Maternity care and childbirth are essential health benefits, which means that they are covered by all health plans sold through Pennie. You are eligible for these benefits, regardless of whether your pregnancy began before your coverage started. Each health plan sold through Pennie must have a Summary of Benefits and Coverage, which includes a description of how the plan covers the cost of childbirth.
Please note that the birth of a child is a Qualifying Life Event (QLE), which triggers a Special Enrollment Period (SEP). During a SEP, existing customers may add or drop dependents and/or change plans, and new customers may enroll for the first time. Please refer to this FAQ for additional information on reporting QLEs and submitting enrollment changes.
Maternity care and childbirth are also covered by Medicaid (Medical Assistance or MA) for individuals below certain income levels. Once the baby is born, they may be eligible for Medicaid or CHIP. You can apply for Medicaid or CHIP at any time during the year. See if you qualify for Medicaid.