What You Need to Know About Maternity Health Insurance Coverage

The birth of a child is a pivotal event in the lives of parents and one needs to plan for it in advance. One way to plan for the various expenses related to the medical needs of a newborn child is to purchase a health insurance plan with maternity coverage. However, such coverage often comes with an additional cost that adds to the health insurance premium of plans that do not offer this benefit.

Read on to know the details of how maternity coverage in health insurance works, its key inclusions and exclusions as well as key pointers on how you can choose the most suitable plan.

Maternity coverage often known as maternity health insurance policy is a type of health insurance plan offered specifically to women. Often provided as a rider to standard health insurance and mediclaim policies, maternity coverage is designed to cover the expenses of childbirth.

While the extent of cover may vary from one insurer to another, this type of insurance policy covers a wide range of pregnancy-related expenses. Typically, the coverage ranges from prenatal care during later stages of pregnancy, costs associated with normal/caesarian deliveries to any pregnancy-related complications.

Some insurance companies also cover a wide range of pre- and post-natal expenses under their maternity health insurance policies. However, these policies typically do not cover pre-existing diseases affecting pregnancy, congenital diseases, or treatment expenses related to infertility.

In India, maternity benefits of health insurance are primarily offered as an add-on benefit of health insurance policies and only women can avail this type of cover. So, most insurers allow individuals to avail this plan if they fall within the 18 years to 45 years age group. It is also important to remember that this add-on cover does not extend beyond the age of 45 years.

Additionally, health insurance companies may choose not to provide maternity coverage in the case of women who fall into common exclusion criteria like having congenital disorders or those with diseases that impact the ability to conceive. What’s more, there is often a waiting period of 9 months or longer, that varies from one insurer to another, before you are eligible to claim the maternity benefits of your health plan.

The generic eligibility criteria for maternity health plans is not exhaustive. You need to go through the documentation provided by the insurer to determine if you are eligible for availing this type of health plan.

A pregnancy insurance policy allows you to enjoy benefits, including and pre and post-natal expenses, hospitalization expenses for childbirth and even medical termination of pregnancy for various health reasons. Considering the rise in medical costs, it makes sense to prepare ahead of time for such planned and emergency expenses by availing a maternity health plan. Let's discuss the benefits that one can avail of by having maternity insurance policy.

• You can avail cashless medical facilities of the best hospitals that come under your health insurance plan.
• Get access to skilled gynecologists and other staff for a better health experience without having to pay out of pocket or with minimal out-of-pocket expenses
• The premium paid for availing maternity insurance offers you tax benefits under .Section 80D of the Income Tax Act, 1961.
• Maternity cover minimizes your child birth related hospitalization charges, including room rent and other expenses so that there is minimal impact on your monthly budget.

Health insurance with maternity cover is an add-on benefit that enhances the mediclaim cover provided to women. Eligible women can opt for either a health insurance plan for self or a family floater health insurance covering the maternity expenses. Key inclusions of a health insurance with maternity cover benefits include the following:

Here are the factors that you need to consider when buying maternity health insurance:

• Certain aspects might be considered while buying maternity health insurance; as a policyholder, you should understand all the factors to get the best deal and never regret it later. Look at all the aspects that must be considered while buying a health insurance policy.
• Always compare the insurance companies and their plans before you finalize them.
• Comparing allows you to figure out the best among the rest.
• Know the waiting period beforehand to claim the benefit.
• Understand the exclusions well.
• Know the coverage that would suit your needs and requirements.