will cost less?

Sorry for the super long post, but I am SUPER confused by this whole mess!

 

[I Love Lucy]

I had a conversation with my OH and he was telling me that as soon as we get married I'm able to go on his insurance and both me and the baby will be covered. We have Blue Cross, Blue Shield PPO.

I have looked into alternatives though and here in Illinois we have the option of getting on Illinois Healthy Women which will cover the price of the pregnancy, birth control, etc. for women who don't have insurance. Perhaps you could look and see if you state has something similar?

 

[SilasLove]

NennAKay have you visited your countys family services office to see if your eligible for medicaid? It will only go back 3 months a pay from the date you are approved so i would look in to it asap.

 

[alaskagrown]

I have Blue Cross Blue Shield under the Affordable Care Act (up until I'm 26, regardless of student status) and I was in sort of the same dilemma as you. OH and I wanted to get married, but I was afraid I'd fall off my father's insurance. I called BCBS and they told me it doesn't matter if I get married or not, I'll still qualify for my father's insurance plan

However, keep in mind that the Affordable Care Act is under the microscope right now. Romney vows to repeal it the first day he is in office if he wins this election.