• Home
  • Contact
  • New Patient
  • My Chart
  • Reviews
  • (608) 729-6300
  • 5801 Research Park Blvd, Suite 400, Madison WI 53719
Madison Women's Health
  • Pay My Bill
  • Providers
    • Karla Dickmeyer, MD
    • Ashley Durward, MD
    • Isabel Nellen, DO
    • Erin Schoenecker, MD
    • Beth Wiedel, MD
    • Sarah Yanke, MD
    • Sarah Juza, MD
    • Stephanie Brasser, DNP
    • Shannon Wixom, APNP
  • Services
    • Telehealth
    • Well Woman Care
    • Expanded Care Services
    • Pregnancy Care
      • Planning for Pregnancy
      • Newly Pregnant
      • Testing for Birth Defects and Genetic Disorders
      • During Pregnancy
      • Delivery
      • After Pregnancy
      • Pregnancy Resources
    • Lab Services
    • Surgical Treatments
    • Ultrasound
  • Patient Information
    • Your Visit to Our OBGYN Clinic
    • Insurance Plans
    • Our Policies
    • Patient Forms
      • Registration Form
      • Personal Health History
      • Insurance Coverage
      • Genetic Screening Questionnaire
      • Authorization form TO Madison Women’s Health
      • Authorization form FROM Madison Women’s Health
      • HIPAA Acknowledgment
    • Resources
  • About Us
    • About our Clinic
    • SCOPE Certification
    • We Care
      • Weave of Hope®
    • Careers
  • Classes / Groups
    • Prenatal Yoga Classes
    • Baby and Me Yoga
  • News
  • Click to open the search input field Click to open the search input field Search
  • Menu Menu
News

Frequently Asked Questions About Changing Health Insurance in 2024

Billing News, Blog, Healthcare 101
man changing health insurance on healthcare.gov 2024

Navigating the world of health insurance isn’t easy – or fun. And it’s common to feel overwhelmed or avoid making decisions when it comes to signing up for or changing health insurance. But it’s important that you understand how to get the best health insurance for your particular situation so you don’t get a surprise bill that could negatively impact your finances.

If you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant, it’s even more critical that you have a clear picture of how your prenatal care, baby’s birth and the new addition to your family might impact your coverage and premiums.

Rest assured, these situations are not uncommon, and there’s flexibility in your health insurance choices.

Continue reading to delve into the frequently asked questions of when and how to change your health insurance plan.

Can I change health insurance at any time?

Most employers that offer group health insurance have an annual Open Enrollment Period, which is usually in the fall. During this time, you get the opportunity to reassess and modify your existing health insurance plan to ensure it aligns with your family’s evolving needs.

In most cases, health insurance changes are only allowed during these annual  enrollment periods. But if life brings about significant changes throughout the year, you can promptly update your plan during a Special Enrollment Period.

You qualify for a Special Enrollment Period if you’ve had certain life events, including the following:

  • losing health coverage
  • moving out of range of in-network providers
  • getting married or divorced
  • your spouse passes away
  • having a baby or adopting a child
  • you turn 26 and no longer have access to your parent’s health insurance
  • if your household income is below a certain amount
  • you no longer qualify for Medicaid, Medicare, or Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
  • you become a citizen of the US

Can I switch health insurance while pregnant?

You can switch your health insurance while pregnant only during the Open Enrollment Period or if you have experienced one of the other life events listed above.

Pregnancy does not qualify you for a Special Enrollment Period, but giving birth does. After you have a baby, you can switch insurance because the number of dependents you have has changed, allowing you to switch outside of the typical Open Enrollment Period.

If you do experience a qualifying life event while you’re pregnant and qualify for a Special Enrollment Period, make sure to let your insurance know as soon as the event happens, as you typically will have up to 30 days to enroll in your new plan.

You may be asked for documentation related to your qualifying life event, so make sure you have your paperwork in order to avoid delays.

The great news is that all government marketplace and Medicaid plans cover pregnancy and childbirth. This is true even if your pregnancy begins before your coverage starts.

Maternity care and newborn care are considered “essential health benefits.” This means all qualified health plans inside and outside the Marketplace must cover them.

If you’re pregnant without insurance, read up on your options or call Healthcare.gov help line to learn more.

Call 1-800-318-2596 (TTY: 1-855-889-4325).

What are the reasons for switching insurers?

Common reasons for switching insurers include the following:

  • changes in life circumstances
  • a significant increase in insurance costs for your existing plan
  • dissatisfaction with current coverage
  • or the availability of better coverage options or different in-network providers or hospitals.

When is the Open Enrollment Period?

The Open Enrollment Period typically occurs once a year, usually in the fall. Exact dates may vary by employer or insurance plan, so it’s crucial to stay informed about the specific Open Enrollment Period for the current year. Check the HealthCare.gov website for exact dates and deadlines.

How do I get health insurance?

Enrolling in new health insurance can be done through various channels, including online marketplaces such as healthcare.gov, your employer (if they offer health insurance), insurance brokers and agents, or directly through the insurance provider.

What do I do after I switch health insurance?

After switching health insurance, take a close look at your new plan’s benefits, coverage details, and any changes in providers.

Most insurance companies have a “Find a Doctor” search on their websites, and many will mail you printed materials to view your options. If you are unable to find your doctor using this approach, you can also call the health plan and ask if the doctor is in network.  If you call, you will have the best luck if you use the provider’s National Provider Identifier, or NPI number. This is like a Social Security Number for medical providers. If your doctor and regular providers are no longer “in network,” you’ll want to choose a new primary care provider and set up any annual or regular appointments you may need.

Note: It’s a good idea before you switch to check out the provider options in case you want to keep your same doctor or if you have a specific hospital you want to use. Keep in mind that Madison Women’s Health does its obstetric deliveries and surgeries out of UnityPoint Health-Meriter Hospital. In rare cases, some health plans will cover you to see a Madison Women’s Health provider, but not necessarily services at Meriter Hospital; so please call Meriter Hospital (608-417-6000) to check on this.

After switching insurance, don’t forget to:

  • Contact Madison Women’s Health or other providers right away so we can update your records, especially if you’re pregnant.
  • Cancel your other health insurance (if you have individual coverage) and remove any automatic billing that might be associated with your bank account so you don’t get double billed.
  • Set up automatic payments to your new insurance if applicable so you don’t have to have to mail in checks every month.
  • Put your new insurance card in your wallet and present it at your next doctor visits.

It’s essential to update your healthcare information with providers and pharmacies and familiarize yourself with any new policy requirements before you get care.

How do I cancel my health insurance?

To cancel health insurance that is your own (not through an employer), contact your insurance agent, old insurance provider, or the marketplace through which you obtained coverage. Be sure to follow the cancellation procedures outlined by both the new and old insurer to avoid any gaps in coverage or double billing.

How can I get help with getting health insurance?

For assistance with obtaining health insurance, explore resources such as healthcare.gov (the government health insurance marketplace), local health insurance agents, or community health centers.

What insurance does Madison Women’s Health take?

Madison Women’s Health accepts a variety of insurance plans to ensure comprehensive and accessible healthcare for our patients.

While we may be participating with health plans, we always encourage you to check with your insurance company to confirm that we are an in-network provider for your specific benefit plan.

We are participating providers for the following health plans:
  • The Alliance
  • Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield
  • BadgerCare (Wisconsin Medicaid)
  • Cigna
  • First Health Network (Coventry Health Network)
  • HealthEOS (includes Aetna)
  • Humana (limited options)
  • Medicare
  • Quartz Plans
  • Tricare
  • UnitedHealthcare
  • Chorus Community Health Plan (formerly WEA Health Insurance)
  • WPS Health Solutions

Other Insurance Plans

We also accept other non-network plans and fee-for-service insurance, such as “Choice” plans or “Point of Service (POS)”, as well as self-pay arrangements. Patients under these plans may pay more out-of-pocket to see our providers.

Medicare Patients

For more information about your Medicare benefits, please visit our Medicare Services page.

Conclusion

If you have any questions about our providers and whether they are covered under your specific insurance benefit plan, we encourage you to contact your insurance company. It may be helpful to use our clinic’s National Provider Identifier (NPI) number, which is 1174851851.  Individual provider NPI numbers can be given out upon request.

Above all, we hope this article will help you understand the ins and outs of switching health insurance.

 

January 4, 2024/by Bill Dickmeyer
Tags: healthcare.gov, insurance
Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on X
  • Share on Pinterest
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share on Reddit
  • Share by Mail
https://madisonwomenshealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/changing-health-insurance-2024-madison-womens-health.jpg 800 1200 Bill Dickmeyer https://madisonwomenshealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/mwh_logo-300x177.png Bill Dickmeyer2024-01-04 15:16:452024-01-11 12:24:57Frequently Asked Questions About Changing Health Insurance in 2024

Find Answers to Your Questions

Search Search

Recent Posts

  • Pain Control During IUD Insertion: What You Need to Know
  • Constipation During Pregnancy: Tips for Finding Relief and Peace of Mind
  • The Truth About Infections During Pregnancy: What Every Mom-to-Be Needs to Know
  • Frequently Asked Questions About Changing Health Insurance in 2024
  • Understanding and Overcoming Yeast Infections During Pregnancy

Browse by Category

Tags

baby weight birth control birth control pills birth control shots breast cancer breastfeeding C-section clogged duct Clomid colostrum conceiving condoms Depo Provera diaphragms doula epidural exercising during pregnancy fertility tips genetic counselling genetic screening gestational diabetes gestational hypertension giving birth Glow App gynecologist HPV screening labor tips Letrozole mammograms mastitis menopause mini-pill miscarriage NuvaRing OBGYN perimenopause Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) pregnancy pregnancy tips pregnancy weight gain pregnancy weight loss prenatal genetic testing STI ultrasound yeast infections

5801 Research Park Blvd, Suite 400, Madison WI 53719

608-729-6300

Reviews
SCOPE Certified logo
© 2025 All rights reserved. | WordPress Web Design by Bizzy Bizzy
Link to: Understanding and Overcoming Yeast Infections During Pregnancy Link to: Understanding and Overcoming Yeast Infections During Pregnancy Understanding and Overcoming Yeast Infections During PregnancyWoman riding a bike after overcoming yeast infections during pregnancy Link to: The Truth About Infections During Pregnancy: What Every Mom-to-Be Needs to Know Link to: The Truth About Infections During Pregnancy: What Every Mom-to-Be Needs to Know Pregnant woman managing and preventing infections during pregnancyThe Truth About Infections During Pregnancy: What Every Mom-to-Be Needs to ...
Scroll to top Scroll to top Scroll to top

This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies.

OKLearn more×

Cookie and Privacy Settings



How we use cookies

We may request cookies to be set on your device. We use cookies to let us know when you visit our websites, how you interact with us, to enrich your user experience, and to customize your relationship with our website.

Click on the different category headings to find out more. You can also change some of your preferences. Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer.

Essential Website Cookies

These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features.

Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, refusing them will have impact how our site functions. You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site.

We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain.

We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored. Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. You can check these in your browser security settings.

Google Analytics Cookies

These cookies collect information that is used either in aggregate form to help us understand how our website is being used or how effective our marketing campaigns are, or to help us customize our website and application for you in order to enhance your experience.

If you do not want that we track your visit to our site you can disable tracking in your browser here:

Other external services

We also use different external services like Google Webfonts, Google Maps, and external Video providers. Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. Changes will take effect once you reload the page.

Google Webfont Settings:

Google Map Settings:

Google reCaptcha Settings:

Vimeo and Youtube video embeds:

Other cookies

The following cookies are also needed - You can choose if you want to allow them:

Accept settingsHide notification only