How to add your baby to your health insurance
It is the deadline that catches the most new parents, because it falls in the foggiest weeks of your life. Put it in your calendar today.
Updated October 13, 2026 · sources checked October 13, 2026
In short
Request special enrollment in an employer plan within 30 days of the birth; coverage is effective on the date of birth. On a Marketplace plan, report the birth and choose coverage within 60 days; coverage can start on the birth date. If you have Medicaid when you give birth, your newborn is automatically enrolled and stays eligible for at least a year.
The three cases
| Your coverage at the birth | Deadline | Coverage starts | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employer group plan | Request special enrollment within 30 days (the plan may require it in writing) | On the date of birth | US Department of Labor |
| Marketplace plan | Report the birth and choose coverage within 60 days | Can start on the day of birth | HealthCare.gov |
| Medicaid | Automatic | At birth, eligible for at least a year | HealthCare.gov; 42 CFR 435.117 |
| No coverage | The birth opens a 60-day Marketplace window; apply for Medicaid or CHIP for your baby at any time | Marketplace coverage can start on the birth date | HealthCare.gov |
Step by step: employer plan
- In the first week, tell HR or the benefits portal that your baby was born. Ask whether a written request is required.
- Send the request (sample below) within 30 days, even if you do not yet have the Social Security number: send it later.
- Choose the coverage tier (employee + child, family) and check the new premium.
- Ask for written confirmation, then check that the baby appears on the plan before the first pediatric bills arrive.
- If both parents have employer plans, compare: premiums, deductibles, and whether your pediatrician is in network.
Step by step: Marketplace plan
- Log in to your account and choose "Report a life change", or call the Marketplace Call Center.
- Add your baby: you can keep your plan and add the baby, or create a separate enrollment group and choose any plan for the baby for the rest of the year.
- Update your household size and income: your premium tax credit may increase.
- If the application finds that your baby may qualify for Medicaid or CHIP, wait for the state's confirmation before changing your Marketplace plan for the rest of the household.
On Medicaid
Your newborn is enrolled automatically and remains eligible for at least a year. Still, call or write to your state agency with your baby's name and date of birth so they get their own Medicaid number quickly, and choose a pediatrician who accepts your baby's plan.
Sample request (employer plan)
To: [plan or HR benefits contact]. I am requesting special enrollment of my child, [baby's full name], born on [date], in my group health plan [plan name, member ID], effective on the date of birth. This request is made within 30 days of the birth. Please send any forms you need and confirm the coverage in writing. [Your name, phone, email]
Your checklist
Questions parents ask
How long do I have to add my baby to my insurance?
30 days after the birth to request special enrollment in an employer group plan, and 60 days to enroll your baby in Marketplace coverage. On Medicaid, enrollment is automatic.
Is my newborn covered under my insurance automatically?
Only on Medicaid. With an employer or Marketplace plan you must add your baby within the deadline; once you do, coverage can go back to the date of birth.
What if I miss the deadline?
You may have to wait for the next open enrollment. Call the plan immediately anyway, and check whether your baby qualifies for Medicaid or CHIP, which accept applications all year.
Sources
- US Department of Labor (EBSA) — Life Changes Require Health Choices (30-day special enrollment) checked October 13, 2026
- US Department of Labor (EBSA) — Childbirth and Adoption checked October 13, 2026
- HealthCare.gov — Coverage if you recently gave birth checked October 13, 2026
- HealthCare.gov — Special Enrollment Period checked October 13, 2026
- eCFR — 42 CFR 435.117, Deemed newborn children checked October 13, 2026
Mamavela explains; it does not replace your midwife, doctor or pediatrician, who know your situation. If something worries you, call them. In an emergency, call 911 (US), 999 (UK) or 112.