Does Health Insurance Cover Pregnancy Services?
Does health insurance cover prenatal care and other pregnancy services?
Yes. Routine prenatal, childbirth, and newborn care services are essential benefits. And all qualified health insurance plans must cover them, even if you were pregnant before your health coverage started. Talk with your doctor or contact your health insurance company for more information about the services your plan covers.
If you don’t have health insurance and you’re pregnant, plan to get pregnant, or you just gave birth, you may be able to get coverage for yourself and your baby through Medicaid or the Health Insurance Marketplace. Read more on healthcare.gov.
Your state may also have programs that provide free or low-cost medical care and as well as additional services to help you have a healthy pregnancy. For more information, call 1-800-311-BABY (1-800-311-2229).
Some Planned Parenthood health centers may offer free or low-cost pregnancy services, or offer resources for affordable care where you live. Contact your local Planned Parenthood for more information.
Does health insurance cover breastfeeding services?
Yes. Most health insurance plans must cover breastfeeding counseling, support, and equipment during pregnancy and after birth, for as long as you’re nursing.
Health insurance must cover the cost of a breast pump. But plans may have guidelines on the type of pump they will cover and whether you get it before or after the baby's birth, among other rules. Your covered pump might be a rental or a new one you’ll get to keep.
You and your doctor will decide what breastfeeding services are right for you. Health insurance plans often follow your doctor’s breastfeeding recommendations. Some plans may require your doctor to pre-authorize services before your insurance will cover them. Talk with your doctor and contact your health insurance provider for more information about breastfeeding coverage and benefits.
Does health insurance cover infertility treatments?
The ACA does not require health insurance to cover infertility treatments, like IVF. But some plans do pay for some, or all, of the costs of these services. Depending on the laws in your state and your health insurance plan, coverage for infertility treatments and the services they include will vary. The best way to find out if infertility treatments are covered in your plan is to contact your insurance provider.