At a glance
Adding a new baby to the family can impact a number of your benefits: your medical plan, mental-health support through the EAP, tax-advantaged savings accounts, job-protected leave, and tax savings on paying for child care once you’re back at work. The steps below map those benefits to where you are in the journey.
The 60-day rule.
A new baby is a qualifying life event that allows you to update your benefits coverage. Most life events give you 30 days to update your coverage — but birth or adoption of a child gives you up to 60 days from the date of the event. Report the event and make your changes by logging in to LSC Benefits Center or calling 888-681-2241 (Monday–Friday, 7:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m. CT). If you update your coverage by the deadline, your new coverage retroactively starts on the day of the life event.
Planning
Even before pregnancy or adoption, a few simple steps can smooth the road ahead, from saving money tax‑free to getting familiar with the support you already have.
Set money aside. Plan your HSA or FSA contributions by estimating your expected health care and dependent care costs. If you’re in the HSA Core or Value plan, the Company also contributes to your HSA.
Lean on the EAP. The Employee Assistance Program (EAP), administered by Carelon Wellbeing, is free and available 24/7 to you and everyone in your household. They offer work and life referral services for growing families, plus up to six free counseling sessions per issue, per year, for stress, anxiety, or anything else on your mind.
Prenatal care
Now is the time to connect with your care team and use the support built into your LSC Medical Plan.
Get help navigating care. A health care concierge through Health Advocacy Solutions (HAS) is available through all LSC Medical Plans and can help you understand your benefits, find an in-network provider, book appointments, estimate what services will cost, and help you understand any bills.
Add Maven to your care team. Maven Maternity and Postpartum offers a 21-month program that gives you 24/7 virtual access to a full care team — OB-GYNs, doulas, lactation consultants, sleep coaches, and mental health providers — from the moment you learn you're expecting through 12 months after delivery. Available to LSC Medical Plan participants, you’ll get a personalized care plan, educational resources, and live classes, plus dedicated support if you're a partner, a surrogate, or navigating pregnancy loss.
Use virtual visits. When you don’t feel well enough to see a doctor, you can see a doctor by phone or video through Virtual Care, Teladoc Health, for just $10 a visit across all LSC Medical Plans — no waiting room required.
Care for your mind. The EAP can be a big help during pregnancy, offering counseling, stress-relief tools, and guidance for navigating personal, family, or work challenges as you get ready for baby.
Get familiar with your medical plan. All three LSC Medical Plans use the BCBSIL network and include free in-network preventive care, along with prescription drug coverage through Prime Therapeutics.
Apply for Family and Medical Leave (FMLA) and Short-Term Disability (STD). Applying for FMLA and STD before your baby arrives helps you get everything in place before you head to the delivery room. Submit your leave request to The Hartford and complete the required steps. The process is simple: you apply for FMLA and STD, your eligibility is assessed, and you’re notified once a decision is made. You may also qualify for state-provided leave. Contact your state agency for eligibility and details. Don’t forget to inform your manager and Human Resources of your upcoming leave.
Birth & hospital
Your LSC Medical Plan covers your hospital stay, and a supplemental benefit can help with the extra costs.
Know your hospital coverage. Review how your LSC Medical Plan (HSA Core, HSA Value, or Copay PPO) pays toward a hospital stay, and remember: using the ER for a non-emergency adds a $500 charge that doesn’t count toward your deductible or out-of-pocket maximum — see Where to Go for Care for the right level of care.
Use Hospital Indemnity if enrolled. MetLife’s Hospital Indemnity pays you directly — $500 for a hospital admission, plus $250 per day for up to 31 days of a covered stay, and $100 per day for up to 2 days of newborn nursery care — to use however you need.
Add your baby within 60 days. Notify the LSC Benefits Center of your life event to add your newborn to your benefits. You’ll need to submit dependent verification documents within 30 days of enrolling and provide their Social Security number within 6 months of birth, or their coverage will be dropped.
First weeks home
The first weeks can feel overwhelming. Job‑protected leave, income protection, and the EAP help you keep your attention where it matters — on your baby.
Take Family and Medical Leave. Under FMLA (or applicable state/local law), you can take up to 12 weeks of leave to bond with your newborn — see Leaves of Absence for how to pay for benefits via direct billing while you’re out and how to re-enroll in your FSA or HSA contributions when you return.
Replace your income while you are disabled. If you need to be out of work due to pregnancy, Short‑Term Disability can help replace your income. Once The Hartford approves your claim, you’ll receive a weekly benefit of 60% of your base pay for up to 26 weeks after a 7‑day waiting period.
Ease postpartum aches with Hinge Health. Get free, at-home Virtual Physical Therapy tools — guided exercises, sensors, and 1-on-1 coaching — to help with back, muscle, or joint pain after delivery. Hinge Health’s Personalized Women’s Health program offers targeted exercises, including pelvic floor strengthening, to support recovery, reduce pain, and improve overall core stability.
Get support when you need it. You don’t have to do this stretch alone. The EAP can help with postpartum emotions, stress, and the transition home, and they partner with Talkspace, which lets you text with licensed counselors when you don’t feel like talking. They can also connect you to lactation support, childcare referrals, or local parenting help, all in one confidential place.
Back to work
A few benefits that can help you prepare for coming back to work.
Plan your return. If you are on a Leave of Absence, your HSA, Health Care FSA, and Dependent Care FSA contributions will start being deducted from your paycheck. Upon your return, you will need to complete a Special Enrollment to re-enroll in any HSA, FSA, or commuter contributions.
Open a Dependent Care FSA. If you haven’t already, don’t miss out on tax savings by setting aside pre-tax dollars — up to $7,500 if married filing jointly, or $3,750 if married filing separately — for day care, preschool, or after-school care for your child under age 13.
Keep support close. Balancing work and new parenthood isn’t easy — and the EAP is available 24/7 with counseling and referral services for growing families.
Tap into Maven Parenting and Pediatrics. As your family settles in, Maven connects you to on-demand pediatric care, parenting experts, developmental specialists, and behavioral health support — covering everything from sleep and developmental milestones to nutrition and special education, from early childhood through adolescence. All BCBSIL participants and their household members can access it whenever a question or concern comes up.
Stock up in style. Life gets busy, but the BenefitHub discount program gives you easy access to discounts on diapers, clothes, gear, and everyday essentials, so you can refresh what your family needs in advance and without overspending.
Keep this handy through every step
Plan HSA or FSA contributions for the year ahead
Sign up for the Maven Maternity and Postpartum 21-month program for a personalized care plan, resources, and more
Be sure to explore the benefits and support programs available to you: EAP, Talkspace, Virtual Care, Virtual Physical Therapy, Hospital Indemnity, BenefitHub
Connect with Health Advocacy Solutions early in pregnancy
Confirm your medical plan’s preventive care and hospital coverage before your due date
Request FMLA leave and understand your Short-Term Disability options
Check your eligibility for state-provided LOA by contacting the appropriate state agency
While on FMLA, log in to the LSC Benefits Center to review bills or set up payment for your benefits via direct billing. Or watch the mail, as bills will be mailed to you.
Add your baby to your coverage within 60 days of birth, with dependent verification within 30 days to update your benefits
Open a Dependent Care FSA
Provide your baby’s Social Security number within 6 months of birth
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