https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 08 Apr 2026 18:52:21 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/switching-insurance-after-baby-arrives#post-2752211 Mon, 26 Jun 2017 16:19:04 +0000 2littlepumpkins 2752211@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't know if this is the same thing but we have insurance through DH's work and I remember reading that the only other times except open enrollment that he can add people are the birth or adoption of a dependent (only the child, not the mother) or getting married. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/switching-insurance-after-baby-arrives#post-2752140 Mon, 26 Jun 2017 14:27:42 +0000 MamaCate 2752140@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@littlejoy: that sounds complicated--it is so annoying! But it does seem very subject to interpretation. I hope the switch is easy after the new baby comes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/switching-insurance-after-baby-arrives#post-2752048 Mon, 26 Jun 2017 12:14:20 +0000 littlejoy 2752048@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MamaCate: There's something else about us (him?) going from an individual plan to a group plan. I am still so confused, but apparently LO1 doesn't qualify ... thankfully, open enrollment starts 90 days after LO2 is born, and we can all be on one plan starting January 1. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/switching-insurance-after-baby-arrives#post-2751692 Sat, 24 Jun 2017 16:36:13 +0000 MamaCate 2751692@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@littlejoy: I am just seeing this. I tried to switch DD and myself to DH's plan after DD was born. I was told it was only a "qualifying event" in that it allowed me to add the baby. We just left the kids on my plan until open enrollment. But it wasted a lot of money.</p> <p>But it seems like there are different interpretations of these rules. This year DH is switching jobs so we need to put everyone on my plan temporarily until he is benefits elegible. Last time that happened, HR told me that they couldn't switch us back until open enrollment. This time they said they can take us back off the plan when he is eligible no problem. This is a different HR person than last time. So it seems like it should be clear but is not. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/switching-insurance-after-baby-arrives#post-2751494 Fri, 23 Jun 2017 16:43:23 +0000 sunny 2751494@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Shouldn't your LO1 be able to qualify due to "loss of coverage"? If you cancel her plan... didn't she lose coverage? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/switching-insurance-after-baby-arrives#post-2751483 Fri, 23 Jun 2017 16:04:07 +0000 Bibliolove 2751483@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@littlejoy: I think for employer-based plans, I can't leave my plan unless there is a qualified life event or open enrollment. Don't quote me on that though :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/switching-insurance-after-baby-arrives#post-2751480 Fri, 23 Jun 2017 15:59:06 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2751480@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@littlejoy: your employment status shouldn't factor into it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/switching-insurance-after-baby-arrives#post-2751476 Fri, 23 Jun 2017 15:53:18 +0000 Bibliolove 2751476@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I thought all dependents were able to switch? I would press them on this. This is definitely a qualified event, and mandated by federal law. It doesn't make sense that you can switch into his plan and not your LO. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/switching-insurance-after-baby-arrives#post-2751473 Fri, 23 Jun 2017 15:48:01 +0000 littlejoy 2751473@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@T.H.O.U.: Since I am self-employed, I am technically unemployed for a few months after baby is born. I wonder how that part factors in. I didn't really even think about this being *his* situation from the perspective of his insurance company. </p> <p>Because really, you can LEAVE any insurance plan at anytime, right? This is a matter of HIS insurance company allowing him to switch to a family plan because he had a baby. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/switching-insurance-after-baby-arrives#post-2751470 Fri, 23 Jun 2017 15:44:06 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2751470@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would think of it this way (or try to explain it this way).</p> <p>DH is the employee<br /> He is having a qualifying life event (birth of a child)<br /> This allows him to change HIS insurance plan.<br /> He will choose to change from an individual plan to a family plan (or really should be whatever he chooses). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/switching-insurance-after-baby-arrives#post-2751467 Fri, 23 Jun 2017 15:36:13 +0000 Revel 2751467@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree with you both and I think his HR is wrong - my understanding of qualifying event was that it enables you to make any changes to all applicable benefits. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/switching-insurance-after-baby-arrives#post-2751465 Fri, 23 Jun 2017 15:32:24 +0000 littlejoy 2751465@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@peachykeen: That's exactly the situation (same $ no matter how many dependents). I'm pressing them harder ... it makes no sense that a mom could switch, but a 3 year old would be the solo subscriber on their own plan? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/switching-insurance-after-baby-arrives#post-2751459 Fri, 23 Jun 2017 15:26:57 +0000 peachykeen 2751459@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm not sure if it varies by state, but I'm pretty sure your HR/insurance people are mistaken. Assuming you would be moving to a family plan where the cost is the same with 1 dependent or several, I think you should be able to switch LO1 too. DH asked his company if we can do this when DD2 is born next month and they assured him that we could. Maybe call the insurance company directly?</p> <p>This site seems to support this idea (see the table halfway down):<br /> <a href="http://www.insure.com/health-insurance/special-enrollment-period.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.insure.com/health-insurance/special-enrollment-period.html</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/switching-insurance-after-baby-arrives#post-2751447 Fri, 23 Jun 2017 15:09:45 +0000 littlejoy 2751447@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DH has free health insurance through his work, and LO1 and I pay for an individual plan (I am self-employed, and it's cheaper this way). But, with LO2 arriving in August, we were planning to switch to DH's plan ... it will cost us money, but the plan is better than our current individual plan and we'll save a bit. I was under the impression that having a baby is a life qualifying event (meaning we could switch insurance at that time). </p> <p>He heard back from HR (and their insurance rep) this morning that having the baby qualifies me and the baby to switch, but not LO1 (as she'd be considered as a voluntary loss of coverage). This doesn't make sense to me, and seems incorrect. She's a dependent!! Do any of you have experience? </p>