Short answer: check your coverage first. HealthCare.gov lists “Pregnancy, maternity, and newborn care (both before and after birth)” among the 10 essential health benefits that all Marketplace plans cover (HealthCare.gov, read October 30, 2026). Medicaid, CHIP, hospital financial assistance and your HSA or FSA come before a loan. This is general information, not medical, tax or legal advice.
What your health plan covers
- Any plan shown in the Marketplace includes the essential health benefits (HealthCare.gov).
- Asked whether you pay deductibles and copayments for essential health benefits, HealthCare.gov answers: “Generally, yes” (HealthCare.gov).
- Large employers that self-insure do not have to provide essential health benefits (HealthCare.gov), so read your own plan’s summary of benefits.
- Plans must also include breastfeeding coverage and birth control coverage (HealthCare.gov).
Medicaid and CHIP during pregnancy
HealthCare.gov says Medicaid and CHIP “provide free or low-cost health coverage to eligible low-income adults, families and children, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with disabilities”, and “You can apply for Medicaid and CHIP any time of year” (HealthCare.gov, read October 30, 2026). It also says “eligible income levels, coverage, and costs may be different from state to state”, so check with your state Medicaid agency or apply through the Marketplace. HealthCare.gov adds: “Even if you don’t think you’ll qualify for Medicaid based on your income, you should apply.”
Add the baby within 60 days
Having a baby, adopting a child or placing a child for foster care can qualify your household for a Special Enrollment Period if it happened in the past 60 days, and HealthCare.gov says your coverage “can start the day of the event”, even if you enroll in the plan up to 60 days afterward (HealthCare.gov). If you have job-based coverage, ask your plan about its own deadline.
Surprise bills and estimates
- If you use health insurance, the No Surprises Act protects you from unexpected out-of-network bills for emergency room visits, for non-emergency care related to a visit to an in-network hospital, hospital outpatient department or ambulatory surgical center, and for air ambulance services (CMS).
- Without insurance: “Usually, if you don’t have or use health insurance, providers must give you a good faith estimate of what your care will cost.” You may be able to dispute a bill that is at least $400 more than the estimate (CMS).
- CMS takes questions and complaints at 1-800-985-3059 (CMS).
Before you pay a hospital bill, ask whether you qualify for the hospital’s financial assistance policy: see hospital bill financial assistance. For a payment plan, see medical bill payment plan vs personal loan.
HSA, FSA and Publication 502
- IRS Publication 502 (2025) says you can include the cost of breast pumps and supplies that assist lactation, and a pregnancy test kit (IRS Pub. 502).
- Publication 502 lists among expenses you can’t include: baby sitting, childcare and nursing services for a normal, healthy baby; diaper service; and maternity clothes (IRS Pub. 502).
- Qualified medical expenses for an HSA or health FSA are generally those that would qualify for the medical expense deduction (IRS Pub. 969); ask your account administrator before you pay.
This is not tax advice.
If you still need to borrow
This example is only for the math, not an average childbirth bill. It borrows $2,000 over 24 months at the Federal Reserve’s August 2026 averages: 11.90% APR for 24-month personal loans and 22.36% for credit card plans (G.19). Your rate depends on your credit and the lender.
| Option | Monthly payment | Interest | Total paid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal loan at 11.90% | $94.05 | $257.20 | $2,257.20 |
| Credit card at 22.36% | $104.11 | $498.64 | $2,498.64 |
$94.05 x 24 = $2,257.20, and $104.11 x 24 = $2,498.64. Before you add a payment, see how to budget for a loan payment.
Checklist
- Read your plan summary for maternity and newborn costs, deductibles and copays.
- Apply for Medicaid or CHIP if your income may qualify.
- Add the baby to your coverage within 60 days.
- Ask for a good faith estimate if you do not use insurance.
- Ask the hospital about financial assistance before paying or borrowing.
- Check what your HSA or FSA can pay.
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Sources
- HealthCare.gov: What Marketplace health insurance plans cover
- HealthCare.gov: Medicaid & CHIP coverage
- HealthCare.gov: Special Enrollment Period
- CMS: Medical bill rights (No Surprises Act)
- IRS Publication 502: Medical and Dental Expenses
- IRS Publication 969: Health Savings Accounts and Other Tax-Favored Health Plans
- Federal Reserve: G.19 Consumer Credit (released October 7, 2026), terms of credit, August 2026: credit card plans and 24-month personal loans
Disclosure: Modern Lending Solutions is not a lender, loan broker or agent for any lender or loan broker, and does not make credit decisions. Any compensation we receive is paid by participating lenders, only for advertising services. This guide is general information, not financial or legal advice.