Effective Date:

a)    This policy will apply to all services performed on or after the above revision date which will become the new effective date.

b)    For all services referred to in this policy that were performed before the revision date, contact customer service for the rules that would apply.

If you are covered by a plan that covers you for pregnancy-related care, all care related to the pregnancy is covered, provided your plan is in effect on the date of service, with two exceptions:

1. If you are a registered inpatient in a hospital or other inpatient facility on the date you would otherwise be entitled to begin coverage, you will not be eligible for coverage under your policy and will not receive coverage for such inpatient confinement.  Your previous carrier will be responsible for all hospital charges, including the global obstetrician charges if you deliver during that confinement.  If you have no prior coverage, there will be no coverage for that confinement.

2. If you cease to be covered by QualChoice prior to your delivery, your new carrier is responsible for the global charge from your obstetrician; it should not be billed in partial amounts to the two carriers.

If you are covered by a plan that does not cover you for pregnancy-related care, routine pregnancy care and delivery are not covered. This includes all services before and after delivery that are related to the pregnancy itself. Complications of the pregnancy, as defined in this Medical Policy, will be covered even though routine pregnancy care will not be covered. A difficult pregnancy or difficult delivery is not a complication of pregnancy.  Routine Caesarian section is not considered a complication of pregnancy and is therefore not covered under these plans.

If the plan covers pregnancy:

1. Federal law prohibits the application of pre-existing condition exclusions to pregnancy care in all instances in which pregnancy care is covered.
2. In all instances where pregnancy care is covered, all complications of pregnancy are also covered and pre-existing condition exclusions do not apply.
3. If the member changes plans in mid-pregnancy, the new plan (the one covering her at the moment of her delivery) is responsible to pay all global charges related to the pregnancy and delivery. All episodic charges – charges that point to single episodes of care (like drawing lab work) that arise are paid by the carrier in effect on the date of service.
4. Exception: If the member is hospital confined for delivery at the time where coverage changes, the prior carrier is responsible up to discharge, to include the global OB fee.

If the plan does not cover pregnancy:

1. Pre-existing condition exclusion does not apply because it is a non-covered service.
2. All pre-natal and post-natal services related to the pregnancy are not covered.
3. If a complication of pregnancy arises relating to a pregnancy that was not pre-existing at enrollment, then the complication is covered even though the pregnancy is not covered.   
   1. Admission for the following complications of pregnancy will be covered:  HELLP syndrome, uterine rupture, amniotic fluid embolism, chorioamnionitis, fatty liver in pregnancy, septic abortion, placenta accreta, gestational hypertension, puerperal sepsis, per partum cardiomyopathy, cholestasis in pregnancy, thrombocytopenia in pregnancy, placenta Previa, placental abruption, acute cholecystitis in pregnancy, pancreatitis in pregnancy, pelvic septic thrombophlebitis, postpartum hemorrhage, retained placenta, air embolus, miscarriage, adnexal mass in first trimester, Hydatidiform mole, or ectopic pregnancy
   2. There are many conditions that can be aggravated by, or require treatment because of pregnancy. Some examples include:  acute nephritis, nephrosis, cardiac decompensation, hyperthyroidism, hepatitis B or C, HIV, HPV, abnormal Pap smear, syphilis, Chlamydia, herpes, UTI, thromboembolism, appendicitis, hypothyroidism, pulmonary embolism, sickle cell disease, tuberculosis, migraine headaches, depression, acute myocarditis, asthma, maternal cytomegalovirus, urolithiasis, DVT prophylaxis, ovarian dermoid tumors or cirrhosis. All of these can occur with or without pregnancy and are therefore medically covered.
4. Emergency cesarean section is covered as a complication of pregnancy. Cesarean section performed solely because of a previous cesarean section, or performed for the convenience of the patient or the physician, is not a complication of pregnancy and will not be covered. 

Codes Used In This BI:

Federal law (The Pregnancy Discrimination Act) requires any plan sponsored by an employer with more than 15 employees to cover pregnancy care. We are currently selling some plans that do not have pregnancy coverage.

Effective 01/01/2017: Codes added to ensure consistency of Medical and Claim Statements.