I'm writing about a 21-year-old college student who is pregnant. She is covered under her parents' plan, but the baby will not have any coverage when it is born. Is there a health insurance plan that can be purchased to cover the baby when it is born, or shortly after birth? The student is not employed.

V.I.

Insurance plans treat circumstances like this differently, and it is important for people facing this situation to call their insurance carrier for specific guidance on the treatment of the issue. The most important matter before the birth of the baby is not to determine whether the insurance will cover the baby when it is born, but to make sure that the pregnant woman is receiving prenatal care. The health of the mother and the baby is far more important than the financial arrangements.
As for the insurance questions, the best place to turn is to the insurance company. The first question to ask is whether the family's insurance plan includes pregnancy benefits. If it does not, this discussion is moot. It is unlikely that a pregnant person will find maternity coverage, and the family -- along with the father of the child -- will need to bear the cost. If the current coverage includes maternity benefits, the second question is how the insurance plan treats the baby of a dependent child. It may be that the postpartum care will be covered. If not, perhaps the insurance carrier will issue coverage on the child when it is born. Most insurers in the non-group market offer options for child-only coverage.

There is a federal/state program called the Children's Health Insurance Program that provides insurance coverage to children of low-income families. The fact that the pregnant woman is not employed, however, is irrelevant. She is a dependent of her parents. Unless her family meets the low-income requirements for the program in their state, this program will provide no help.

The best plan of action is to determine how the woman's current insurance treats a dependent's pregnancy. If a separate plan is needed to cover the baby when it is born, call an insurance broker for information on child-only coverage. It is readily available and relatively inexpensive.

There is another alternative to pursue. Normally, insurance plans cover dependent children while they are students until age 22. At that time, the children must find their own insurance coverage. It is advisable for the pregnant woman to secure her personal health insurance policy following the delivery of her baby. If she continues to be a student, most colleges have a student health insurance plan that is very affordable. Otherwise, if the young woman has been continuously covered, she can probably get a conversion plan from the family's carrier or another company.

If it so happens that the maternity costs must be borne by the family and the baby's father, negotiate with the hospital and the obstetrician for an affordable rate. It is likely that they will try to work with you.