[jf5505]

Hello Everyone,

So we just had our Home study visit and now are starting the profile and dear bmom letter.

My worry came last night when I was watching the movie Bella, really great movie about adoption if you have not seen it. Anyway, I don't think my insurance will cover an adopted baby until they have all the paperwork saying it is final, so I wonder if this means you have to pay for all the shots, visits, etc...out of pocket or if there is a way around this??

Any advice you can give me???

[kelceesmom]

I would call your insurance directly so you know exactly what to expect. Our insurance covered from the time of placement. I couldn't have afforded to cover the cost of doctors visit as it was almost a year until we finalized and lots of dr visits in between.

They should be able to outline it directly for you and ask to have a copy sent to you.

[devildogwife]

Our insurance also covered from time of placement, which was at my son's birth. Adopted children are covered just like bio children.

[HappyTwinsMom]

I may be wrong, but I think insurance companies have to cover adopted children from placement. Otherwise, it's discrimination. Our insurance company at the time the girls were born tried to say they wouldn't cover until finalization. When I responded with "So what you're telling me is that you're discriminating against my family because I was unable to conceive and give birth? Perhaps I should consult my attorney." - their tune changed rapidly. Our girls were covered from birth - thank goodness, because their 29-day NICU stay totalled just shy of $130,000!

Good luck!

[mama_again]

We were covered from the beginning as well, but needed to update as we recieved final docs, birth certificate and SSN. It's just a matter of going to your payroll office. Our pediatrician was great as well, they would wait until all was final to refile if needed, but we didn't need too since all was covered, but it was a blessing to have a great ped.

[meghann]

From the US Department of Labor Web site:

Important Facts When Adopting

Contact your health plan or your spouse’s health plan as soon as possible to find out how to enroll your child in group health plan coverage.

As long as you enroll your child within 30 days of adoption or placement for adoption, coverage should be effective as of your child’s adoption or placement date and your child cannot be subject to a preexisting condition exclusion.

Remember, you should enroll your child within 30 days of the date of adoption or placement for adoption.

Protections For Newborns, Adopted Children, And New Parents

If you (or your SO) have group insurance through an employer, federal law requires that if your insurance plan covers "natural" children from birth, it MUST provide the same coverage for adopted children FROM THE TIME OF PLACEMENT. You can talk to whoever administers your health plan with the employer to find out the details of what you need to do to arrange for your child's enrollment in the plan.

[Fran27]

I wanted to say that the whole 'you have 30 days to add the kid to your insurance' thing is bogus. We went through a nightmare trying to find a pediatrician for our two when they were 2 week old (they were officially placed with us at 2 days), because they were not on our insurance yet, even if we had already added them, and lots of doctors just refused to see them. I guess being adopted + not showing on our insurance means it's too complicated for them or something.

I urge you to do it asap, but you'll probably have to pay the first month out of pocket and ask your insurance to pay you back anyway.

[jf5505]

We are on a conversion plan b/c I just lost my job, so when I called today they told me that the baby would be covered, but hopefully I can find a new job before this and be okay. The thing about it is that when looking for a job do you say, oh and I am adopting, would they hire you if you were 4 months prego? I am guessing I just need to keep it to myself if I plan on getting a job, right?

When does it get easy...

[BrandyHagz]

The "Must Cover" stuff only applies to "Group Plans" usually offered through your employer.

Self Pay plans are not required to cover adopted children and there are no 'standards' that they have to follow when deciding.

Just want to clear that up.

[meghann]

Originally Posted by jf5505

When does it get easy...

I don't think it ever does, LOL.

Originally Posted by BrandyHagz

The "Must Cover" stuff only applies to "Group Plans" usually offered through your employer.

Self Pay plans are not required to cover adopted children and there are no 'standards' that they have to follow when deciding.

Just want to clear that up.

Thanks, Brandy - I tried to make sure that was clear in what I wrote, but I found it hard to phrase it so that it made sense. The way you wrote it is much clearer.

[devildogwife]

We actually had 60 days to add our son to our insurance and we paid nothing out of pocket, so it really depends on the company. Ours was just fantastic! I spoke with them beforehand, figured out how things worked and everything went fine. Being prepared before the birth and finding a pediatrician in the area before the birth was really helpful. Our son's pediatrician knew we were adopting him and she was so easy to work with, as was her office. It really can go well. Again, it all depends on the company.

[Eponine]

Our insurance company was not so easy to work with so we are paying some ENORMOUS out of pocket costs right now.

Well, it wasn't the company so much as the judge/court system in our county. Our insurance company required the Interim Order of Adoption to add DS to our insurance and we had 30 days to supply it. Because of a lot of delay and run around with the county we couldn't get the Interim Order in time so we have to wait until open enrollment (July 1) to add DS to the insurance.....