STD Plan Pampers New Mothers

By NU ONLINE NEWS SERVICE

Published 11/11/2009

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WellPoint Inc. is building new-mom adjustment benefits into group short-term disability plans.

The Newborn and Parenting Resources program will provide 8 weeks of coaching services for new mothers who are receiving STD benefits, according to WellPoint, Indianapolis.

The coaches can help new mothers with matters such as returning to work as well as questions about caring for the baby, WellPoint says.

Mothers who have the benefit can reach the coaches through electronic mail, instant messaging, an online journal, and the telephone.

The mothers in the program also will get a 12-month subscription to American Baby magazine and discounts on home “babyproofing” products.

Starting Jan. 1, 2010, the program will be available to all new and in-force STD plans offered by the life and disability companies affiliated with WellPoint.

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- 11/12/2009 9:59:14 AM
- insgirl
- New Mothers
- We are already spending billions on pregnancies. When the government made the rule that maternity had to be covered the same as any other illness they ran our medical insurance bills up 25%. Previously companies paid a baby bonus (some flat amount) and the parent was responsible for the balance. Normal pregnancies are not "Illnesses". What other illness does the patient have 9 months to plan for the expense. Have a heart attack and you have about 30 sec. to plan for how you are going to pay the huge bills. I know all the arguments; but every dollar we are spending on maternity programs is money we are taking away from people with a true illness; cancer, heart, accidents, etc. Everyone is on the band wagon to charge higher premiums for people who smoke, are obese, drink, etc. (no I am not any of the above). If we want to make people responsible for the person actions that raise medical bills, let's start here. How easy is it to avoid a pregnancy. If you can't afford the pregnancy, how in the world are you going to afford the child.