The Best Health Insurance for Pregnant Women in 2024
All qualified health insurance plans are required to provide coverage for pregnancy, but that coverage can vary. Learning more about your options can help you find a plan that balances coverage and affordability.
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By Brenna Kelly
BK
Licensed Health Insurance Agent
Brenna Kelly, the former Health Insurance Content Manager at MoneyGeek, is a licensed health insurance agent and real estate associate. She is qualified to provide expert insight and advice on medical insurance, disability, long-term care, critical illness, Medicare Supplements and Medicare Advantage Plans. Kelly has a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Arts in Applied Sociology from the University of Central Florida. She uses her content production experience and health insurance expertise to deliver informative articles.
MH
Edited by Megan Hull
MH
Web Content Editor
Megan Hull is committed to creating quality content that fills in knowledge gaps and improves people’s lives. Previously, she worked at one of the nation’s largest behavioral health care providers and has written content for medical practices across the country. She went to school at the University of Central Florida, where she studied English with a focus in technical communications and literature. Megan geeks out on psychology, cooking and secondhand finds.
BK
By Brenna Kelly
BK
Licensed Health Insurance Agent
Brenna Kelly, the former Health Insurance Content Manager at MoneyGeek, is a licensed health insurance agent and real estate associate. She is qualified to provide expert insight and advice on medical insurance, disability, long-term care, critical illness, Medicare Supplements and Medicare Advantage Plans. Kelly has a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Arts in Applied Sociology from the University of Central Florida. She uses her content production experience and health insurance expertise to deliver informative articles.
MH
Edited by Megan Hull
MH
Web Content Editor
Megan Hull is committed to creating quality content that fills in knowledge gaps and improves people’s lives. Previously, she worked at one of the nation’s largest behavioral health care providers and has written content for medical practices across the country. She went to school at the University of Central Florida, where she studied English with a focus in technical communications and literature. Megan geeks out on psychology, cooking and secondhand finds.
Updated: May 22, 2024
Advertising & Editorial Disclosure
When searching for the best health insurance during pregnancy, it's important to find a plan with a broad network of health care providers that covers the care you need at a reasonable price. Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), pregnant women cannot be denied health insurance due to their pregnancy. However, because pregnancy doesn't qualify you for a Special Enrollment period, it's crucial to secure coverage for your pre and postnatal care.
Why Trust MoneyGeek? We downloaded plan data directly from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
Plan data was updated with the CMS exchange data released in October for the 2023 enrollment period.
210 Providers Compared 4639 Plans AnalyzedHaving health insurance can provide peace of mind and financial support throughout your pregnancy and childbirth journey. Pregnancy and maternity care are considered essential health benefits under the ACA. Coverage typically includes prenatal care, hospital delivery and postpartum care; specific covered services may include doctor visits, lab tests, ultrasounds and maternity check-ups. In some cases, childbirth classes and educational resources may also be covered. Medicaid offers coverage for pregnancy and childbirth for eligible low-income individuals.
Although maternity care is an essential health benefit, reviewing your insurance policy to understand the extent of coverage, deductibles and copays is still important, as some plans may have waiting periods or require pre-authorization for certain procedures.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN MATERNITY INSURANCEConsider the following when selecting health insurance for pregnancy:
These factors will help ensure adequate coverage and support during your pregnancy journey.
The cost of having a baby can vary significantly depending on various factors such as the type of delivery (vaginal or cesarean), location, health care provider, insurance coverage and any complications that may arise during pregnancy and childbirth. Overall, the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) discovered that people who give birth spend on average an extra $18,865 in health-related expenses over three years than those who do not have children; this number increases to $26,280 for cesarian deliveries. Fortunately, insurance covers most of these expenses, but that doesn’t mean that pregnancy is free. Consider the following costs:
The cost of regular check-ups, tests and screenings during pregnancy can range from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars. This cost may be covered by insurance, but out-of-pocket expenses such as copayments and deductibles may still apply.
The cost of delivery can vary substantially depending on whether it is a vaginal or cesarean delivery. Vaginal deliveries generally cost less than cesarean deliveries. Without insurance, the average cost for a vaginal delivery can be in the tens of thousands of dollars; with insurance, the cost can still vary widely.
The cost of hospital charges for the mother and baby's stay can vary significantly based on the length of the hospital stay, any additional medical interventions and the specific hospital's pricing structure. Hospital charges can amount to several thousand dollars or more.
Anesthesia and Medications
If anesthesia is required during delivery or if pain medications are administered, these costs can add several hundred to several thousand dollars to the overall expenses.
Following delivery, there may be additional costs for postpartum care, including follow-up visits, medications and any necessary treatments or procedures.
KFF estimated that out-of-pocket costs for a traditional delivery are $2,854 and $3,214 for a C-section. However, this will vary widely depending on your plan type and specifics. Be sure to check with your insurance provider to understand your specific coverages and any potential out-of-pocket costs you may be responsible for.
Ensure you're getting the best rate for your health insurance. Compare quotes from the top insurance companies.
Why do we need ZIP code?When considering health insurance options for pregnancy, it's important to evaluate the cost and coverage provided by different plans. If a pregnant person doesn't qualify for cost reductions offered by Silver plans, opting for a higher premium plan may be a sensible choice.
For example, let's consider a 26-year-old pregnant woman paying an average premium cost of $612 for a Platinum plan. In a year, she would spend approximately $7,344 on premiums. With a maximum out-of-pocket (MOOP) limit of $2,503, her total estimated expenses for premiums and MOOP would amount to around $9,847. Once the MOOP is reached, all her health costs will be covered.
On the other hand, a Bronze plan with an average monthly cost of $335 (or $4,020 per year) and a higher MOOP of $9,060 would result in an estimated total cost of $13,080 for the year if the MOOP is met.
By comparing these scenarios, it becomes evident that although the Platinum plan incurs higher upfront costs, it offers more comprehensive coverage and potentially lower overall expenses for a pregnant woman compared to a Bronze plan.
The best health insurance providers for pregnancy will offer a wide range of plan types, providing extensive coverage options at reasonable costs for new families. MoneyGeek identified five top health insurance providers by looking at out-of-pocket and monthly costs, claims denials and plan types. They include Oscar, Ambetter, Cigna, Blue Cross Blue Shield and United Healthcare. From competitive premiums to extensive networks and tailored benefits, these insurance providers prioritize the unique needs of pregnant individuals. Consider the following average Silver plan cost examples for a 26-year-old policyholder offered by each of these providers.
How Did MoneyGeek Calculate These Scores?
MoneyGeek's ranking of health insurance providers is based on various factors, including premiums, out-of-pocket expenses, claims denial rates and plan selection.
MoneyGeek scores were weighted as follows:
Under the ACA, Silver marketplace plans are eligible for cost-sharing reductions (CSRs) for those with low income. These CSRs are designed to reduce out-of-pocket costs for eligible individuals and families by lowering deductibles, copayments and co-insurance. However, not everyone will qualify for a low-income plan. To be eligible, individuals must have an income that falls within the range of 100% to 250% of the federal poverty level or 139% to 250% in states with Medicaid expansion. The specific cost-sharing reductions depend on the individual's income level, with greater assistance provided to those with lower incomes. These reductions aim to make health care services more affordable and accessible for qualified individuals and families.
In the context of CSRs, there are three specific AV levels that correspond to different levels of financial assistance. The AV level, or actuarial value level, measures the percentage of total costs a plan is expected to cover for the average enrollee. The higher the AV level, the more comprehensive the coverage and the lower the out-of-pocket costs for the individual. The three AV levels include:
These reductions can significantly lower out-of-pocket expenses for eligible individuals, making health care more affordable and accessible.
