State Maternity Insurance Laws

Maternity insurance coverage is best found through employer groups.  Many employers are required by law to cover pregnancy and maternity in their health insurance plans via a federal law - The Pregnancy Discrimination Act - which applies to groups of 15 or more employees.

Group health plans must cover pre-existing conditions provided there is no gap in coverage of more than 60 days.  A certificate of creditable coverage may allow you to get coverage if you are already pregnant. 

Eighteen states mandate that insurance cover maternity. The mandate may apply to individual plans and/or small group plans. Small group plans are for employers with two to forty nine eligible employees.

There are mandates to cover, and mandates to offer. Mandates to cover are ideal for couples looking to get pregnant, as covered plans must provide maternity coverage. Mandates to offer are not as strong, as the insurance carrier only has to make a plan available for sale - and the vast majority of people are not planning to get pregnant, and don't want to pay added premiums for coverage they won't use and don't need.

Remember that state laws apply in the state where the insurance policy is issued.  If you work for an employer headquartered in a different state that where you live, then your insurance plan is governed by the other state. This is one key to finding coverage.

There are three well kept secrets to getting maternity insurance no matter where you live:

1. Look at both employers: check the insurance laws pertaining to the headquarter states of both employers: yours and your spouses.  Group plans often are required to offer coverage.  This doubles your odds of finding what you need.
2. Find a new employer: If most group health plans are required to cover maternity find an employer subject to the many laws requiring coverage.  
3. Ask your employer for voluntary benefits: most group health insurance plans require employers to pay a portion of the premium. Many employers choose to offer no coverage, or a plan with no maternity coverage to keep costs low. Supplemental maternity insurance is sold as a voluntary employee benefit. There is no direct cost to your employer to provide you with valuable coverage that fills huge holes in many insurance plans.