Even though the “Great Recession” is technically over, the US unemployment rate continues to hover around 9%. That’s a lot of people, and it doesn’t even cover those who are under-employed (employed part time), those who have gone back to school in the face of poor job prospects or those who have stopped looking for work.

Health insurance, and the healthcare industry in general, have gotten a bad rep in the United States. In fact, healthcare companies are some of the most loathed corporate institutions in the entire country (right down there with tobacco and oil).

If you have traditional health insurance through work or a spouse’s work, then you may already have maternity health insurance. However, if you are one of the many women who do not receive health benefits through work, or who is self-employed or under-employed, you may need to purchase your own maternity health insurance.