Has anyone switched insurance companies in the middle of pregnancy?

If so, can you share your experience?

How do you make sure there is no lapse in covereage which would make your pregnancy a pre-existing condition?

Thanks!

Re: Has anyone switched insurance companies in the middle of pregnancy?

I am in the process of doing this. I don't think pregnancy can be considered as a pre-existing condition. I could be wrong though.

Re: Has anyone switched insurance companies in the middle of pregnancy?

I did this - I switched off mine and onto DH's
I called his company as well as the ins comp to ask them if it was considered pre-existing and all that
I also asked if there would be problems when switching and they said no
I had new ins as on Jan 1st and my 1st dr appt after that had been 1/3 and I have been there since and they said the only thing I owed was like a $2 stupid fee
Just make sure you def call the companies and ask about the pre-exisiting condition
Also - my suggestion to you - if you are on 1 ins now - and you want to call edge park about a pump I would call before you switch to see if your current ins covers a pump and you can get it all worked out now
If they do not then you can try again with the new coverage

Re: Has anyone switched insurance companies in the middle of pregnancy?

Re: Has anyone switched insurance companies in the middle of pregnancy?

Re: Has anyone switched insurance companies in the middle of pregnancy?

Well, I did, but my old coverage ended on January 1 and my new coverage began January 2, so I was pretty confident I'd be OK for 24 hours. We did not get dinged for a "pre-existing condition."

Are you able to change insurances at this point?

Message edited 2/8/2011 10:25:58 AM.

Re: Has anyone switched insurance companies in the middle of pregnancy?

Re: Has anyone switched insurance companies in the middle of pregnancy?

DH had better health insurance so I switched to his insurance during my third trimester. You were only allowed to add/drop in this period of time. I had not been added immediately after we were married.

It was a new year and my company's insurance premiums had gone up substantially and they added a deductible.

I had no problems. DH's insurance covered everything in full. If I had stuck to my insurance, we would have had to come out of pocket a few thousand.

Re: Has anyone switched insurance companies in the middle of pregnancy?

Re: Has anyone switched insurance companies in the middle of pregnancy?

You just need to make sure the end date of insurance 1 isn't before the start date of insurance 2.

For example if your new insurance starts on March 1st, don't end your current insurance until March 2nd, this way there is no lapse or period of time where you weren't under any insurance coverage at all.

According to my DHs human resources pregnancies may never be considered a pre-existing condition. I was afraid of that when I wanted to switch doctors.

Re: Has anyone switched insurance companies in the middle of pregnancy?

Posted by cgdg61606

Thanks!

When you say add/drop, what do you mean? I'm sorry... my brain in fried...

Re: Has anyone switched insurance companies in the middle of pregnancy?

I switched mid pregnancy and had no problems. I was told the pregnancy was not conisdered a pre-existing condition. I was also told that if there was an issue with a new insurance company that the older company would just have to submit a letter proving you were covered.

But I had no issues what so ever.

Re: Has anyone switched insurance companies in the middle of pregnancy?

I wish someone told me about the lapse in coverage. I am calling both insurance companies now to see how they handle it.

Re: Has anyone switched insurance companies in the middle of pregnancy?

Re: Has anyone switched insurance companies in the middle of pregnancy?

I was only 6 weeks when we switched to DH's insurance, so it wasn't a big deal. My DH's colleague was hired at the same as him, and his wife was 6 months pregnant at the time. She had absolutely no problems either. All of us, however, went directly from one insurance to another (without any sort of lapse in coverage). DH knows a lot about insurance in general since he has type 1 diabetes..I feel like he told me that you have to go without insurance for 3 months for private insurance to be able to deny you from a "pre-existing condition." Don't quote me on that, haha, I can be wrong.

Re: Has anyone switched insurance companies in the middle of pregnancy?

Posted by sunflowerjesss

Posted by cgdg61606

Thanks!

When you say add/drop, what do you mean? I'm sorry... my brain in fried...

She probably meant it was during an open enrollment.

Most employers will not allow you to add or remove dependents from Health Insurance policies at any time. It either has to be during their open enrollment period (for DH open enrollment is the month of November) or a life changing event occurs (birth, death, marriage, etc).

Re: Has anyone switched insurance companies in the middle of pregnancy?

Posted by Bridex100

Posted by sunflowerjesss

Posted by cgdg61606

Thanks!

When you say add/drop, what do you mean? I'm sorry... my brain in fried...

She probably meant it was during an open enrollment.

Most employers will not allow you to add or remove dependents from Health Insurance policies at any time. It either has to be during their open enrollment period (for DH open enrollment is the month of November) or a life changing event occurs (birth, death, marriage, etc).

Exactly what I meant. I had not been added right away after we were married. After I got pregnant, DH added me as soon as he was able to during the open enrollment time.

I have a friend who had minimal health insurance when she got pregnant. They upgraded her health plan with better maternity benefits with no problems.

Re: Has anyone switched insurance companies in the middle of pregnancy?

I did this during my pregnancy and had no problems. There were, however, some additional co-payments with the new plan so be sure to read up on any fees (especially with sonos, blood work, etc.)

GL

Re: Has anyone switched insurance companies in the middle of pregnancy?

Message edited 2/8/2011 12:04:01 PM.

Re: Has anyone switched insurance companies in the middle of pregnancy?

Posted by cgdg61606

Posted by sunflowerjesss

You just need to make sure the end date of insurance 1 isn't before the start date of insurance 2.

For example if your new insurance starts on March 1st, don't end your current insurance until March 2nd, this way there is no lapse or period of time where you weren't under any insurance coverage at all.

According to my DHs human resources pregnancies may never be considered a pre-existing condition. I was afraid of that when I wanted to switch doctors.

THANK YOU!!!

You explain things in terms I can understand!!



I swear... my mind is all consumed by the health of this child and my son... I have no room left in my head for stuff like this!! I don't know how I function at work...

Thank you!