Maternity Benefits in the Army
- The Army grants women six weeks of maternity leave following the birth of a child. Mothers can't be deployed for the first four months after their child is born. After those maternity leave periods are over, the Army requires soldiers to return to ranks, including deployment. Because of this, many enlisted mothers spend the bulk of their child's first year in overseas deployments, according to the Washington Post. The Army's period of non-deployment as part of maternity leave is shorter than those of the other branches of the military, which last between six and 12 months.
- Women who become pregnant and are scheduled to deploy to a combat zone where they can't take their children are not forced to temporarily give up custody of their newborns. Mothers of infants may choose voluntary separation from the Army to remain with their child, although they're required to serve as enlisted until a separation date determined by a physician. Women who choose voluntary separation from the Army are not entitled to maternity medical benefits as provided by Tricare, the armed forces' health insurance provider.
- Soldiers who elect not to separate from the Army and who are covered by Tricare's premium plan receive a wide-ranging menu of medical benefits during and following their pregnancy. Tricare Prime enrollees receive maternity care, inpatient professional services, hospital services and newborn cost-share service with a $0 deduction. Members of this plan on active duty, or qualifying spouses of active duty members, receive all standard maternity and postnatal care at no out-of-pocket costs.
- Tricare's Standard and Extra plans provide the same services to mothers, although many require a patient co-payment. Like the Prime plan, beneficiaries face no global maternity care fee, although families of infants delivered on an out-patient basis must pay a copay that ranges from $50 to $300, depending upon rank and family status. Patients must pay $13.90 per day of hospital stay, with a minimum copayment of $25. Patients are also required to pay 15 to 20 percent of professional services fees depending upon their plan, and must make a $25 copayment for all prenatal care visits.