Health Plan Approaches to Preconception Health

The World Health Organization recently captured headlines with an alarming statistic—12 percent of babies born in the U.S. each year are premature, representing $26 billion in health care costs and an immeasurable emotional toll on families. Any significant improvements in birth outcomes will require system-wide intervention to support women’s health not only during pregnancy but also prior to conception. Despite evidence and recommendations on the importance of preconception health, millions of women do not currently receive adequate care. This brief, "Health Plan Approaches to Preconception Health," outlines the innovative ways health plans and their foundations are reaching women of childbearing age, and it suggests strategies for direct and cost-effective outreach programs.