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Adding Your Newborn to Your Health Insurance

When your baby arrives, there's a lot to manage, from buying diapers to adjusting your schedule to meet the needs of your newest family member. Health care is a top priority for every family, and we want to help make getting your baby on your insurance plan as easy as possible.

Employer-based Insurance or Insurance Purchased Through Idaho's Health Insurance Marketplace 

Contact your health insurance company within 30 days of birth to get your baby added. Coverage should be retroactive to the birth date.

  • You may need your baby's birth certificate and Social Security number to sign up. St. Luke's will help you start the process of getting those documents.
  • Some insurance companies require a proof of birth letter; ask your nurse for a proof of birth letter before you're discharged from the hospital or contact St. Luke's Medical Records to obtain a letter.
  • Check with your insurance company or employer to determine if they require any additional information.

Medicaid

If you already have Medicaid coverage, contact the Department of Health and Welfare Medicaid unit within 10 days of your baby's birth. Coverage will go back to the birth date.

  • Idaho residents: 877-456-1233
  • Oregon residents: 800-699-9075
  • Nevada residents: 877-638-3472

If you already have insurance but want to sign up for Medicaid, ask your nurse to put you in contact with a patient financial advocate (PFA) for more information.

Frequently Asked Questions

Click each question below for its answer:

What if I don't have insurance?
If you don't have insurance, ask your nurse to talk with a PFA for more information and for help signing up for available insurance and other assistance programs.
Can I add my baby to my parent's insurance plan if it already covers me?
In most cases, your baby cannot be added to these plans. Your baby may be able to get insurance under the Medicaid for Children Program or Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Ask your nurse to talk with a patient financial advocate (PFA) for more information.

What if I have more questions? Who can I talk to if I have my baby over the weekend?

Please leave a message for our patient financial advocate (PFA) team; they will contact you the following week:

  • Boise: (208) 381-1425
  • Meridian: (208) 706-2147
  • Twin Falls/Magic Valley: (208) 814-1040
  • All other St. Luke's locations: (208) 381-1425

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