Q & A with iCan Counsel Matt Leeth ESQ.

Pregnancy & The Affordable Care Act

Q: I recently found out I'm pregnant & expecting for the first time. Our Bundle of Joy is due this fall. Please clarify if my pregnancy will still be considered a pre-existing condition under the Affordable Care Act, or not at all? It's just all so confusing... Marcia L. – Philadelphia, PA

A: First off Marcia, congratulations! Since this is your first child, you may be surprised to learn that prior to the coming New Year, "major medical" coverage has been difficult for pregnant women to obtain. That's because major medical carriers historically looked at pregnancy as a "pre-existing condition," and for expectant mothers looking for health insurance, it meant that major medical coverage was too expensive or not even offered to them. If they did, many policies excluded coverage for pregnancy-related health bills that came up. So, aside from all the costs associated with raising a child, just giving birth could cost a new mother over $30,000 in medical bills! Without any coverage, this was a huge blow to many household budgets.

Now, beginning in 2014, major medical coverage can no longer deny or vary a premium based on a pre-existing condition. In simple terms, this means that a 25 year old pregnant woman will now be able to find coverage available to her and her pregnancy - at the same premium that a 25 year old male living in the same county would pay. And since maternity and newborn care is an "Essential Health Benefit," which all major medical policies will now be required to cover, those policies will cover your pregnancy expenses, subject to co-pays and deductibles.

An important tip: when reviewing coverage options, know the plan's co-pays and deductibles. If someone is pregnant like you currently are, or are planning on becoming pregnant, you will most likely have to pay a deductible before your insurer covers your pregnancy-related expenses. So when choosing coverage, make sure you're able to afford the deductible!

Even with these upcoming changes, it's important to note that iCan prides itself on offering its clients a suite of options to choose from for coverage that meets their needs and budgets – from major medical policies - with all Essential Health Benefits included - to affordable limited benefit plans. The fact of the matter is, many Americans are experiencing the "sticker-shock" of the high premiums of major medical coverage options in 2014, which is why iCan and its team of licensed health insurance agents, are here to go through your major medical plan options, as well as discuss alternative coverage options, that may be more affordable for you and your newly growing family.

Matt Leeth is an attorney at iCan, and is licensed to practice in the State of Florida. The information or opinions contained herein are for informational purposes only as a service to the public, and is not legal advice or a substitute for legal counsel.