What kind of insurance do you have?
Many women have Medicaid and private insurance at different times in their lives.
You might have Medicaid now, but have a private insurance plan next year. It’s good to know how both types of insurance work.
If you have Medicaid
If your health insurance is through Medicaid, you will not have to pay a monthly premium, except in certain states. You may have to pay a small amount when you go for health services, depending on which state you live in. If you think you are covered through Medicaid, call the member services number on your health insurance card to make sure. Ask if there are any costs you will have to pay when you get health care.
If you have private health insurance
The rules are different if you bought private insurance through your state health insurance marketplace. This kind of private insurance is called a Qualified Health Plan or QHP. When you were choosing your private health insurance you probably looked carefully at what it would cost you each month. You chose a plan with a monthly payment, or premium, you could afford. But you may not know about the costs that you will have to pay when you are sick and see a doctor.
Unsure what kind of insurance you have? Medicaid works differently from state to state. Some states have their own names for their Medicaid health coverage. In New York, there is a new Essential Plan option. It can be confusing. Find out what kind of health insurance you have, and what your costs will be, by calling the number on your health insurance card.