The Healthy Maternity and Obstetric Medicine Act, or Healthy MOM Act, aims to enhance access to affordable health coverage for pregnant individuals and improve maternal and infant health outcomes. A key provision establishes a special enrollment period for pregnant individuals, allowing them to enroll in health coverage through ACA Exchanges, individual, and group health plans upon reporting or confirmation of pregnancy. This ensures timely access to care, which is crucial for both the mother and the developing baby. Furthermore, the bill mandates that group health plans and health insurance issuers offering dependent coverage must include comprehensive maternity care for all pregnant dependents, irrespective of their age. This provision addresses gaps where young women might lack coverage for pregnancy-related services. For Federal Employee Health Benefit Plans, pregnancy will now be considered a qualifying life event for enrollment, and related services will be deemed essential during government shutdowns. Significant changes are also made to Medicaid and CHIP programs. The Act ensures that states cannot lower their Medicaid income eligibility standards for pregnant individuals and infants below the levels established as of January 1, 2025. Crucially, it makes 12-month continuous Medicaid and CHIP coverage for pregnant and postpartum individuals mandatory, removing the previous state option and extending coverage beyond the traditional 60-day postpartum period. These measures are underpinned by findings highlighting the critical need for improved maternal health. Congress recognizes the alarmingly high maternal mortality rates in the United States, particularly among Black and American Indian/Alaska Native women, and that many pregnancy-related deaths are preventable. By ensuring comprehensive and continuous coverage, the bill seeks to reduce disparities, improve health outcomes for mothers and newborns, and potentially lower long-term healthcare costs.