Title: Question about Cancelling Girlfriend’s Health Insurance After Our Baby’s Birth
Hi everyone,
My girlfriend and I just welcomed our baby a week ago, and we’re looking to transition both her and the baby onto my employer’s health insurance plan, which is significantly more affordable than her current individual plan.
To give you some background, my girlfriend has a comprehensive yet costly health insurance plan that she obtained through the Marketplace specifically to cover the expenses related to the birth.
My question is: Can we safely cancel her Marketplace plan now that the baby is here? Her plan has already covered charges for both her and the baby leading up to and following the birth. If we cancel, what happens to those charges? Will they be rejected and retroactively billed to my insurance?
Thanks for your help!
It’s great to hear about the arrival of your baby! When it comes to health insurance, it’s important to navigate the transition carefully to avoid any gaps in coverage.
Before cancelling your girlfriend’s Marketplace plan, there are a few steps to consider:
Effective Date: Check when your health insurance plan will officially cover your girlfriend and baby. Make sure that the new plan is active before you cancel her Marketplace coverage.
Marketplace Guidelines: Generally, once your girlfriend cancels her Marketplace plan, she will no longer be eligible for that coverage. However, if she cancels her Marketplace insurance without having another plan in place, it could leave her or the baby uninsured for any services rendered after cancellation.
Billing Concerns: If you cancel her Marketplace plan after their birth but before it’s transitioned to your plan, there could be issues with charges that overlap. Usually, if her plan is cancelled and services were provided, those charges should be covered under the insurance active at the time of service. However, it’s vital to confirm with both the Marketplace and your employer’s insurance provider to clarify any potential retroactive billing.
Invoke Special Enrollment: Since you’ve recently welcomed a new baby, you should be eligible for a Special Enrollment Period. This allows you to enroll both your girlfriend and the baby on your plan without penalties.
Communicate with Insurers: It is highly advisable to contact both the Marketplace customer service and your employer’s HR or insurance department. They can provide guidance specific to your situation and ensure there’s no overlap or confusion in coverage.
In summary, don’t rush to cancel her Marketplace plan until you’re sure that your new plan is in effect and covers everything needed. This way, you can ensure that both your girlfriend and the baby have continuous coverage without any gaps.