Is pregnancy a pre-existing condition for insurance?

Okay so it would be realllllly helpful to know if pregnancy is covered as a pre-existing condition for health insurance and short-term disability insurance, etc. Thank you.

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Is pregnancy a pre-existing condition for insurance?

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Pre-existing condition
by: Debra

The short answer, if you live in the USA is... no it is not a pre-existing condition for insurance. So don't worry, you should be covered.

In the health insurance business, preexisting conditions are injuries, ailments, or medical conditions that have been treated or diagnosed prior to the start of a health insurance policy.

Most policies exclude any preexisting condition, and it only makes sense. Insurance is a bet that something may or may not happen. It is not meant to apply after the fact.

But insurance can be a big cause of worry if you are thinking you might be pregnant but are not sure yet... and you are seeking an insurance or medical coverage (even short-term disability insurance).

The GOOD NEWS...

In the United States, pregnancy is not in any way considered to be a preexisting condition for insurance policies (particularly group plans).

This is in accordance to HIPAA - the Health insurance Portability and Accountability Act. This was signed into law by former US President Bill Clinton.

Under HIPAA, no health insurance plan could exclude pregnancy in their health coverage. In other words, pregnancy could NOT be considered as a preexisting condition.

Plus, health insurance plans should not exclude newborns or adopted children who are under 18 years old. However, there is a requirement to enroll the child into a plan within a month or 30 days following birth or adoption.

So any woman in the US could apply for any new health insurance program while she is pregnant. She would always be able to get the health coverage she needs. Any mom should make it a point to enroll her newborn or newly adopted baby to a health insurance plan within the specified time limit.

For individual health insurance policies, you want to get in touch with the insurance company right away. There could be specific and different provisions for covering pregnancy. Ask your insurer. Coverage may be varied but pregnancy should still not be considered as a preexisting medical condition.

I hope that puts your mind at ease :)

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