Switching health insurance while pregnant?

Question

Has anyone had experience with switching health insurance plans while pregnant?

I currently get insurance through my job, but I am really hoping to go down to part time hours this fall with no intentions of coming back once the baby is born. I am due early December. My husband asked his HR lady if it would be possible to add me if I lost my coverage due to my reduction in hours and she said they could try to add me on even though it is not open enrollment. He didn't want to divulge that I'm pregnant since his HR lady is the owner's wife and he hasn't told anyone at work yet that we are expecting. I really don't want to be full time when I'm 8-9 months pregnant at my stressful job just to keep the insurance only to end up quitting after the baby is born.

I guess I would like input from anyone with similar experience. Was it an easy change or did you have a gap in coverage?

Answer

Have him talk to the HR woman again - if a spouse loses their coverage, the other spouse can add them to their policy (even if the other spouse doesn't get coverage for themselves through their employer at the time) outside of open enrollment. That counts as a "qualifying event." I work in HR and its my job to know this stuff. There's no reason for him to disclose that you're pregnant in this situation. 😊

Answer

That's a qualifying life event. You can definitely get put on his insurance! Just make sure you initiate it as soon as possible when you lose coverage. Carriers are slow!

Answer

I switched from my employer to tricare after we found out I was pregnant. It took a little bit but I was able to get everything sorted and an appointment by 12 weeks. The Dr. told me that they typically don't do first US until 8-12 weeks so I was exactly on time for my checkups after switching.

Answer

You would have to wait until open enrollment to get on your husbands insurance unless a major life event happened, i.e. Marriage, the baby's birth. If you plan on just cancelling your current insurance just to get on your husband's it doesn't count.

If you want gap insurance you would need to check with your company not your husbands. Once they have open enrollment then you can be added to his policy. However, baby can be added whenever they are born.

Switching health insurance while pregnant?

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