It can be extremely difficult to obtain; to find out your options, you really need to speak with an experienced health insurance broker. It's not totally impossible to obtain, but there are some qualifications and restrictions that aren't understood by many insurance applicants.
Why is maternity leave difficult to obtain? If you happen to be the beneficiary of group health insurance that has maternity leave as one of the benefits, then you are in fairly good shape. However, if you are searching for individual insurance, you're well aware that maternity leave often isn't covered under common insurance plans. Again it is not totally impossible to get, you just need to be aware of the parameters of your coverage. Coverage for maternity leave is difficult to obtain, as many insurance companies would prefer to decline offering this kind of benefit on an individual basis as opposed to a group medical insurance situation.
Employers are required to treat pregnant women the same as other workers who can't perform their usual work for a period of time. For example, if the boss allows a worker medical leave for a broken arm or pneumonia, pregnant women must get leave under the same terms and conditions. Leave of this nature is protected under the auspices of a federal act, the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).
Health insurance. Everyone needs it, but not everyone has it. And with medical expenses on a seemingly endless rise, paying out-of-pocket for them could land you in the poor house. So when choosing a health insurance plan, it's good to know the basics to help you make better, more financially sound choices when selecting a plan.
Health insurance plans generally fall into one of three categories: indemnity plans, also known as reimbursement plans, preferred provider plans (PPOs), and managed care plans (HMOs).
An indemnity plan allows you to choose your own doctors and it completely pays for your medical expenses, either in full or according to a schedule of benefits. The schedule of benefits may be substantially less than your actual costs. Preferred provider plans and managed care plans can provide broader coverage, but they involve an arrangement between the insurer and a specified network of health-care providers. In addition, managed care plans require pre-approval of many health care services. For example, an HMO may require that a primary care physician in its network coordinate all of your care as well as refer you to specialists that belong exclusively to the network.
Note that the federal act does two things. First, it requires certain employers to provide parenting, family and medical leave for qualified employees. Second, it sets the cap for unpaid medical leave at a maximum of twelve weeks for qualified employees. The key is being qualified. A person must be working at a company with 50 or more workers, and must have worked there for at least one year and at least 1,250 hours during the year before taking leave.
No matter which kind of health insurance you buy, make sure it provides you with the right kinds of coverage. And when it comes to coverage, a good health insurance plan should offer several types. For example, hospital expense insurance pays room and board as well as incidental services costs if you're hospitalized. A surgical expense insurance covers surgeons' fees and all other related costs. A physicians' expense insurance policy pays for visits to a doctor's office or when a doctor's visits you in the hospital. Finally, major medical insurance offers very broad coverage with an extremely high maximum benefit that's designed to protect you against losses due to serious illness or injury.
So what might be covered in a health insurance plan? When comparing plans, make sure they provide additional benefits that you may need, including: o Prescription drugs o Preventive care o Mental health benefits o Maternity care o Vision care
This kind of leave does apply equally to men or women and covers situations like birth or adoption, acquiring foster children, taking care of a seriously ill family member or dealing with a serious health situation. Those using FMLA leave provisions are not entitled to the same benefits while on leave; however, benefits acquired prior to the leave stay with the employee.
To find out how an individual may apply for maternity leave benefits, as well as the qualifications and requirements, contact your local insurance broker for information.
And what can all this cost? In addition to the monthly premium expense, there may be other out-of-pocket expenses that can really add up, especially if you have children or other family members who make frequent visits a doctor. You should check to see if the health insurance plan you're considering asks you to pay any or all of the following: o Co-payment The amount paid for each visit to a health insurance provider. This is generally required by HMOs. o Deductible The amount paid toward your medical expenses, most probably annually, before the insurance company pays any claims. This is generally required by indemnity plans. o Coinsurance The percentage of your medical costs paid after reaching any applied deductibles.
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