All Nevada Health Link and Medicaid plans cover pregnancy and childbirth. This is true even if your pregnancy begins before your coverage takes effect.
IMPORTANT: Having a baby qualifies you for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP)
If you already have Nevada Health Link coverage when your baby is born, you can do one of two things:
- Keep your current plan and add your child to your coverage
- Change to a different Nevada Health Link plan
Private health plans and pregnancy:
- Maternity care and childbirth, services provided before and after your child is born, are essential health benefits. This means all qualified health plans sold by Nevada Health Link must cover them.
- You get this coverage even if you were pregnant before your coverage starts. Under the health care law, pre-existing conditions such as pregnancy are covered.
- Health plans sold by Nevada Health Link must provide a Summary of Benefits and Coverage document. Page 7 of most summaries spells out how plans cover the costs of childbirth.
Maternity and childbirth under Medicaid and Nevada Check Up:
Maternity care and childbirth are covered by Medicaid and Nevada Check Up. These programs cover pregnant women and their children below certain income levels.
You can apply for Medicaid or Nevada Check Up any time during the year. See if you qualify for Medicaid.