It can be daunting to keep track of all the things you need to do before your little bundle of joy arrives. One thing you absolutely must do is put him or her on your medical insurance. The process will vary based on whether you have private insurance or through your employer. Either way, putting a new baby on your insurance is different from changing the terms for yourself. While often you may have to wait for open enrollment to switch your plan for yourself, you can place a new baby on your insurance within a certain amount of time following the birth. The baby will initially be covered under the mother’s insurance -- in other words, if she is covered by her own policy or by the father's policy, the baby will be initially covered, too -- so you don’t have to make the switch until after delivery. Once the baby is born, it is important to know how long you have to find permanent insurance for your child.
Step 1
Contact your insurance company or employer and ask the representative exactly how long you have to put your new baby on your insurance. Typically you have about 30 days after birth.
Step 2
Obtain insurance forms. If you deal directly with the insurance company, you can have them send you forms or get them off their website. If you deal with your employer, get them from the human resources department.
Step 3
Enter your personal information on the form, including your name, address, Social Security number and any other pertinent information.
Step 4
Fill in your child's information. You will need the name, date of birth and Social Security number.
Step 5
Select the insurance plan you want. This may or may not be an option depending on your insurance company or employer. For example, you may have a point of service option that is less expensive but requires referrals, or a direct access plan which is costlier, but requires referrals.
Step 6
Submit the forms to your insurance company or employer. Make a copy for your records. You should get new insurance cards for you and your new arrival shortly thereafter.
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Writer Bio
Carl Carabelli has been writing in various capacities for more than 15 years. He has utilized his creative writing skills to enhance his other ventures such as financial analysis, copywriting and contributing various articles and opinion pieces. Carabelli earned a bachelor's degree in communications from Seton Hall and has worked in banking, notably commercial lending, since 2001.