(8) A special enrollment period is especially im-
portant for young adults, who are at high risk for 
unintended pregnancies, yet young adults are fre-
quently enrolled in catastrophic coverage, which 
often has fewer benefits, more restrictions, and high-
er deductibles. 
(9) Timely maternity care improves the health 
of pregnant women, as well as birth outcomes and 
the health of babies throughout their lifetimes. Preg-
nancy-related maternal mortality is three to four 
times higher among women who receive no maternity 
care compared to women who do. Regular maternity 
care can detect or mitigate serious pregnancy-related 
health complications, including preeclampsia, pla-
cental abruption, complications from diabetes, com-
plications from heart disease, and Graves’ disease, 
all of which can result in morbidity or mortality for 
the mother or newborn. 
(10) Regular maternity care can reduce 
preterm births and the health complications associ-
ated with preterm births. 
(11) Timely maternity care can reduce short- 
and long-term health care costs. If a woman does 
not have access to affordable maternity care during 
her pregnancy, and she or her newborn experiences 
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pregnancy complications that result in health prob-
lems after birth, their insurer may end up paying 
much higher costs than if the insurer had covered 
the woman’s maternity care during her pregnancy. 
Intensive maternity care can reduce hospital and 
neonatal intensive care unit admissions among in-
fants, resulting in cost savings of $1,768 to $5,560 
per birth. For women with high-risk pregnancies, in-
tensive maternity care saves $1.37 for every $1 in-
vested in maternity care. 
(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this Act is to protect 
the health of women and newborns by ensuring that all 
women eligible for coverage through the Exchanges estab-
lished under title I of the Patient Protection and Afford-
able Care Act (Public Law 111–148) and women eligible 
for other individual or group health plan coverage can ac-
cess affordable health coverage during their pregnancy. 
SEC. 3. PROVIDING FOR A SPECIAL ENROLLMENT PERIOD 
FOR PREGNANT INDIVIDUALS. 
(a) 
PUBLIC
HEALTH
SERVICE
ACT.—Section 
2702(b)(2) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 
300gg–1(b)(2)) is amended by inserting ‘‘including a spe-
cial enrollment period for pregnant individuals, beginning 
on the date on which the pregnancy is reported to the 
health insurance issuer’’ before the period at the end. 
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(b) PATIENT PROTECTION AND AFFORDABLE CARE 
ACT.—Section 1311(c)(6) of the Patient Protection and 
Affordable Care Act (42 U.S.C. 18031(c)(6)) is amend-
ed— 
(1) in subparagraph (C), by striking ‘‘and’’ at 
the end; 
(2) by redesignating subparagraph (D) as sub-
paragraph (E); and 
(3) by inserting after subparagraph (C) the fol-
lowing new subparagraph: 
‘‘(D) a special enrollment period for preg-
nant individuals, beginning on the date on 
which the pregnancy is reported to the Ex-
change; and’’. 
(c) 
SPECIAL
ENROLLMENT
PERIODS.—Section 
9801(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. 
9801(f)) is amended by adding at the end the following 
new paragraph: 
‘‘(4) FOR PREGNANT INDIVIDUALS.— 
‘‘(A) A group health plan shall permit an 
employee who is eligible, but not enrolled, for 
coverage under the terms of the plan (or a de-
pendent of such an employee if the dependent 
is eligible, but not enrolled, for coverage under 
such terms) to enroll for coverage under the 
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terms of the plan upon pregnancy, with the spe-
cial enrollment period beginning on the date on 
which the pregnancy is reported to the group 
health plan or the pregnancy is confirmed by a 
health care provider. 
‘‘(B) The Secretary shall promulgate regu-
lations with respect to the special enrollment 
period under subparagraph (A), including es-
tablishing a time period for pregnant individ-
uals to enroll in coverage and effective date of 
such coverage.’’. 
(d) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
this section shall apply with respect to plan years begin-
ning after the 2016 plan year. 
SEC. 4. COVERAGE OF MATERNITY CARE FOR DEPENDENT 
CHILDREN. 
Section 2719A of the Public Health Service Act (42 
U.S.C. 300gg–19a) is amended by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘(e) COVERAGE
OF MATERNITY CARE.—A group 
health plan, or health insurance issuer offering group or 
individual health insurance coverage, that provides cov-
erage for dependents shall ensure that such plan or cov-
erage includes coverage for maternity care associated with 
pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum care for all partici-
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pants, beneficiaries, or enrollees, including dependents, in-
cluding coverage of labor and delivery. Such coverage shall 
be provided to all pregnant dependents regardless of age.’’. 
SEC. 5. FEDERAL EMPLOYEE HEALTH BENEFIT PLANS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Director of the Office of Per-
sonnel Management shall issue such regulations as are 
necessary to ensure that pregnancy is considered a change 
in family status and a qualifying life event for an indi-
vidual who is eligible to enroll, but is not enrolled, in a 
health benefit plan under chapter 89 title 5, United States 
Code. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The requirement in sub-
section (a) shall apply with respect to any contract entered 
into under section 8902 of such title beginning 12 months 
after the date of enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 6. CONTINUATION OF MEDICAID INCOME ELIGIBILITY 
STANDARD FOR PREGNANT WOMEN AND IN-
FANTS. 
Section 1902(l)(2)(A) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 1396a(l)(2)(A)) is amended— 
(1) in clause (i), by striking ‘‘and not more 
than 185 percent’’; 
(2) in clause (ii)— 
(A) in subclause (I), by striking ‘‘and’’ 
after the comma; 
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(B) in subclause (II), by striking the pe-
riod at the end and inserting ‘‘, and’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(III) January 1, 2014, is the percentage pro-
vided under clause (v).’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new 
clause: 
‘‘(v) The percentage provided under clause (ii) for 
medical assistance on or after January 1, 2014, with re-
spect to individuals described in subparagraph (A) or (B) 
of paragraph (1) shall not be less than— 
‘‘(I) the percentage specified for such individ-
uals by the State in an amendment to its State plan 
(whether approved or not) as of January 1, 2014, or 
‘‘(II) if no such percentage is specified as of 
January 1, 2014, the percentage established for 
such individuals under the State’s authorizing legis-
lation or provided for under the State’s appropria-
tions as of that date.’’. 
SEC. 7. RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER LAWS. 
Nothing in this Act (or an amendment made by this 
Act) shall be construed to invalidate or limit the remedies, 
rights, and procedures of any Federal law or the law of 
any State or political subdivision of any State or jurisdic-
tion that provides greater or equal protection for enrollees 
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in a group health plan or group or individual health insur-
ance offered by a health insurance issuer. 
Æ 
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