Question
What is the name of your state? California.
me and my wife are planning to have a baby. we plan to start at the end of the year, and the baby may come around next year sept/oct. thus, i decide to get my wife health insurance for maternity and i know almost all health insurance have pre-existing condition of six month. does this mean that i have to purchase the health insurance and wait 6 months, then i start to make baby.
thanks for advice.
Answer
It will depend on the terms of the policy in question. Not all insurance plans have pre-existing clauses and those that do vary. We can't tell you what the terms of a policy you haven't even bought yet will be.
It sounds as if you are talking about an individual policy. But IF you are talking about picking up group insurance through your employer, Federal law prohibits the insurance carrier from having a pre-ex clause for maternity.
Answer
thanks cbg. yes, i am planing to buy insurance for individual policy. my insurance agent told me that there is a 6-month preexisting condition. does this mean i can purchase the insurance and wait for 6 month, then able to make baby?? or i can purchase the insurance and make baby right away??
thanks
Answer
Ask the insurance agent. He has read the policy. I have not. The exact wording of the clause can affect the meaning.
Answer
[..] i know almost all health insurance have pre-existing condition of six month. does this mean that i have to purchase the health insurance and wait 6 months, then i start to make baby.
Generally, pre-existing condition waiting periods restrict benefit payment for any disease or illness that has manifested (to show or demonstrate plainly; reveal) itself prior to the effective date of the policy.
Since in your example, you and your wife plan to get pregnant after you purchase the policy you should not have any problems with coverage. Some pre-existing conditions prohibit people from qualifying for insurance making them uninsurable (for a regular policy). That is not the case as you only plan to get pregnant at this point. Please do not wait until you get pregnant to purchase the policy. If the baby is born too early the insurance carrier may have a legitimate reason to deny the claim on the basis that it was pre-existing.
Make sure you explain your intentions to your insurance agent. I'm not that familiar with the California market, but in some states some individual policies do not cover maternity, while others do. California may require insurers provide maternity coverage -- I just don't know. An informed insurance agent will be able to provide you with the best policy to meet your family’s needs.
You’re on the right track. Just purchase the policy before the wife is pregnant. You should not have to wait six additional months before you conceive a child. Good luck!
KTL
Answer
thanks ktl and cbg for all the help.