Labor and childbirth

Frequently asked questions

• How should I plan for my birthing experience?

  • Whether this is your first child or not, we want you to stay informed and prepared. Scheduling a hospital tour is a great idea. Also, you’ll probably want to create a birth plan for labor and delivery (but remember that no labor ever goes 100% as planned). The birth plan is a guide for your provider and caregivers to follow while you’re on your labor journey, so that your choices are respected as much as possible. These typically include preferences such as the use of an epidural, labor positions, music and lighting during delivery, and breastfeeding.

• What are my delivery options?
  • Oscar will cover any delivery method that your provider deems to be medically necessary, including vaginal and cesarean deliveries. Oscar may cover home births with a midwife under your plan. If you want to have an at-home birth, a screening should be done with an in-network provider to evaluate if your pregnancy is deemed low-risk and, therefore, a home birth could be appropriate. Planning should also include arrangements for care at an in-network hospital should an emergent situation arise. Please check your Certificate of Coverage or contact your Care Team from your Oscar account or call 1-855-672-2755 to see if you qualify for this benefit. More on home births found here.
• How can I tell if my water has broken?

  • Put on a clean maxi pad and lie down for 30 minutes. When you stand up again, you should notice a small puddle on the maxi pad if you’ve ruptured your membranes, because the water will collect in the vagina and leak out when you stand. If you’ve broken your water, you should note the time, amount, color, and odor—and call your physician or midwife.

• What should I bring to the hospital the day of?
  • Great question. We’ve got a handy checklist for you:

    • Your cell phone and friends/family contact list
    • Camera, flash, battery charger, and extra batteries
    • Lip balm
    • Toothbrushes and toothpaste for you and your partner
    • Your favorite music 
    • Cozy socks and slippers 
    • Robe, nightgown 
    • Change of clothes to go home in
    • Bras: nursing if breastfeeding, snug-fitting if formula feeding (but no underwire bras!)
    • Personal grooming items and hair dryer
    • Pictures of family, pets, or other loved ones for a focal point during labor
    • Ice pack/blue ice for back labor (no microwavable warm packs)
    • Tennis ball, massager
    • Popsicles 
    • Your favorite body lotions
    • Glasses, contacts, contact solution, case for contacts
• What if I think I’m in labor? When should I call my provider?

  • Your prenatal care provider will instruct you on when to call if you think that you’re in labor. Most providers suggest that you contact their office if you’ve been having contractions every five minutes for one hour, have broken your bag of water (this may be a huge gush or a constant trickle), or if you have heavy bleeding similar to that of a period.

• Does it matter which facility I go to for delivery?

  • Yes. Depending on the facility you choose, your out-of-pocket costs can vary dramatically. You may have your baby (by a licensed nurse midwife or an in-network provider) at a hospital or birthing center. 

    If delivering at the hospital, both the hospital and your provider must be in-network with Oscar. If your provider only delivers at an out-of-network facility, Oscar will need to sign a contract, or single-case agreement, with them before your delivery. (You or your provider can contact us to get the process started.)

    Oscar will not cover duplicative routine services provided by both a midwife and a provider.

    If you’re experiencing a medical emergency that might pose a threat to you or your child, please seek care at the nearest emergency facility.

• What if I can’t make it to an in-network hospital in time?

  • Oscar plans cover out-of-network emergency services, which includes emergency admission to out-of-network hospitals. If getting to an in-network hospital on the big day poses a threat to you or your unborn child, then going to an out-of-network facility would be considered an emergency and will be covered.

    If you plan a delivery, such as a c-section, at an out-of-network facility, then Oscar won’t cover the delivery unless a Single Case Agreement (SCA) is on file.

• How long is my stay covered?

  • Oscar covers inpatient maternity care in a hospital for the mother, and inpatient newborn care in a hospital for the infant, for at least 48 hours following a vaginal delivery and at least 96 hours following a Cesarean (C-section) birth—regardless of whether such care is medically necessary.

    If your doctor determines that you should stay in the hospital for longer than these terms, they can contact Oscar for approval.