Best Health Insurance for Pregnant Women
Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna and Kaiser Permanente have the best health insurance for pregnant women.
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Women with standard pregnancies might need up to 15 prenatal doctor appointments during pregnancy. High-risk pregnancies can result in even more appointments. The costs for prenatal care, as well as for labor and delivery, can add up quickly. The best health insurance for pregnant women helps you get the care that you and your baby need while reducing what you have to pay.
Best health insurance for pregnant women
Blue Cross Blue Shield has the best health insurance for pregnant women because of its maternity programs and range of in-network doctors.
Aetna is a good option if you need cheap maternity insurance. Kaiser Permanente has the best customer service, but it's only available in eight states and Washington, D.C.
Health insurance company | Best for | Monthly cost* | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aetna | Cheap plans | $400 |
| Kaiser Permanente | Customer service | $403 |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | Best overall | $539 |
*Average monthly cost for a 30-year-old with a Silver plan
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To find the best companies for pregnancy insurance, we first compared average costs of a Silver plan for a 30-year-old. The size of each company's provider network is also an important metric because a larger network makes it easier to get care. Lastly, customer service reviews were used to determine how satisfied people were with their plans.
Blue Cross Blue Shield: Best overall pregnancy insurance
Blue Cross Blue Shield is the best health insurance company for pregnant women because of its pregnancy programs and large network of doctors.
Several Blue Cross Blue Shield companies have programs designed specifically for the needs of pregnant women. Over 90% of the doctors and hospitals in the United States accept Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance, which makes it easier for pregnant women to find prenatal care close to them.
Blue Cross Blue Shield
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Editor's rating:
- Average cost: $539/month
Many Blue Cross Blue Shield companies offer pregnancy programs. For example, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama has a program called Baby Yourself. The program pairs expectant mothers with a personal nurse to help guide them through their pregnancies. Participating women also can access an app to help them keep track of pregnancy symptoms and stay organized with appointments, like ultrasounds and sonograms.
In addition to providing health insurance programs for mothers, Blue Cross Blue Shield supports community programs that improve maternal health. The Elevance Health Foundation has pledged to give $30 million to programs that work to reduce premature birth rates, lower the risk of pregnancy complications and death, and reduce the need for first-time C-sections. Elevance Health was previously Anthem and is a part of the Blue Cross Blue Shield family of companies.
Keep in mind that Blue Cross Blue Shield is made up of independent regional companies, so coverage offerings vary.
Aetna: Best pregnancy insurance for cheap rates
Aetna is the best insurance company for pregnant women on a budget.
A Silver plan from Aetna costs an average of $400 per month for a 30-year-old woman, nearly $140 cheaper than Blue Cross Blue Shield. It's still more expensive than most group health insurance policies you get from an employer. But it's a good option if you have to buy your own coverage. Aetna also has a maternity program to help guide you through your pregnancy and birth.
Aetna
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Editor's rating:
- Average cost: $400/month
The Aetna maternity program gives you access to information about maternal and prenatal care. You'll also get a survey to help you determine if you are at risk for some complications. If your pregnancy is high-risk, you'll have access to a special program and a trained nurse to help support you. The Aetna maternity program isn't available through all of the company's health insurance plans. If you're interested in Aetna pregnancy coverage, make sure you choose a plan that has Aetna's maternity program as a benefit.
Aetna also partners with a service called Text4baby. If you sign up, you get three helpful texts per week during your pregnancy and the first year of your baby's life. You'll learn how your baby is growing and get prenatal care tips. Once your baby is born, the texts shift to things like safe sleeping tips for your baby and nutrition information.
Kaiser Permanente: Best pregnancy insurance for customer service
Kaiser Permanente has high customer service ratings and low average rates.
A plan from Kaiser Permanente is only $3 more than a plan from Aetna, on average. The company's health insurance plans sync with its medical offices, which can make paying for health care an easier experience. This contributes to Kaiser Permanente's high customer satisfaction scores, but it also means you have to stay within the network of doctors and hospitals. Kaiser Permanente is only available in eight states and Washington, D.C.
Kaiser Permanente
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Editor's rating:
- Average cost: $403/month
Kaiser Permanente offers a pregnancy program called CenteringPregnancy in most areas. This is a group program that connects you to other mothers with babies due around the same time. CenteringPregnancy helps you learn how to handle pregnancy symptoms, eat healthy, reduce stress, prepare for labor and birth, and more. You'll also form a community with other mothers going through the same things you are.
Remember that Kaiser Permanente is only available in a small portion of the country.
- California
- Colorado
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Maryland
- Oregon
- Virginia
- Washington
- Washington, D.C.
Kaiser Permanente gives you the option to choose to see either an obstetrician or a certified nurse midwife for your pregnancy care and birth. Most of Kaiser Permanente's obstetricians are board certified, too, which means they've had extra training for maternity care.
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Other options for pregnancy insurance
There are three main types of health insurance plans that offer the best affordable options for pregnancy: employer-provided coverage, marketplace plans and Medicaid.
The best health insurance for pregnancy will be specific to your circumstances. For example, you might need more or different prenatal care than other mothers, which means your health insurance plan might need to be different.
Employer-sponsored health care
The simplest health insurance option for pregnant women is employer-provided coverage. If you or your spouse has health insurance through a job that offers coverage, it's usually the cheapest way to get a policy. Usually, your employer will pay part of your monthly health insurance premium, which keeps rates low.
If you are a minor and you're pregnant, your parent's plan is required to cover your pregnancy care.
Your delivery might be covered, but it depends on your parent's policy. If your parent has health insurance through a small business or an individual health insurance policy, delivery should be covered. If your parent has health insurance from a large company, the plan isn't required to cover your delivery. Some companies will still cover the birth, so you should check with the plan. If you don't have coverage for your delivery, you may want to look into Medicaid or marketplace health insurance to get coverage for your delivery.
In either case, your parent's policy isn't required to cover your baby. You are allowed to stay on a parent's plan until age 26, but you'll need to get a separate policy for your baby. Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) or a marketplace plan for you and your baby could be good options.
Marketplace health insurance
Buying a plan from the federal marketplace or a state marketplace is a good option if you don't have coverage from your job. These plans are required to cover at least the 10 essential health benefits, including pregnancy and newborn care. The companies we recommend as the best for pregnant women are available on the marketplace.
Buying from an insurance company
You can buy the same policies that you would find on the marketplace directly from an insurance company. However, these policies can be more expensive because you won't get premium tax credits or cost-sharing reductions, to lower your rate or your medical costs. These perks are only available on marketplace plans.
Typically, a marketplace policy can only be purchased during the open enrollment period, which is from Nov. 1 to Jan. 15 in most states. Marketplace plans can also be purchased if you experience a qualifying life event. This means you get a special enrollment period to apply for coverage outside of the open enrollment period.
Becoming pregnant is not a qualifying life event, which means you won't be able to buy coverage at any time. Giving birth does qualify you for a special enrollment period, though. You could buy a policy after you've had your baby, no matter what time of year it is.
Marketplace plans with a low deductible can help you save on out-of-pocket costs when you get medical care, but they cost more each month.
Medicaid
If you have a low income, you may be eligible for Medicaid. You can apply for coverage at any time, unlike with marketplace plans. Medicaid usually covers prenatal doctor visits, labor, delivery and baby checkups after the birth.
Medicaid is for low-income households. In most states, you can make up to 138% of the federal poverty level and still qualify. However, 10 states have lower income limits and require that you meet other qualifications.
Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
The Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) offers coverage for children under 19 years old. In many states, pregnant women also qualify. The coverage is similar to Medicaid, and CHIP is also designed for low-income households.
You might want to look into CHIP coverage if you earn too much for Medicaid coverage but can't afford an Affordable Care Act (ACA) plan. Each state has different qualifications, and pregnant women aren't eligible in all states. Talk to your state's Medicaid agency for specific information about CHIP in your area.
Supplemental insurance for pregnancy
Supplemental maternity coverage pays you directly, instead of paying a health care provider. There are two main kinds of extra insurance that you can buy for pregnancy: short-term disability and hospital indemnity. However, you usually have to purchase these policies before you get pregnant, so you'll have to plan ahead if you want the extra coverage.
Disability insurance for pregnancy
A short-term disability or maternity leave plan is designed to replace a mother's income during maternity leave and if her doctor orders bed rest. You might want or need this type of policy depending on your employer's maternity leave benefits.
Hospital indemnity
A hospital indemnity plan pays you a fixed amount of money during a hospital stay. Usually the amount is a daily limit, like $100 or $500 per day. These plans have monthly rates, just like other health insurance policies.
You could use the funds to pay for your deductible, copay and coinsurance fees. You could also use the money to pay for things that your health insurance doesn't cover at all. A hospital indemnity plan can help you lower your out-of-pocket costs, but it's not a replacement for a traditional health insurance plan.
How to choose maternity health insurance
If you're in the process of buying maternity insurance, you might want to keep a few things in mind.
The timing of your pregnancy: If you are planning your pregnancy, you probably have more time to research and get quotes for health insurance, if you don't already have coverage through your job. If your pregnancy is unplanned, you might find yourself in a rush to get coverage.
Your risk level: If you have a high-risk pregnancy, you may have different considerations for coverage. You may need additional medical care or costly tests. In that case, you might want to look for a plan with lower out-of-pocket costs or more extensive coverage.
Your financial situation: The right plan for your pregnancy will also depend on your overall financial health and what you can pay for yourself. If you have a decent amount of money in savings, you might choose a high-deductible plan. You'll pay more for your health care, but you'll have a lower monthly rate.
Frequently asked questions
What's the best insurance for pregnant women?
Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna and Kaiser Permanente offer the best health insurance plans for pregnant women. If you have coverage through your employer, your health insurance might be cheaper than buying a plan on your own. Medicaid and CHIP are good choices for low-income pregnant women.
Is pregnancy a preexisting condition?
It depends on the policy. Any health insurance policy that is required to follow ACA guidelines can't consider pregnancy a preexisting condition. This includes plans that you buy through the marketplace, most plans you buy directly from an insurance company and group health insurance plans. You can't be denied coverage or charged a higher amount if you are pregnant when you buy the plan. Some plans, like short-term health insurance plans and some supplemental insurance plans, aren't required to follow ACA guidelines and might consider pregnancy a preexisting condition.
Will short-term health insurance cover pregnancy?
Most short-term health insurance plans consider pregnancy a preexisting condition and don't cover it. It's possible that you could find a short-term health insurance plan that covers pregnancy since each company can set its own rules, but it's not likely.
Does Medicare cover pregnancy?
Yes, Medicare covers pregnancy and childbirth. Medicare Part A covers hospital services, while Part B covers doctor services and outpatient procedures, including lab tests and blood work. However, after the birth of your child, Medicare would not cover services for your baby.
Methodology and sources
Average health insurance rate information is sourced from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) public use files (PUFs) and from state-run marketplace sites. To calculate rates for age 30, we used the age curve variations published by CMS. Plans and providers for which county-level data was included in the CMS Crosswalk file were used in our analysis; those excluded from this data set may not appear.
Other sources include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Census.gov, Cleveland Clinic, Kaiser Family Foundation and Kaiser Permanente.
Editorial note: The content of this article is based on the author's opinions and recommendations alone. It has not been previewed, commissioned or otherwise endorsed by any of our network partners.