Question: I am 24 years old and I was put under my parent's healthnet HMO insurance as a dependent while I was pregnant. I had an early delivery and the baby is currently in NICU. I am aware that I am unable to add my newborn under the current insurance because I am listed as the dependent and not the main insurance holder. And I am also unable to enroll in a different healthnet insurance because I have no income. Is there a way I can separately get an insurance for my newborn?

Answer: Yes. You can get coverage for your newborn, if you apply within 60 days of his or her birth. Your baby is eligible for Medi-Cal. You can apply directly through your county health services office or through Covered California. Medi-Cal is pretty much free both in terms of $0 monthly premium and 100% coverage. The other option is to purchase a commercial health insurance plan directly from one of the insurance companies or through Covered California. In either case, your baby will not be eligible for premium assistance so you would be paying between $90 and $200 per month depending on the level of coverage.

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