FAQ: pregnancy and health insurance
Whether you're already pregnant or starting to think about planning a pregnancy, you probably have a lot of questions — from what you can and can’t eat to how often you’ll have to see your doctor. You may also want to know everything about care and health coverage for you and your bundle of joy.
We’ve got you covered with answers to five of the most common pregnancy-related health insurance questions.
You’re not alone in your pregnancy
From prenatal to postpartum care, myWellmark® has free tools and resources available to you throughout your entire pregnancy—and beyond. Log in to myWellmark to learn more.
1.
When should I see my doctor?
As soon as you find out you’re pregnant, you should call your OB-GYN to make your first prenatal appointment. Once you see your doctor to confirm the pregnancy, you’ll go every four weeks until the third trimester (week 28), every two weeks until week 36, and then every week until you deliver, unless recommended differently by your provider.
If you don’t have an OB-GYN, you can find one in your network by logging in to your myWellmark® account.
2.
Who will help deliver my baby, and where will I give birth?
Typically, OB-GYN or midwife offices have several providers that you will see throughout your pregnancy — and any one of them could deliver your baby. The providers in the practice you choose will likely only deliver at certain hospitals or birth centers in your area. If you’re able to choose where you deliver, you can typically set up a tour to ask questions and know what to expect once you’re there. You can use myWellmark to make sure your provider and hospital or birth center are in your health plan's network.
3.
How much will my prenatal care cost?
Throughout your pregnancy, you’ll have a few ultrasounds and tests, in addition to regular appointments with your provider. Depending on your health care benefits, you may be billed for each visit and service throughout your pregnancy, or you might have one bill after you deliver.
When you log in to myWellmark , you can look up the cost of doctor visits and other services before you go, so you aren’t surprised when the bill arrives.
4.
What about the cost of my delivery and hospital stay?
Your health plan will cover the costs of routine delivery services and costs if any complications arise for either you or your baby. Your cost share will apply, which means you’ll be responsible for your deductible, coinsurance or copay. After your baby is born, you may be responsible for a separate cost share that includes a facility charge for your hospital stay.
5.
How do I add my new baby to my health insurance?
You won’t be able to add your new baby to your health plan until after they’re born — at which point you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period. A Special Enrollment Period is a time outside of your typical Open Enrollment Period when you can sign up for health insurance coverage.
As soon as possible after delivery, call your benefits administrator or Wellmark customer service to add your new dependent to your benefits. Your Special Enrollment Period typically lasts 30 days after birth, but you’ll want your new baby to have benefits as soon as possible for those first few checkups.
6.
What if I have questions between appointments?
When it comes to pregnancy-related questions, there’s a lot of information out there — which can be overwhelming. Of course, you’ll get advice from everyone about what you should and shouldn’t be doing. Wellmark members can get resources for a healthy, stress-free pregnancy with the pregnancy support program through myWellmark.
This free program is available to you 24/7, throughout your pregnancy and after your baby is born. The pregnancy support program includes resources like:
- Pregnancy self-assessments — prenatal and postpartum assessments in myWellmark help you understand you and your baby's health. High-risk results may lead to outreach from a pregnancy support case manager for additional one-on-one support.
- WebMD® Pregnancy Assistant — information about the stages of your baby’s growth and provides support throughout your pregnancy.
- Count the Kicks® — an app that helps you keep track of your baby’s normal movement patterns in the third trimester.
With BeWell 24/7®, you can call 844-842-3935 to speak with a registered nurse to answer your pregnancy and postpartum questions anytime, day or night. Members with high-risk pregnancies may be referred to Wellmark's Pregnancy Support Program for additional support.
7.
How can I keep costs down during pregnancy?
If you have a qualified high-deductible health plan with a health savings account (HSA), you can use the pre-tax dollars in your HSA to purchase supplies, like a breast pump or prenatal vitamins. If you don’t have an HSA, you may have access to a flex spending account to use for the same expenses.
In addition, when choosing your health insurance plan, consider your plans for the future. If you're planning to become pregnant or grow your family, review the plans available to you to make sure you're choosing the best health insurance coverage for pregnancy and a growing family.
Get trusted help for better health with myWellmark
In addition to the Pregnancy Support Program, myWellmark gives you a transparent look into your health care usage and easy-to-use tools, resources and insights. You can check claims details, view health care spending, find an in-network doctor, use tools to understand your benefits and more.
Not signed up yet? It'll only take a couple minutes and all you need is your Wellmark ID card and a valid email address. Register today!