Maternity Benefits Considerations

Maternity benefits vary from company to company in the U.S. Some companies offer great benefits, while others only go along with the minimums Federal or state governments mandate.

For example, New York's maternity leave is eight weeks, with pay. But New York's maternity pay is the same as its disability pay, and it's not much. At the Federal level, the Family and Medical Leave Act mandates up to twelve weeks leave in a calendar or fiscal year. But there are several eligibility requirements and restrictions. For example, an employer is required to maintain your group health benefits while you're on leave under the Act, but not obligated to pay you. That's up to your employer, if a state law doesn't say otherwise.

So, it's a good idea to carefully investigate how an employer's health insurance and maternity benefits work, before you accept a job. During your interview negotiation phase, besides the typical questions employers expect you to have, also ask about the following. If you decide you don't yet want to reveal your pregnancy, then ask for and research copies of the insurance and company policies for the same.

• Waiting period before your health benefits start
• Preexisting conditions clauses
• Coverage for prenatal, postnatal and pediatric care
• Coverage for your hospital stay and any complications
• Amount of time off with or without pay

As you likely know, caring for a brand new baby will take much of your time, around the clock; not to mention, it's expensive. If you're reasonably sure you've got the job in hand during an interview, you might try to negotiate extra maternity benefits, especially if they seem inadequate. But don't push your luck too much. If your current employer seems more empathetic and offers better maternity benefits, ask yourself if you really want to change employers while pregnant.

Interviewing while Pregnant
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