For those using Your Health Idaho, at yourhealthidaho.org, the birth of a new baby brings new insurance options. In many scenarios, the mother or father of the new baby had medical insurance previously. In this situation, parents can add the baby to the existing insurance plan. A parent of the newborn must present proof of the birth, such as a birth certificate.
Or, rather than just adding the baby, parents may select a new health plan. This coverage becomes effective the date of the baby’s birth, so that medical bills related to newborn care will be covered by the new plan. Many new parents don’t know something helpful about newborn health insurance. Even if the parents have no medical insurance, they may be eligible to enroll both the baby and themselves. The birth of a baby opens a special opportunity for all eligible members of the household.
Eligible individuals in the family can start a new plan or change plans outside of the standard Open Enrollment window. The special event (birth of baby) creates a Special Enrollment window.
Your Health Idaho rules state: “If a family has a baby, adopts a child, is placed in foster care, or is appointed by a court as the ward for a child, they are entitled to a Special Enrollment Period, even if the child gains alternative health insurance coverage such as CHIP.”
If you are expecting, or had a baby within the last 60 days, and need health insurance, please contact us! If you are planning to have a baby in the future and want to reduce your labor and delivery out-of-pocket costs, please ask us how to plan ahead to save.