My health insurance doesn't cover pregnancy

Hello..
I'm a postdoc fellowship in one chemistry institute in Berlin, and get a tax-free scholarship for one year (Feb07-Feb08). I'm here with my husband, who becomes my dependent (written on his visa that he's not allowed to work). I was recommended by the institute to take a health insurance from ISHCP (http://www.ishcp.de/englisch/2_kvfustip.html), and it is relatively cheap as I pay about 95 euros for both of us each month (compared to other scholar friends). I fully aware when I signed the contract that I didn't choose to include maternity cover (which is about 100 euros extra) as I didn't plan to get pregnant when I'm working in Berlin for 1 year only. And it is clearly mentioned in the contract that it is not possible to amend the contract, e.g. include maternity cover in the middle of the contract. But now.. after 5 months here, things has settled down (kind of).. and my husband and I are thinking to start a family...yes having a baby. I'm not pregnant, yet though. My question: is there any possibility to get other health insurance that can cover for the pregnancy? For work wise, my stay might be extended for another year (but I am not sure if the institute will be happy to know if I want to be pregnant during my stay in Germany), so I really need to have this maternity and pregnancy cover. If my contract is not extended, then if I get pregnant during the rest of this year.. I need also this health insurance at least to see the doctor and check up my pregnancy. I know.. many ifs in this post.. but I really appreciate any suggestion or comments from experts or anyone who might have similar experience with what I may face in the future. Thanks!

when I read the head-line I was afraid that you already would be pregnant and than the chances with private insurance would have been zip. With your current status you seem not be eligible for public health insurance from where I stand, but since I do not deal much with students and fellows etc. I might be wrong here and I would suggest that you check with some institution at your institute or whoever pays the scholarship if you are eligible for public health insurance because that probably would solve your problems best.

As long as you are not yet pregnant, you can also apply for private German health insurance. Here the rule is that at least 9 month will have to pass by before the insurance covers maternity costs. The problem, on the other hand, costs wise will be that when you get private German insurance, your husband will have to receive his own health insurance because there is no such thing as family insurance within private German health insurance...

Therefore my recommendation is: try to find out if you can enter public insurance at all, if you can, do so. If you can't, come back to me or any independent insurance broker of your choice and find out your options among German private insurances...

Cheerio

I think the best advice may be to just wait a while with the pregnancy, for a number of reasons. Its only going to be another 7 or 19 months

sorry not to answer your actual question

to Starhollow: thanks for your advice...sorry if the head-line misled you in the beginning. I will try to enquiry to the institute, though not really sure if they're happy to hire me for another period if they know I plan to get pregnant. Well better know the regulation clearly rather than mess things up in the future.
You said: "Here the rule is that at least 9 month will have to pass by before the insurance covers maternity costs. " I wonder, how about the fee to see the doctor concerning fertility or the pregnancy itself? Will it be covered soon after I get the insurance or must wait for 9 months as well. NHS in UK or Medibank in Australia seem less complicated:(. Sorry for this 'stupid' question..this will be my first. Thank again.

To boomtown_rat: no need to say sorry! That's is very sensible thought actually.. waiting for another 7 months, but no more than that. Keep my fingers crossed:)