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Preparing For Your Baby

There is no doubt that having a baby will cost you money, and being prepared for this before hand will help you and your family cope immensely. There are really only two factors in the cost of having a baby, one, it costs a lot, and to, the amount will vary from country to country.

There are a number of things you may need to consider before deciding if you can afford to have a baby. If you don't have insurance you will have to pay for everything, but if you do, then you may need to find answers to the following questions:

What type of coverage do I have?
Does it include maternity benefits?
What kind of coverage does it offer for high risk pregnancy?
How do I submit claims?
Is there a cap to the amount I can claim?
What percentage of my costs are covered?
Are child birth classes covered?
What kind of hospital room's are covered?
What procedures need to be followed before being admitted to hospital?
Does the policy cover a midwife?
Does the policy include medications?
Which, if any, pregnancy tests are covered?
What types of anesthesia are covered?
How long can I stay in hospital after the birth?
Does payment go to my doctor or directly to me?
What kind of coverage is there for my baby after he/she is born?
How long can my baby stay in hospital?
What services or conditions are not covered?
Is there an additional expense to add my baby onto my policy?

These are all really straight forward questions you should be asking your health insurance provider. It may be a good idea to get these answers in writing from them if possible. The last thing you will be wanting after your baby is born, is to be left with a large medical bill