Are you ready to adopt? Have you taken the steps necessary to legally, emotionally, and psychologically prepare for the path to parenthood? Now what? As your baby's birth day nears, take a look at what you need to do next.
Talk to Your Employer
Even though you won't physically give birth to your child, you might be entitled to time off from work without losing your job. The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) allows eligible employees up to 12 weeks off (during a 12-month period of time) to care for a newly placed adoptive child.
While the FMLA does guarantee some employees 12 weeks of parental leave, it doesn't require your employer to pay you during this time. This means you may need to forfeit a paycheck for up to three months. Some companies do offer new parents (birth or adoptive) paid time off options or other financial benefits.
The FMLA also doesn't apply to all employees. Your employer may determine eligibility based on the number of hours you work weekly, your current length of employment, or when you need the time off. This could include the amount of warning time you give your employer or the length of time in between the adoption and when you want to take 12 weeks off from work.
To better understand your rights and what your employer offers adoptive parents, talk to your manager or your company's human resources office. An HR professional in your company can review your eligibility and provide you with information on benefits they may offer.
Talk to Your Insurance Company
Your new baby will need healthcare coverage to offset the costs of pediatrician visits and any other medical care they may need. This means you will need to add your child to your existing insurance policy. The specific steps to do so vary, depending on the type of coverage you have, the insurer, and whether your policy is employer-based or not.
If you have employer-sponsored medical coverage, start with your company's human resources department. Along with parental leave benefits, they can also help you to learn more about adding a child to a healthcare policy. But if you have a self-pay plan through the Marketplace, you will need to make the changes on your own.
The adoption of a baby counts as a Qualifying Life Event (or QLE) and allows you to make changes to a plan you've purchased through a state insurance exchange or Marketplace. QLEs qualify policyholders to enroll a dependent during a Special Enrollment Period — instead of waiting for the general yearly Open Enrollment Period. You may need to provide documentation or fulfill other requirements to add your child to your plan.
Talk to Your Pediatrician
Now that you have medical insurance for your child, take the next step and find a pediatrician. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the well-child visit schedule for the first year of life should include pediatrician checkups during the first week, at one month, two months, four months, six months, nine months, and 12 months.
These visits are essential for your child's health, development, and well-being. Not only will the doctor examine your child, but they'll also make sure your baby's growth is on target for their age and recommend potentially life-saving vaccinations. Well-child visits also provide parents with time to ask questions about anything from an illness to feeding and sleeping issues.
Given the importance of pediatrician appointments, you will need to find the just-right doctor for your child before they arrive. In the time leading up to your baby's birth, interview potential pediatricians. Look for a practice that meshes with your beliefs and values — and can help you and your child with adoption-related developmental, emotional, or psychological issues.
What's the first step in the adoption process? Contact
Adoption Angels for more information.
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