Does Insurance Cover a Midwife in Florida? (2026)

Usually, but not the way most people hope. Florida law requires most health plans that cover maternity care to cover licensed midwives. Most home birth midwives, including me, aren't in network with any insurer, though, so your plan treats us as out of network. That means your out-of-network deductible and coinsurance apply, and any money you get back comes slowly, if at all.

I get asked about insurance more than anything else, so here's how it actually works, what to ask your insurer before you decide, and the other ways families pay for midwifery care.

Does insurance cover a midwife?

In Florida, often yes on paper. Section 627.6406 of the Florida Statutes says:

"Any policy of health insurance which provides coverage for maternity care must also cover the services of certified nurse-midwives and midwives licensed pursuant to chapter 467."

Chapter 467 is the law that licenses midwives like me (LM). A matching section applies the same rule to group policies.

What the law doesn't do matters more for your bill. It doesn't require your insurer to put midwives in network, and it doesn't set what they have to pay. So a home birth midwife is usually billed as out of network, and your plan pays according to its out-of-network rules. If you haven't met a high out-of-network deductible, you may get nothing back.

Two more limits are worth knowing. The Florida rule doesn't apply to self-funded employer plans, which follow federal law instead, and many large employers self-fund. HMOs only have to offer midwifery care as an option when it's available in their service area.

Do midwives take insurance?

Most home birth midwives in Florida don't. I'm a private-pay practice, so I'm not in network with any insurance company and I don't accept Medicaid.

The reason is the rates. When home birth midwives join a network, the payment for a whole pregnancy and birth is often so low that a small practice can't stay open, especially one with long prenatal visits and a midwife who comes to your home. Birth centers are more likely to be in network because they care for many more families.

How to get reimbursed with a global bill

If your plan has out-of-network benefits, you can ask it to pay you back. I give my clients a global bill for this. It's one itemized bill for all of your maternity care (prenatal visits, the birth, and postpartum care), written with the standard billing codes insurers use for maternity care. Because it covers the whole pregnancy, it comes after your care is finished.

To submit it:

1. Ask your insurer for their out-of-network member claim form, or find it in your online account.

2. Send the form with your global bill and proof that you paid.

3. Keep copies of everything, and note the date you sent it.

4. Call every 30 days to check the status. If the claim is denied, ask why in writing and whether you can appeal.

Please be realistic about this part. In my experience, insurers rarely reimburse home birth midwifery, and when they do, it can take a long time, sometimes years. Plan as if your insurance won't pay you back. If it does, think of it as a bonus.

Questions to ask your insurer

Call the number on your insurance card before you choose a provider, and ask:

• Is my plan fully insured or self-funded (paid by your employer)? Florida's midwife coverage law only applies to fully insured plans.

• Do I have out-of-network benefits? Many HMO and EPO plans have none.

• What is my out-of-network deductible and coinsurance, and how much of the deductible have I met this year?

• Do you cover maternity care from a licensed midwife (LM), including a home birth?

• What is the out-of-network allowed amount for a global vaginal delivery (code 59400)? Plans pay a percentage of their allowed amount, which can be far below what your midwife charges.

• Do I need preauthorization for out-of-network maternity care?

• Do you offer a network gap exception if there's no in-network home birth midwife near me? Some insurers will pay out-of-network care at in-network rates in that case, but it isn't guaranteed.

• How do I submit a member claim, and how long do claims usually take?

Write down the date, the name of the person you spoke with, and the call reference number. If you're told something different later, those notes help.

What about Medicaid?

Florida Medicaid does cover licensed midwives, including home births, but it pays very little. On the 2026 Medicaid fee schedule for licensed midwives, a home birth pays $792, a prenatal visit $40, and postpartum care $35.20. For a full pregnancy that comes to roughly $1,300, while home birth care in Central Florida costs $7,000 to $10,000. That gap is why most home birth midwives can't accept Medicaid.

If you have Medicaid, call birth centers first. They care for many more families than a solo midwife, so they're more likely to accept it, although some have pulled back because of the low rates. Here's my list of birth centers in and around Orlando.

Other ways to pay for a midwife

HSA or FSA. Midwifery care generally counts as medical care under the IRS definition, so you can usually pay with HSA or FSA funds. Check with your plan administrator if you're unsure.

Health-share programs. These aren't insurance, but some reimburse midwifery care. In my experience, Samaritan Ministries has reimbursed up to $10,000. Most won't cover a pregnancy that started before you joined.

Payment plans and financing. I offer payment plans spread over your pregnancy, and financing for one to five years. My cost guide has what midwives charge in Central Florida, sample monthly payments, and more options, and you can see what's included on my packages page.

Still have questions?

My FAQ has a short answer about insurance and Medicaid, or you can book a discovery call and we'll go through your plan together. You can also email me at kaitlin@momentsmidwifery.com.