Having a Baby? Your Insurance Checklist Starts Now

Congratulations — I’m Christopher Horne, a licensed health insurance broker serving Florida, Texas, Arizona, Ohio, Michigan, Iowa, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Missouri, South Carolina, Tennessee, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Virginia. A new baby changes your household and your coverage needs, and there is paperwork with a deadline.

The Key Deadline

Birth is generally a qualifying life event. For Marketplace coverage, you generally have 60 days from the date of birth to enroll your baby and update your application. Employer plans have their own special enrollment rules and deadlines, often shorter — check with HR right away if your coverage is through a job.

Before the Baby Arrives

• Confirm how your current plan handles prenatal care and delivery, including your hospital and doctors.
• Ask which pediatricians near you are in network.
• Review how adding a dependent changes your household on your application.
• Save important dates: due date, expected delivery location, and your plan’s contact numbers.

Right After Birth

• Write down the exact date of birth — your 60-day window runs from there.
• Start the process to add your baby to coverage; do not assume it happens automatically.
• Gather documents the plan or Marketplace asks for, which may include proof of birth.
• Choose a pediatrician and confirm network status before the first visits.
• Update your household and income information if it changed.

If You Do Not Have Coverage Yet

Pregnancy alone is not generally a Marketplace qualifying life event in most states, but birth is. If you are pregnant and uninsured, tell me your state and situation — we will check what doors may be open now, including whether Medicaid or another program should be checked. Rules vary by state and circumstances.

See also my pregnancy coverage page and newborn coverage page.

How I Help

Tell me your state, due date or delivery date, and current coverage. I will help you track the window and the steps to add your baby. Eligibility depends on your situation — for a free check, call or text me at 954-787-9118.

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