Maternity Coverage
What Does Maternity Coverage Mean?
Maternity coverage is health insurance that covers costs related to pregnancy, childbirth, and the care of a newborn. It is included in personal health insurance policies or commercial group benefits.
Under the Affordable Care Act, maternity coverage became one of the 10 essential benefits that all health insurance providers are required to offer.
Insuranceopedia Explains Maternity Coverage
Maternity coverage includes, among other services:
- Prenatal medical care
- Prenatal and maternal screening for certain conditions
- Medications related to pregnancy
- Delivery
- Postpartum hospitalization
- Lactation consultations and other forms of newborn care
Before the Affordable Care Act, only 12% of health insurance policies provided maternity coverage. In some cases, it was available only through a rider added to the basic health insurance.
Previously, pregnancy was considered a pre-existing condition by health insurers, which often excluded it from coverage. However, under the Affordable Care Act, it is now covered even if the policy is purchased while the insured is pregnant.
