Gaps in maternity coverage for some women could grow under health law

There's been a lot of controversy over the health care overhaul's requirement that most health plans this month to start covering contraceptive services for women as a free preventive benefit. But that requirement may prevent some young women from falling into a coverage gap of a different kind: no maternity coverage. Individual health insurance policies have long been criticized by women's health advocates for their frequent failure to cover maternity benefits for women. According to a recent report by the National Women's Law Center, only 12 percent of plans in the individual market provide maternity coverage.