People come to USA on different visas for various purposes like research, higher education, business, vacation, job, visiting family. There are times when people come on visas like J1, F1…with their spouses on J2 visa and F2 visa accompanying them to the US.
Normally the J1 visa and F1 visa holders who are the primary holders get health insurance coverage from the University or School that they are enrolled in. Sometimes they go in search of private health insurance plans which satisfy the requirements of the University/School and any insurance needs of the visa that they hold.
They might need coverage for their spouse alone sometimes. Few private health insurance plans do cover the J2 and F2 Visa holders alone without the J1 and F1 being on the plan. Sometime we face situations where the spouse is pregnant and going to give birth in the US.
Health Insurance plans for J1 visa and Student Health Insurance or international student insurance plans suitable for J1 and F1 provide coverage for maternity ONLY if the conception has occurred after the plan is effective. Few of the plans do not have maternity coverage. Going through the plan in detail is the key to know the availability of benefits.
There is another aspect that needs attention for the spouse who is pregnant and is going to give birth in the US. The baby born in US is going to be US citizen and it is important for the parents who are on J Visa, F Visa or any other status to know that private health insurance plans do not cover this new baby in US as the baby is now US citizen. Only domestic health insurance plans will cover the baby in the US.
In the United States, many health insurance plans provide temporary newborn coverage under the mother’s policy for the first 30 days after birth. This initial coverage generally include:
To ensure continuous coverage beyond the first 30 days parents must add the baby to an existing health insurance plan or purchase a separate newborn insurance policy within this enrollment window. Parents who miss this deadline will face a situation where their baby lacks insurance coverage which will force them to wait until the next open enrollment period or a qualifying life event to obtain coverage.
The cost of health insurance related to a newborn born in the United States depends on who is being insured and what type of health insurance plan is used. These plans are primarily designed to cover the student or dependent parent, and may provide limited or temporary newborn benefits such as routine care during the first few days or weeks after birth.
The average cost of health insurance for 20 years old student for one month typically ranges from $48 to $269
| Plan name | Medical Maximum | Deductible | New born care | Cost* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student Journey Plus | $300,000 | $250 | up to $500 maximum | $48 |
| Student Secure Budget | $500,000 | $0 | Up to $250 maximum | $53 |
| Student Secure Select | $1,000,000 | $0 | Up to $750 maximum | $106 |
| Student Secure Elite | $5,000,000 | $0 | Up to $750 maximum | $181 |
| Student health advantage Platinum | $1,000,000 | $100 | Newborn routine care during the first 31 days of life | $269 |
When you have a baby in the USA, potential benefits include:
Costs for maternity and newborn care can be high without proper health insurance. It's essential to confirm coverage and benefits with your insurance provider
If your baby is not added to a health insurance plan within 30 days of birth:
For international students and visitors, timely enrollment is especially important as coverage rules vary by insurance provider.
Yes, newborn babies can be covered by health insurance, but it depends on the type of insurance:
Always check your policy for specific details regarding newborn coverage to ensure your baby is fully covered.
If your baby is not added to a health insurance plan within 30 days of birth:
Understanding these exclusions helps parents plan better and avoid unexpected expenses.
“ After rigorous searching for suitable student health insurances online, I stumbled upon the American visitor Insurance website and the customer representatives were really patient and helpful in guiding me with the best plan that suits me. ”
Anirudh
“ We want to appreciate the fine service provided by your friendly employees from the NJ office, in helping us navigate insurance plans and successfully purchase plans for my parents. They are extremely courteous, patient, efficient and knowledgeable. ”
Sheela
“ Your customer service provided me with perfect service and helped me very much to find policy I needed (for J2 visa). She was very polite and answered all my questions. I'm fully satisfied with the service. Thank you very much! ”
Amanda
It is safest to have the best student health insurance which can also provide coverage for maternity and childbirth. Depending on your visa and circumstances, your baby might be eligible for coverage under your current insurance or through state programs, however it is prudent to have proper international student health insurance.
In most cases, no. Newborns must be added to a student or international health insurance plan within 30–31 days of birth. If this window is missed, late enrollment is usually not allowed. Additionally, since a baby born in the USA is a U.S. citizen, international student insurance plans do not provide long-term coverage, and the baby must be enrolled in a U.S. domestic health insurance plan.
Student health Insurance is typically for unplanned events, so these plans do not provide maternity coverage immediately on buying the student insurance plans and usually have a waiting period before they provide any maternity benefits. The cost of childbirth can cost anywhere from $18,000 to $25,000 if it is normal vaginal birth and for C section it can be anywhere from $26,000 to $38,000. Going to the US for studies can be an exciting experience but pregnancy and maternity that involves significant financial investment that need to be covered by insurance. Considering the expensive healthcare in the US, knowing more about the available health insurance plans and their maternity benefits is an important task while purchasing a health insurance plan.
Covering maternity and childbirth starts with covering the pregnancy. There are 3 stages:
Yes. If your student or international insurance does not cover your newborn, you can purchase a separate health insurance policy for the baby. Because a baby born in the U.S. is a U.S. citizen, you should enroll the child in a U.S. domestic health insurance plan rather than an international student plan. Options include employer-sponsored family coverage, ACA Marketplace plans (special enrollment due to birth), or state programs like Medicaid/CHIP if eligible.
Not having health insurance means paying for expensive healthcare costs out of your own pocket. This includes routine check-ups, vaccinations, immunizations, preventive care and much more. For new parents, not having health insurance after 30 days of birth means limited access to postpartum care for the mother and preventive care for the newborn. Unforeseen medical emergencies may be a very expensive matter to handle without insurance.
Health insurance often covers preventive services, routine check ups, vaccinations, immunizations, screenings... These services are crucial for detecting potential health issues early and for overall well being.
Depending on the country and state, there may be legal requirements or penalties for not having health insurance.
Yes. They can give birth in the US. The 14th amendment in the US constitution has guaranteed the right of birthright citizenship where those who are born in the US will be granted the US citizenship regardless of the nationality of the parents.
The cost of childbirth and maternity in the US varies widely depending on where the individual lives and the insurance coverage for that area. Average Childbirth Costs in the USA Without Insurance
These figures represent national averages and may be significantly higher in certain states or hospitals.
Many of the domestic healthcare plans like the Cigna, Blue Cross Blue shield, Aetna provide very good coverage for pregnancy, child delivery and maternity. However, if you are not a resident in the US and you are visiting the US for a short time, the US travel insurance plans available do not cover the pregnancy, childbirth and maternity and it can have some legal implications where your Visa can be denied if your intention for visiting US is only related to child birth.
There are student medical insurance plans which do offer coverage for maternity. Some of the international student health insurance for the international students coming to the US on the student Visa that provide some coverage for pregnancy, and maternity only for the covered pregnancy(there might be a waiting period of 6 months to 12 months depending on the plan).
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