The birth of a new child is life-changing in many different ways. In all the excitement surrounding the newest member of your family, you may not be aware that you need to add your child to your health insurance policy. The information below will provide more details regarding this crucial step for new parents.

How to Add a Child to Your Existing Health Insurance Policy

Qualifying Dependents

For a child to qualify as your dependent for insurance purposes, they can be a biological child, stepchild, foster child, or adopted. You may also claim any of that child's siblings or children as a dependent as well, as long as all of them are under age 26 and are not claimed as dependents by someone else.

Enrollment Window

If you get your health insurance coverage through a private insurer or your workplace, you typically have a 30-day window from the date of birth, adoption, or move-in to contact your insurer and add the child to your coverage. If you get your policy through a federal or state healthcare marketplace, you have 60 days to make the change.

Documentation

Your health insurance provider will want to see documentation of the birth or adoption. However, it can take quite a while to receive the birth certificate or social security number by mail. Ask your insurer if other documentation will suffice until these documents arrive. Many carriers will accept a notarized letter from a hospital or adoption agency in the interim. In any case, benefits are retroactive to the date of birth or adoption.

Who to Contact

If you receive benefits through your employer, tell your HR department representative you wish to add a dependent to your coverage. If you have private insurance, contact your agent and ask them to walk you through the process. If you get health insurance through a government marketplace, a new baby is considered a "qualifying life event' that entitles you to make changes to coverage even outside the traditional enrollment window. Contact your insurance provider directly and tell them what you want.

To speak with an experienced insurance agent about your health coverage options, contact Barry Insurance in Texarkana, TX. This independent agency has served Bowie County since 1962. In addition to health insurance, they also specialize in auto, life, property, and business insurance. Visit their website for a map and a list of office hours. You can also call (903) 831-3493 to request a free insurance quote.