Thanks!

Hi AP,

One year leave?  That must be nice! 

Hi Sandy,

Thanks for the tips!  Will try to enjoy the new addition.  So many things to think about! 

I'm in charge of benefits at my company.  She should speak to HR as soon as she can.  Your HR department might already have a maternity packet of information that they can provide to your wife in advance of her leave.  New babies are exciting for the family, but the bills come in soon!

You should find out from the health insurance company if there is anything that you need to do head of time.  Some insurance companies require you to basically register your pregnancy ahead of time so that they can get documents out to you ahead of time. You should also check that your doctor and hospital is covered by your insurance plan.

Get all of your documents ready for STD, if you are covered.  If your wife had signed up for supplemental STD that will help as well.  If she's going to be out long, she should remember FMLA and request that as well as any long term supplemental leaves that your company might cover.

When the bills start coming in, stay on top of them.  They pile up quickly.  Submit them to your insurance company timely (within 30 days) as well.

Finally, enjoy the addition!

Good luck!

Lucky you!  That's amazing benefits.

Hi Amanda,

Thanks!

Thanks for the advice.  Sad how your company didn't want to help.  Their loss!

Hi Jai,

Thanks!  Perhaps I can make cool baby vids like you.

Hi FKOnline,

I've nudged my wife to go to her HR for help.  Thank you!

Unfortunately, IF you miss the deadline the insurance company won't budge….EVER!

 

Just to follow up, in my case, when I called the insurance company, they were willing to cover my baby.  It was my EMPLOYER who wouldn't budge.  In fact, the insurance agent thought it was ridiculous.  That is part of why it was easy to quit my job after my maternity leave was up.  :)

Wow. I bend over backwards for my employees. I could not image now working with them. Based on my limited experience, it is always the insurance companies that are the strict ones. If you don't mind me asking, was the company a large one?

Unfortunately, IF you miss the deadline the insurance company won't budge….EVER!

Just to follow up, in my case, when I called the insurance company, they were willing to cover my baby.  It was my EMPLOYER who wouldn't budge.  In fact, the insurance agent thought it was ridiculous.  That is part of why it was easy to quit my job after my maternity leave was up.  :)

Like Melissa said above, you MUST add your baby within 30 days or you will have to wait until the open enrollment period AND pre-existing conditions may apply (i.e. how the insurance company cheats). Most doctors require a 5 or 7 day check up so I would have thought your doctor would have submitted something to the insurance company (on behalf of the baby and not the mom) before the 30 days. Unfortunately, IF you miss the deadline the insurance company won't budge....EVER!

The best practice is to simply bother the heck out of your wife's HR department. If they do not answer you, show up at the office and make them take the time to explain it to you completely. It is the HR's responsibility (in my opinion) to help protect their employees the best they can!

My employer's HR office didn't tell me that I had to put the baby on my health insurance within 30 days.  I thought it was automatic until I started getting billing calls.  I called HR on the 33rd day and was then told I had to have done it within 30 days, so they refused to cover the baby until the open enrollment period.  Since it is impossible to get coverage for an infant without covering the mother (because I was still covered by my employer), my daughter had to go on state coverage for the first 8 months of her life.

Make sure your wife knows all the ins and outs of insurance, maternity leave, etc. so she doesn't end up inadvertently doing something wrong.