Where to Get Cheap Maternity Health Insurance

Government Programs

• The estimated cost of having a baby is between $6,000 and $8,000 for a normal delivery, and high risk pregnancies cost significantly more. Luckily there are places women can get cheap maternity health insurance. Some pregnant women are eligible for Medicaid. Different states offer different options, and you can check out americanpregnancy.org for more information about local programs that might be beneficial to you.
  
  Another government program to consider is WIC. The goal of this program is to help low income women, infants and children by providing nutritious food as well as health care referrals. For more information, go to fns.usda.gov/wic/.
  
  California, Colorado, Florida, Texas and Utah offer state-sponsored maternity health centers. There are also health insurance companies that offer maternity supplemental insurance in all 50 states. Many states also offer Children's Health Insurance Program that sometimes includes maternity coverage. Be aware that these programs often have income restrictions.
  
  

Discount Health Care Programs

• If you don't qualify for the government programs mentioned above, you still may be eligible for discounted alternatives to traditional health insurance. A couple you may want to consider include Maternity Advantage™ and AmeriPlan. Maternity Advantage can save you up to 60% on doctor's visits, lab work, sonograms, your hospital stay and other related maternity expenses. You can request free information by visiting their Web site, americanpregnancy.org, or by calling (800) 450-0183. AmeriPlan is a discount plan that saves people up to 50% on their health care services. Benefits include physician visits, hospital stays, lab work, tests and x-rays. AmeriPlan is not insurance, so it covers pregnancy as a pre-existing condition. It also offers the following advantages: no deductibles, no waiting periods, no claim forms and no annual limits. For more information go to the AmeriPlan Web site at ameriplan.com or call (800) 647-8421.
  
  You might also consider Affordable HealthCare Options, which offers a nationwide network of providers who accept The Maternity Card, which covers prenatal vitamins, 24-hour nurse availability, around-the-clock counseling, doctor visits, sonograms, lab work, hospital stays, anesthesiologist, newborn check ups, inoculations and fertility/sterilization procedures and therapy.
  
  

Other Options

• Many hospitals will set up a payment plan if you contact them and let them know what you want to do. You might also consider a birthing center rather than a hospital if you anticipate an uncomplicated delivery, especially since it is about half as expensive as a hospital stay. Many birthing centers also provide sliding scales depending on income as well as a variety of payment plans.