The Birthday Rule & New Born Baby Coverage

• When a new baby is born and both mother & father have added their child into their coverage (both are having different health plan coverage) then it is necessary to determine the correct primary insurance for child coverage.

• The Birthday rule is used to determine primary insurance for child coverage. As per the birthday rule, the parent whose birthday comes first in the year his/her health plan considers primary insurance while the other parent's health plan considers secondary insurance.

• For example, A father's birthday is 15th April 1985 & a mother's birthday is 20th March 1987. Both are having different health plans and have given birth to the new baby then mother's health plan will be primary insurance for the child's coverage since her birthday comes first in the year and the father's health plan will be considered secondary insurance.

• If parents have the same health plan coverage then the birthday rule does not require child coverage.

• When parents do not have coverage for a child in their health plan coverage then the child is automatically covered under the mother's health plan for the first 30 days if she has health plan coverage. On the 31st day, this coverage ends and it is necessary to have separate coverage for a baby.