When is a group health policy required to provide coverage for a newborn child?

A group health policy is required to provide coverage for a newborn child at the moment of birth. This requirement ensures that the child is immediately covered under the parent's group health plan without any waiting period or additional enrollment processes following their birth. Such coverage is crucial because newborns often require immediate medical attention and care, including routine examinations and vaccines shortly after birth.

While some policies may have specific enrollment procedures for other dependents, newborns are uniquely recognized and provided coverage as a matter of policy to protect their health needs from the outset. It's important to understand that while notification to an insurer is typically necessary for other types of dependents, such as adopted children or other coverage changes, a newborn is automatically covered by virtue of their birth. Hence, coverage starting at the moment of birth reflects the urgency and necessity of healthcare access for infants.