February is undoubtedly a romantic month.  It might be next to impossible to get through it without hearing about love and romance.  Many couples will decide to get married this Valentine’s Day and we all know with marriage comes a laundry list of items we need to consider and make decisions on.  And although health insurance might be on the bottom of that list, it’s actually an important factor that requires a bit of research.

There have been some changes due to Federal Health Care Reform which may affect those who are betrothed.  eHealthInsurance recently released some tips compiled by our licensed agents to help make this difficult decision easier:

Tip #1: Marrying health insurance policies can be tough: If you buy your own health insurance (e.g. you don’t have an employer-provided policy), it is not always possible to simply add a spouse to an individual policy and transform your individual plan to a family plan. Typically you and a spouse would need to apply for a new family plan.

Start by researching and comparing family health insurance plans online. Work with a licensed agent like eHealthInsurance.com to see which plans will fit your budget and health needs. Definitely be sure to talk to an agent first if you have a pre-existing medical condition. When it comes to privately-purchased health insurance plans, your application may be declined based on your medical history.

Tip #2: Keep the family together, but consider separate health insurance plans: In the individual health insurance market you may be able to find two individual health insurance policies with smaller combined monthly premiums than a single family policy. If your goal is to save money each month, this may be your best option.

But, remember that with two individual policies you will also have two separate deductibles to meet before your insurance starts paying for services.  Also, keep in mind that separate plans may include different physician networks. If physician preference is important to you, make sure each plan covers services by your doctor or provider network.

Tip #3: Plan now for the baby in the baby carriage: In 2014, federal health care reform will make it mandatory for all health insurance plans to include maternity coverage, but today there are still many plans that do not include that benefit.  So if you are planning a family in the near future, make sure you understand what your options are for maternity coverage, as regulations about this type of coverage can vary by state.

Whether you’re searching for one family plan or two individual policies, be sure that the plan that has the female as the primary beneficiary includes maternity benefits. Web sites like eHealthInsurance allow you to review and sort plans side by side to compare benefits. In the quote results, eHealthInsurance even provides a simple icon that lets you know if a policy provides maternity coverage.

If you’re expecting, an important benefit you will need access to is “well child” or “well baby” care.  These are preventive care visits for your child, which typically include things like checkups and immunizations.  As of September 23, 2010, health care reform requires health insurance companies to provide coverage for many preventive medical screenings at no out-of-pocket cost to the policy holder including “well baby” check-ups.  To see a comprehensive listing of covered services, go to www.healthcare.gov.

Tip #4: Consider staying on your parents plan if you’re under 26 as a last resort: Health care reform requires health insurance companies to offer coverage to adult children until they reach their 26^th birthday. If you are under 26, this may be an affordable option for you in some instances. If you are trying to get covered under your parents’ individual or family plan (not a group plan), keep in mind, however, that until 2014 when the final provisions of health reform are enacted, adult children age 19 and over may still be declined coverage based on a pre-existing medical condition.

To read the full report, click here.

Image via Flickr user: mwri