Information for Pregnant MassHealth Members

1. Contact MassHealth to tell us you’re pregnant

Make sure to tell MassHealth that you’re pregnant. You may be able to get extra benefits, no matter your immigration status. We can also give you more information about your coverage.

Reporting your pregnancy is easy! You don’t need any extra documents or anything from your doctor. You can let us know a few ways:

Option #1: Call the MassHealth Customer Service Center at (800) 841-2900, TDD/TTY: 711. Representatives are available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Interpreter services are available.

Option #2: Update your pregnancy status in the member portal.

Option #3: Go to a MassHealth Enrollment Center near you or make a virtual appointment. You can also make an appointment.

Option #4: Submit a notification of pregnancy form (PDF).

2. Schedule a prenatal care visit

Seeing a health care provider early in pregnancy is important to keep you and your baby healthy. Your primary care provider (PCP) or your health plan can help you find an obstetrician/gynecologist (OB/GYN), certified nurse midwife (CNM), or other prenatal care provider.  

Note: You do NOT need a referral for pregnancy-related health care including prenatal care visits.

Call us at (800) 841-2900, TDD/TTY: 711 if you need help.

3. Enroll in the Women, Infants & Children Nutrition Program (WIC)

WIC is a nutrition program for eligible Massachusetts families. WIC provides healthy foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and referrals to health care and other services free of charge. Most pregnant MassHealth members qualify for WIC.

Click here for more information about WIC and to apply.

4. Contact your MassHealth health plan: They can tell you if you can get additional benefits or programs

You might be able to get additional benefits or programs, depending on your MassHealth plan. These may include free infant car seats, childbirth education classes, housing and nutrition supports, and care management. 

Call us at (800) 841-2900, TDD/TTY: 711 to find out about your MassHealth plan.

5. Think about getting a doula for extra support

MassHealth covers doula services, subject to MassHealth coverage limitations, for MassHealth members while they are pregnant, during delivery, and up to 12 months after the pregnancy ends. Your MassHealth doula provider can provide non-medical emotional, informational, and physical support to you and your family based on your unique needs.

More information about doula care and how to find a MassHealth doula provider.

6. Start planning for after you have your baby

• Learn about programs that may be able to help you and your family such as paid family and medical leave (PFML). PFML is a program designed to help people in Massachusetts take paid time off of work for family or medical reasons.
• Talk to your health care provider about how you plan to feed your baby and what supports you may need. Your provider can also help you get a free breast pump and milk storage bags covered by MassHealth. WIC can help you with breastfeeding support and formula for your baby. Learn about breastfeeding resources.
• Talk to your health care provider about how to keep you and your baby safe and what to expect after delivery.  Learn about warning signs to watch for.
• Think about options for child care. Learn more about supports for families and to search for child care programs in your community.
• Decide who you want your baby’s doctor or other primary care provider to be. You’ll need to tell MassHealth the provider’s name after your baby is born (see MassHealth coverage for infants for more information.)
• MassHealth covers a variety of health care services for children and families. 

MassHealth covers health care services during pregnancy, labor and delivery, and postpartum through 12 months following the end of pregnancy. Covered services for pregnant and postpartum members include but are not limited to:

• Prenatal care during pregnancy
• Postpartum care through 12 months following the end of pregnancy
• Labor and delivery care in hospitals and freestanding birth centers
• Doula services
• Breast pumps and milk storage bags - talk to your provider or health plan to order these
• Reproductive health services, including family planning counseling, birth control, and abortion care
• Behavioral health care, including mental health and substance use disorder treatment
• Dental care, including checkups, cleanings, fillings, crowns, and root canals
• Prenatal vitamins – you can get these free of charge at your local pharmacy without a prescription from a provider

You may be able to get free transportation to your health care visits and other MassHealth covered services for you or your baby if you need it. Talk to your health care provider to set up transportation.

Find more information about MassHealth covered services.

If you need assistance understanding your MassHealth coverage, contact My Ombudsman. Free support is available in many languages.

MassHealth needs information from you to make sure your baby

• has MassHealth coverage from birth through their first year of life
• is assigned to a primary care provider (PCP) of your choice
• is enrolled in a health plan of your choice

When you give birth, hospital staff or someone from your care team may ask you about your choice of a PCP and health plan for your baby. They will share that information with MassHealth to get your baby's MassHealth coverage set up.

You can also report the birth of your baby and check to make sure your baby has MassHealth coverage online in the member portal or by calling the MassHealth Customer Service Center at (800) 841-2900, TDD/TTY: 711. Representatives are available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Interpreter services are available. 

Once your baby has MassHealth coverage, you should receive a letter in the mail with the baby's MassHealth ID number. If you already chose a health plan and PCP for your baby when you gave birth, you should also receive that information in the mail. The MassHealth Customer Service Center can also tell you which health plan your baby has.

If your baby doesn't have a PCP or health plan yet, you can choose a health plan and PCP for your baby online through MassHealth Choices, by mailing the MassHealth Health Plan Enrollment Form (PDF), or by calling the MassHealth Customer Service Center once the baby has their MassHealth ID number.

If you do not choose a health plan for your baby, MassHealth will choose a plan for your baby.

Did you know that about 1 in 5 pregnant and new parents may experience depression or anxiety? You are not alone, and support is available!

• The Behavioral Health Help Line is available 24/7 for all residents of Massachusetts. You can also call or text 833-773-2445.
• Community Behavioral Health Centers (CBHCs) are one-stop shops for a wide range of mental health and substance use treatment programs. Find a CBHC near you.
• The National Maternal Mental Health Hotline provides 24/7, free, confidential support before, during, and after pregnancy. Call or text 833-TLC-MAMA (833-852-6262).
• Postpartum Support International (PSI) of Massachusetts can help you find a local support group and other resources. You can also call or text the PSI Helpline at 1-800-944-4773.
• Moms Do Care offers specialized support in multiple locations for pregnant, postpartum, and parenting people with past or current substance use disorder.
• FIRST (Families In Recovery SupporT) Steps Together: See the Home Visiting section for more information.

Talk to your health care provider about other mental health and substance use disorder resources and supports.

Home visiting programs can help connect you and your family to the services and resources you need. Services include one-on-one home visits, parenting groups, and connections to needed resources.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health offers several free, voluntary, and confidential home visiting programs for eligible families expecting a child or eligible families with young children, in select communities.

• FIRST (Families In Recovery SupporT) Steps Together provides recovery and parenting supports for pregnant and parenting individuals who are affected by current or past substance use and have at least one child 5 or under. Services are provided by specially trained peer staff who are parents in recovery and mental health counselors cross-trained in addiction and parenting.
• F.O.R. Families (Follow-Up Outreach Referral) supports families residing in Emergency Assistance shelters transition from homelessness to stable housing.
• Massachusetts Pregnant and Parenting Teen Initiative (MPPTI) supports adolescents and young adults (ages 14-26) who are expecting or parenting a child with connections to prenatal care, behavioral health services, employment and education support, and parenting support and basic needs.
• Parents as Teachers provides services to pregnant and parenting families through kindergarten completion. 
• Welcome Family offers a one-time 90-minute home visit from a nurse for caregivers with newborns up to 8 weeks after birth.

The Children's Trust offers the Healthy Families Massachusetts free home visiting program, which supports first-time parents and is available statewide.

Massachusetts Early Intervention is a free program for infants and toddlers (birth to 3 years old) who have developmental delays or are at risk of a developmental delay, available statewide.

• Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children (TAFDC) is an economic assistance (cash benefit) program that helps pregnant individuals, families, and caregivers explore opportunities, improve their finances, and reach their goals.
• Family Resource Centers are a statewide network of community-based providers offering multicultural parenting programs, support groups, early childhood services, and education for families with kids up to 18 years old.
• Pregnancy loss is common and can be a very challenging time. You are not alone. Learn more and find resources to support families experiencing pregnancy loss.
• Learn more about MassHealth information for noncitizens.