You should know that your health care coverage won’t necessarily extend to your newborn. For the first 30 days, newborns are generally covered under their mother’s policies. However, this coverage ends on the 31st day after birth.
Failing to add your child to your health care plan means they won’t be insured. This could leave you vulnerable to high and unexpected medical bills. Fortunately, childbirth and adoption are both qualifying life events. You can add your newborn or recently adopted child to your health care plan without waiting for open enrollment.
To enroll your infant, contact HR to let them know you had a baby and would like to add them to your plan.
We found this article posted by United Health Care helpful in guiding new parents in this right direction.
Welcoming a newborn into your family is a joyous occasion that also comes with significant responsibilities.
Published in
Benefits 101
Kristen Russell
Kristen founded Fall River Employee Benefits as the culmination of her insurance industry career as an actuary, underwriting executive & consultant. As an Assistant Vice President at Great-West Healthcare (now part of CIGNA), she managed a $1 Billion block of health insurance. She also worked as a Senior Consultant at Reden & Anders, consulting to insurance companies and large employers throughout the country. Ms. Russell received a Bachelor of Science, Business Administration in Actuarial Science, is a member of the American Academy of Actuaries and achieved Fellowship in the Society of Actuaries through a rigorous nine-year series of exams.
Kristen grew up in Iowa but has lived in Colorado since 1993, currently living near our office in the Lower Highlands neighborhood near downtown Denver. She enjoys bicycling, hiking, traveling and has a special passion for non-profit volunteering. She is married to an incredibly talented photojournalist, has two adult stepdaughters and an adorable Border Collie/Lab mix named Chaco.