Adding a new baby to the household is one of the biggest joys in life. Everyone wants to make sure the newborn has all the necessities he or she needs to get the healthiest possible beginning in life. One thing not to be overlooked is a health insurance policy for newborn babies. It should cover all doctor visits, immunizations and medicine prescriptions that all newborn babies will likely need sooner or later.

It's easy to add a new child to your existing health insurance plan, but usually needs to be done within the first four weeks after the birth. Employer group insurance will generally allow the employee to add family members, and for those who get their newborn coverage this way, the coverage commences at birth.

This can offer great protection for the least added expense towards premiums. New parents should know that most health care policies extend a 'free trial' period of one to four weeks after purchasing a new policy to cancel it without penalty.

Purchasing a separate health insurance policy for the baby is another option which can be beneficial for those who prefer a pediatrician not covered by their own health plan. It can be less expensive than you would expect, but a quick check of your own policy guidelines and a few calls to private insurance companies will show you the actual figures. Co-pays and well-baby care are also part of the overall cost involved.

For those who are low-income, the government provides basic child health care through the children's health program, or C.H.I.P. This provides newborns up through the age of 18 with comprehensive health care. All medical, hospital and prescription coverage is very inexpensive or entirely free, but you must go through the sign-up process which is sometimes backlogged.

In the first year of a newborn's life, there will be check-ups to make sure the baby is growing as he or she should be, as well as scheduled immunizations and the childhood sicknesses common to all. This could add up to a large amount of money if there is no health coverage in place.

Spending some time before the baby is born looking at the options and added costs will ensure the new parents have as much free time with the new addition as possible.

The first year of a newborn's life may be the most crucial, because this is the best time to catch any problems to treat for the best long-term outcome. In this period, new mothers also need advice and answers to many questions about their child's health and behavior. Part of being a great parent is thinking ahead and preparing for unseen needs.