Significance

• Individual health insurance plans that automatically include maternity coverage can be hard to find, unless you live in a state that requires the coverage on all plans. However, some policies allow you to add maternity coverage for an additional monthly fee.
  
  

Time Frame

• Maternity coverage on individual health insurance policies usually includes a waiting period ranging anywhere from six months to two years. If you get pregnant before the waiting period is over, then the policy may not cover any of your pregnancy-related expenses for that pregnancy.
  
  

Considerations

• Maternity coverage on an individual health insurance policy can be costly. This can be a shock for those coming off of employer-sponsored group health insurance where maternity coverage is often included and the premiums are often less expensive.