What You Need to Know About Family Health Insurance in Wisconsin When You’re Having a Baby

Below are a few things to know.

1. If you have family health insurance through your employer, let them know you want to add another person to your plan. 
   Your employer may require notification of the birth. They also may charge you for providing coverage for the baby. In Wisconsin, you have 60 days to notify them and pay the additional premium.
2. If you’re uninsured, you may not be able to buy health insurance until the baby is born. 
   Unless you qualify for BadgerCare Plus, you won’t be able to buy health insurance until the baby is born. You can buy health insurance for babies (or family health insurance) within 60 days of birth through a Special Enrollment Period. You can also buy health insurance for your family any time during Open Enrollment (in 2016, that’s November 1, 2016 – January 31, 2017).

If you are pregnant in Wisconsin, you may be able to enroll in BadgerCare Plus. Eligibility depends on income. If you qualify, you can sign up for BadgerCare Plus any time during your pregnancy.

1. Having a baby allows you to get new family health insurance in Wisconsin. 
   A baby’s birth opens a Special Enrollment Period. This means you can buy a new plan for your whole family if you do it within 60 days of the birth. It’s a great time to compare plans and choose the option that’s right for your family. If you have questions, get in touch with Unity.
2. It may make sense to buy health insurance for only your baby. 
   Sometimes, adding another person to your current plan isn’t possible or it’s too expensive. If that’s the case, it’s worth looking at plans just for the baby.  Depending on your income, your baby may be eligible for subsidies, making coverage cheaper. In addition, ACA-compliant health plans offer many no-cost preventive services.
3. If you’re younger than 18, both you and your baby can be covered under your parent’s plan. 
   If your parents have employer-sponsored family health insurance, they may be able to add you and your baby to their plan. You may have to wait until the plan has its yearly open enrollment period. 

   If your parents bought their own ACA-compliant plan, they can add you during open enrollment. Your having a baby doesn’t open a Special Enrollment Period for your parents.

See If You Qualify and Get a Quote