U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand announced on Wednesday, May 21, the introduction of her new bipartisan bill, “Supporting Healthy Moms and Babies Act,” that, if passed, would require insurance companies to fully cover the costs associated with childbirth, including labor and delivery and prenatal, neonatal, perinatal, and postpartum care.

 

The senator said that even with insurance, childbirth can cost families thousands of dollars, and expenses are even greater for women who have additional health complications during pregnancy, a high-deductible health plan, or gaps in their coverage. She said that as a result, new mothers are twice as likely as other young women to have medical debt.

 

Gillibrand said the Supporting Healthy Moms and Babies Act would require that costs associated with birth be categorized as essential health benefits (EHB) and would remove the relevant services from insurance cost-sharing. She said U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA), former vice-presidential candidate and running mate of former Sec. of State Hillary Clinton, and U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) are cosponsors of the bill.

 

“The costs associated with having a baby can be astronomical, and we should be doing everything we can to lower them,” said Gillibrand. “The fear of an enormous bill leads some women to delay seeking prenatal or postpartum care, or to avoid it entirely, which creates worse outcomes for both women and their babies. That is unacceptable. I am proud to be introducing this bipartisan legislation to require insurance companies to fully cover care throughout pregnancy and a year postpartum. I look forward to working with my colleagues across the aisle to get this bill passed.”

 

The senator said the “Supporting Healthy Moms and Babies Act” would eliminate cost-sharing for a variety of services, including:

• ultrasounds;
• delivery services, including anesthesiology, fetal monitoring, consultations with specialists, and services relating to postpartum health;
• comprehensive postpartum care for physical and mental health conditions caused or exacerbated by pregnancy, such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and postpartum depression and anxiety;
• mental health care and treatment for substance use disorder related to new parenthood for adoptive parents; and
• care for miscarriages.

 

Gillibrand said the bill, if passed, is expected to cause only a minor increase of $30 annually per enrollee in average premiums, and any rise in premiums due to covering out-of-pocket pregnancy costs will be likely less than annual inflation in premiums.

 

The senator said the “Supporting Healthy Moms and Babies Act” is supported by medical providers and pro-family advocates, including the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, American Medical Association, American Hospital Association, American Society for Reproductive Medicine, Association of Women’s Health, Obstetrics and Neonatal Nurses, Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs, Catholic Health Association, March of Dimes, American Principles Project, Concerned Women for America, and the Jesuit Conference Office of Justice and Ecology.

 

We asked the senator’s office if there are any plans to expand the bill to cover health related costs for foster parents of young babies. We will share any updates we receive. The issue of support for foster parents was recently raised by childrens’ rights advocate, Heather Guerino, during a recent town hall on the future use of the Old Fordham Library located at 310 East Kingsbridge Road in Fordham Manor.

 

The full text of the legislation can be read here.