Pregnancy Coverage – Dr. Sawsan W. Jamil

The Affordable Care Act and Women’s Health

Are you pregnant—or planning to get pregnant—and concerned about whether your health insurance plan provides adequate pregnancy coverage?

The Affordable Care Act (ACA), also referred to as Obamacare, makes healthcare available to over 30 million people who were previously unable to obtain health insurance. Women, in particular, stand to benefit significantly from the Affordable Care Act, the most ambitious healthcare legislation passed since 1965. When the Affordable Care Act is fully implemented in 2014, it will make it easier for women to gain access to quality healthcare. Prior to the Affordable Care Act, women faced higher insurance premiums than men and many women lacked coverage for maternity care services. Now, with the healthcare reform, millions of women could gain pregnancy coverage.

The Affordable Care Act guarantees that, beginning in 2014, maternity care and newborn care will be included in a list of essential services provided by all new health insurance plans. This means pregnant women or those considering having a baby can count on access to maternity services—that is, care before and after the baby is born— in all new health insurance plans. Before this, only 12% of market plans offered coverage for maternity services. In addition, under Obama Care, people can no longer be denied insurance due to a pre-existing condition (including pregnancy) or reject women who have previously had a Cesarean section.

Your Pregnancy Care and Your Baby’s Delivery

Dr. Sawsan W. Jamil, M.D., a Los Angeles-based physician who practices at the Women Center L.A., focuses on primary gynecological and obstetrical care, including prenatal, labor, and postpartum care. If you are a patient of Dr. Jamil, she will accept insurance for the maternity care services specified in the Affordable Care Act, including prenatal care and the cost of your baby’s delivery. Dr. Jamil is part of the Blue Cross PPO and delivers babies in the UCLA hospital for patients in LA and the Santa Monica area.

Women usually see a gynecologist for 9 months during pregnancy, where a stranger would deliver their baby or pay extra to get their gynecologist to deliver the baby. As one of the few gynecologists who can deliver babies and offer gynecological and obstetrical care, Dr. Jamil offers a full range of services for female patients at the Women Center in LA.

During your pregnancy, you can be covered for preventative care services for women, including:

• Anemia screening, done on a routine basis throughout your pregnancy
• Folic Acid supplements, given to women who may become pregnant
• Gestational diabetes screening, 24 to 28 weeks pregnant and those at high risk of developing the condition
• Rh Incompatibility screening

The Affordable Care Act makes critical strides in ensuring that mothers and babies can receive healthcare benefits. To receive the best, most affordable care during your pregnancy, it is important to understand the basic maternity services outlined in the Affordable Care Act, especially if you are enrolling in a new plan. To know the full extent of individual coverage, patients should carefully review the full summary of their benefits related to maternity care.

Dr. Jamil is committed to promoting pregnancy wellness in her patients and can deliver your baby all covered by insurance. If you live in the greater LA area and would like to learn more about how the Affordable Care Act can help cover health care costs related to pregnancy and maternity care, contact us to schedule an appointment.