Health Insurance Question (obgyn, 2009, price)

[AmyAmysue]

I have been doing some research, reading blogs, etc., because I am considering relocating outside of Florida. Today, while reading national news items I came across a link about BC/BS in North Carolina. Have any of you had experience with them excluding pre-existing conditions or maternity coverage in N.C?

[roguesmom]

coverage...i remember how very expensive it was back in 2001! you should definetly give them a call to find out what their maternity policy is like now. BCBS said then that we had to have maternity coverage BEFORE conception (yeah, thats getting pricey if you dont conceive right away!). we could only add it in a specific month (policy requirement).

the coverage was good. i was able to use the obgyn i was with for a previous pregnancy, it covered an expensive 2 hour ultrasound & the post maternal coverage was good. back then, i think the coverage was close to $300 per month, which was almost as much as we were paying for my husband (self employed), myself & our 1st son. we got maternity rates from other policies & while we found some slighty cheaper maternity rates, the coverage wasnt great & they wanted us to switch our regular health care insurance over to them...and their regular rates were alot more than what we were paying.
there should be a way you can compare rates for diff companies, via the internet....but just make sure to take a very close look at whats covered and whats not. good luck!

[Lori1961]

With BCBSNC, you can only add maternity coverage to your policy either at the original effective date, or once you have been on the plan for 6 months, then you can it during the open enrollment month which is November. As far as preexisting conditions go, as long as you dont have more than a 63 day lapse in between when your last coverage ended and when you apply for the new policy, they will cover those preexisting conditions. But having preexisting conditions may make your rate higher than the rates you are originally quoted.

[AmyAmysue]

Thank you both for your reply. I am a grandmother now, but it says a lot about a company that's drifting away from what has traditionally been basic coverage. Back when, women who were not considering child bearing could simply get an exclusion from maternity coverage, and a nominal discount.
I was a nurse for many years, and I've had a great deal of interest in the public debate about health insurance, and I find it most interesting that the corporate insurers aren't actually wanting to compete. Sorry I didn't link to the article in the OP.

BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina's Desperate Attempt To Deceive | Media Matters Action Network

[adlnc07]

Originally Posted by AmyAmysue

Back when, women who were not considering child bearing could simply get an exclusion from maternity coverage, and a nominal discount.

I don't have maternity coverage included in my individual BC/BS policy by choice and I pay a lower premium as a result. I wouldn't say it's just a "nominal discount," but then again, having a baby isn't exactly an inexpensive either.