Infants and Health Insurance
A baby is as vulnerable as it is precious. Getting an infant health insurance policy can be vital for protecting your newborn during the first critical months after birth. In the excitement and commotion of a new baby, don't forget to to add your newborn to your health insurance policy. Your health insurance plan will often cover your baby for the first 30 days. Afterward, however, your child will not be covered if you don't specifically change your policy or start a new plan.
Though lots happen during the first month, your baby will need continued medical attention long after the delivery. Besides the regular checkups and immunizations, your baby will need to visit your doctor when he or she inevitably gets sick from the many common childhood illnesses.
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Common Baby Illnesses
New babies come into this world naked and unprotected. They can easily get ill and some diseases can impair proper growth later on.
Skin rashes are common. They can range from diaper rash to bug bites to chicken pox. Though most are merely annoying, some rashes are dangerous and require medical attention.
Complications with a child's hearing are especially troubling. Since language acquisition depends on your baby's hearing, contact your doctor immediately if your child does not respond to sound very well.
A child's first few months is the time for scheduled vaccinations. These regular visits to your child's pediatrician can ensure normal development and immunization. But as these visits and shots are quite costly, having infant health insurance for your baby can save you money and encourage you to visit your doctor more often.
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What to Look for in an Infant Health Insurance Policy
Start a new infant health insurance plan as soon as possible. You don't want to assume your plan will automatically cover your child. This can be a separate plan or as an add-on to your existing policy.
There are pros and cons with each route. Adding your child to an existing health plan can be less hassle than scouting out an entirely new policy for your child. However, as your baby is tied to your own policy, you may not have as many options available to you. With a new policy for your baby, you have more freedom to browse around for that perfect health care package.
Of course, cost and eligibility depend on each plan and can turn your favor either way. In general, individual infant insurance for a child ages zero to four costs about $300 a month. This is a very rough estimate only; please contact a health insurance agent for the specific details of the plan you wish to purchase.
Whichever route you choose, make sure to ask for the basics: Does the plan cover delivery and immediate newborn care? What about vaccinations and subsequent check-ups (both sick and well baby doctor visits)? What sort of diseases does your plan NOT cover?
Usually infant health insurance plans require a document of proof of your baby's birth before they can start the policy. Make sure to ask about such a document while you're still at the hospital after delivery. This can speed up the application processing time later on.
Take the first step by requesting a free health insurance quote online. Compare plans and find out which one is right for you and your baby.
Last Updated : Wednesday, October 10, 2007