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 at mass.gov/masshealthappointment.

Option #4: Submit a notification of pregnancy form.

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.

For more information and to apply, click here.

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.

Click here for 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. Click here to learn more.
• 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. Click here to 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. Click here to learn about warning signs to watch for.
• Think about options for child care. Click here to learn more about supports for families and to search for child care programs in your community.

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 (click here to learn more)
• 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 (click here to learn more)
• Behavioral health care, including mental health and substance use disorder treatment
• Dental care, including checkups, cleanings, fillings, crowns, and root canals (click here to learn more)

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 or click here to learn more.

For more information about MassHealth covered services click here.

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

Be sure to tell MassHealth after you have your baby. You can do this a few ways:

Option #1: Have the hospital fill out a notice of birth (NOB) form. You can ask your health care provider about your hospital’s process. You should contact MassHealth to make sure that your baby was enrolled successfully with the correct birth date and information.

Option #2: 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 #3: Report the change in the member portal.

Your baby will be covered by MassHealth for at least 12 months beginning on the date of birth. To choose a pediatrician for your baby and enroll your baby in a health plan, call us at (800) 841-2900, TDD/TTY: 711. You can also visit https://masshealthchoices.com/.

Did you know that about 1 in 7 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. Call or text 833-773-2445 or visit the website to chat online.
• Community Behavioral Health Centers (CBHCs) are one-stop shops for a wide range of mental health and substance use treatment programs. To find a CBHC near you click here.
• 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.

• Early Intervention Parenting Partnerships (EIPP) supports families from pregnancy through a child’s first birthday.
• 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. You don’t need to live with your children. 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.
• Healthy Families America supports first-time families from pregnancy through a child’s 3^rd birthday. This includes families parenting for the first time in the U.S.
• 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 age 23 and under 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.