I am also an independent contractor and have an individual PPO for me and my wife, who is currently pregnant, under Anthem BCBS. Unfortunately, this policy does not cover pregnancy (pre-natal care or delivery) unless there are complications. From what I know, most individual health insurance plans have similar restrictions, so you are probably better off getting the COBRA extension with your wife's current group plan and trying to find another in-network hospital.
Another possiblility for you, if you're determined to change plans, is to find another group health plan (e.g. through a professional association or something similar). Group health plans are constrained by HIPAA federal law, which requires them to cover your wife's pregnancy *as long as she was previously covered by a group health plan*. This is important, as many group health plans can consider pregnancy as a pre-existing condition otherwise. But since this applies to you, it might also be worth looking into.
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I am also an independent contractor and have an individual PPO for me and my wife, who is currently pregnant, under Anthem BCBS. Unfortunately, this policy does not cover pregnancy (pre-natal care or delivery) unless there are complications. From what I know, most individual health insurance plans have similar restrictions, so you are probably better off getting the COBRA extension with your wife's current group plan and trying to find another in-network hospital.
Another possiblility for you, if you're determined to change plans, is to find another group health plan (e.g. through a professional association or something similar). Group health plans are constrained by HIPAA federal law, which requires them to cover your wife's pregnancy *as long as she was previously covered by a group health plan*. This is important, as many group health plans can consider pregnancy as a pre-existing condition otherwise. But since this applies to you, it might also be worth looking into.
Hope this helps, congratulations and good luck!