| Most employers do not provide paid maternity leave | | | | While any level of income replacement is nice to have, |
| benefits. These benefits are simply too costly for most | | | | forty five states have no mandated coverage at all. |
| small and medium sized businesses. Five states | | | | Women working in these states face a bigger |
| mandate disability coverage that creates a limited | | | | dilemma: their employer may not offer paid maternity |
| amount of maternity income, as coverage is capped | | | | leave policy, and/or no group disability benefits at all. |
| at a fairly low amount. And the female workers in | | | | Adding a new mouth to feed and raising a child is |
| forty five other states have no coverage at all. | | | | expensive enough without starting off with six to eight |
| Supplemental maternity insurance is a great way to | | | | week of unpaid leave. And what if mom needs to |
| solve this problem. When bought preconception, these | | | | leave work early due to complications, or what if her |
| policies help create maternity leave income, and allow | | | | baby is born premature and requires care at home for |
| for protection in case of complications, and premature | | | | an extended period of time? |
| birth. | | | | Supplemental maternity insurance is a great way to |
| Paid maternity leave is a common benefit in many | | | | plug these holes. Supplemental maternity insurance |
| European countries. In the United States, this type of | | | | pays cash benefits directly to the insured for mom's |
| benefit is the exception rather than the rule. A small | | | | normal labor and delivery, helping to create maternity |
| percentage of employers provide a direct maternity | | | | leave income. Mom's benefit for normal delivery may |
| leave benefit for their female workers, while others | | | | greatly exceed the premium she pays. Also, 25% of |
| provide some type of company paid short term | | | | pregnancies result in one or more complications. |
| disability policy that provides maternity leave coverage. | | | | Supplemental maternity insurance will replace her |
| Another percentage offer disability programs that the | | | | income should she need to leave work prior to her |
| employees can elect to pay for themselves. | | | | delivery. |
| Five states mandate short term disability insurance | | | | In addition, 12% of babies are born premature and may |
| coverage for people who work in the state: Hawaii, | | | | need to spend time in the neonatal intensive care unit |
| California, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island. | | | | (NICU). Many insurance policies now contain daily |
| While great to have, these programs may replace only | | | | co-pays ranging up to $300 to $500 per day. An |
| a small percentage of income, or they cap out at a | | | | extended stay in a NICU can leave new parents with |
| very small amount. For example, New York state | | | | a sizable and unexpected hospital bill. Supplemental |
| replaces only 50% of income, and caps out at $170 | | | | maternity insurance will pay additional benefits should |
| per week. Being one of the states with the highest | | | | this occur, helping to offset these left over expenses. |
| cost of living, and thereby the highest average income | | | | Supplemental maternity insurance is a great option to |
| level, $170 per week is a very small amount of income | | | | consider before getting pregnant. |
| replacement. | | | | |