No. * In the past, insurance companies could turn you down if you applied for coverage while you were pregnant. At that time, many health plans considered pregnancy a pre-existing condition. Health plans can no longer deny you coverage if you are pregnant.

What is considered late prenatal care?

Late or no prenatal care is calculated as the percentage of births that occur to mothers who, on their child’s birth certificate, reported receiving prenatal care only in the third trimester of their pregnancy or no prenatal care.

What happens if you never go to the doctor while pregnant?

Women without prenatal care are seven times more likely give birth to premature babies, and five times more likely to have infants who die. The consequences are not only poor health, but also higher cost passed down to taxpayers.

When do you get your first prenatal visit?

Prenatal care is the medical care you receive during pregnancy. Prenatal care visits start early on in your pregnancy and continue regularly until you deliver the baby.

Why is pregnancy considered a pre-existing condition in health insurance?

Furthermore, pregnancy was considered a pre-existing condition, meaning maternity coverage was either unavailable to women who were already pregnant when they enrolled, or would cost more.

When did health insurance become mandatory for pregnant women?

Health insurance for pregnancy, labor, delivery, and newborn baby care became mandatory in 2014 under the Affordable Care Act.

What do you need to know about health insurance during pregnancy?

Besides delivery and inpatient hospital services, your insurance typically should (though it may not always) cover: • Prenatal services, health screenings, lab work, ultrasounds and birthing classes across all three trimesters. • Treatment for medical conditions that could complicate the pregnancy (e.g., diabetes).