health insurance question

[kpwhite0906]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? PA

My husband voluntarily separated from the US Army on Sept. 20, 2008. I got pregnant while he was still active duty, around April 28, 2008. Before his separation date, I checked with my insurance provider, Tricare, to see what I needed to do to ensure that I was still insured for maternity care. I was told by several different people and depts. of the army that as long as tricare insurance had approved me for 16 visits (which they had in May) to an OBGYN, that they would have to continue providing insurance for those visits. We moved to Pittsburgh in Sept. and on Sept. 19, I contacted them to change my PCM and to get apporval for another referral to an OBGYN in this area. I received the aprroval letter, which is dated 9/22/08, approving me for 16 visits, thru March of 09 for maternity care to my dr. here in Pittsburgh. My first visit with my doctor was Sept. 30, and my second visit was Oct. 20. I just received a bill from my doctor stating that Tri-care denied the claim for my Oct. 20 visit because I was no longer eligible for their services. When I contacted Tricare, they are now telling me that they do not have to cover me if it's after my husband's separation date, and that the 5 different people who told me they would were wrong. I cannot get help from JAG anymore since we are no longer active duty military. Is this correct? I have been told from day 1 that b/c I got pregnant while still covered under Tri-care that they would still cover me for maternity care, and that as long as I got approval for 16 visits, tricare would have to honor that, regardless of whether or not we were still eligible after a certain date. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!

Also, we are now covered under my husband's new employer's health insurance? Can they turn me down for maternity and prenatal coverage b/c this was a "pre-existing condition"?

Thanks,

[ecmst12]

I don't know much about military insurance but it makes sense that they would not cover you after he is no longer enlisted.

Pregnancy can NEVER be considered a pre existing condition by any employer sponsored group plan so your new insurance will cover you.

[TIMMAAYY]

Also, make sure to find out what coverage they are offering. Don't assume that since maternity is "covered" it will pay for everything. "Coverage" can mean a lot of things.

That way, there are no surprises.