Health insurance plans cover medical expenses and a wide range of benefits. When searching for a health insurance policy for women, it is crucial to include maternity coverage. This coverage encompasses the costs of a normal pregnancy, labour, and delivery. A comprehensive health insurance policy also covers the newborn and other related expenses.
Presently, medical facilities and childbirth in reputable hospitals have become increasingly costly. It is challenging for many individuals to afford such substantial expenses during delivery. If you desire to provide the best maternity services for your wife without financial strain, selecting a policy with maternity coverage is essential. By doing so, you can incur all pregnancy-related expenses without breaking your bank.
What Do You Mean by Maternity Insurance in India?
Maternity insurance falls within health insurance and covers childbirth-related expenses up to a specific threshold. It is available as a separate policy or as an additional feature to your existing health plan, requiring an extra premium.
What Does a Maternity Insurance Plan Cover?
- Coverage for expenses incurred thirty days before hospitalisation and sixty days after hospitalisation.
- Coverage for expenses associated with both normal and C-section deliveries.
- Coverage for hospitalisation expenses, including nursing, room rent, operating theatre charges, anaesthetist fees, and doctor’s fees.
- Coverage for medical treatment expenses for a new born child.
- Coverage for daycare treatments.
- Insurance coverage for vaccination expenses for newborns.
- Coverage for ambulance expenses for transportation of the insured.
- Access to cashless treatment at network hospitals.
When Should You Buy Maternity Cover Insurance?
Typically, insurance service providers in India do not offer maternity insurance coverage for women who are already pregnant, as it is a pre-existing condition that falls outside the scope of policy coverage. Let’s explore the essential guidelines for purchasing maternity cover insurance in India:
- Pre-existing clause: If you want to avail maternity cover insurance, it is necessary to have coverage under a plan for at least one year before you plan to conceive a child.
- Waiting period: This insurance usually has a longer waiting period. Therefore, the coverage begins only after this waiting period is completed.
- Delayed pregnancy: As time passes and age increases, maternity plans become more expensive. Higher premiums may be necessary due to a delayed pregnancy to receive the advantages of maternity cover insurance.
When you are recently married and intend to plan a family within the next two years, it is essential to consider buying a maternity insurance plan. In contrast, if you already have a kid and plan to conceive again, ensure to go over the policy’s rules and regulations entirely before making a choice.
Things To Know About a Maternity Insurance in India
Both the costs of vaginal delivery and the option of caesarean delivery are covered by maternity insurance. So, no matter what procedure you choose, having health insurance with maternity cover can relieve you from incurring a high cost. Here are some essential details regarding an Indian maternity insurance plan.
It Provides Financial Security
You may maintain your financial stability while being pregnant by availing health insurance with maternity cover. This insurance will ensure that your delivery is stress-free and that you don’t break the bank too quickly.
Relaxing Start to Parenthood
Once you have maternity health insurance, paying for delivery costs and covering the newborn’s medical costs for the first 90 days will relieve you of financial pressure. Additionally, it will help cover expenses associated with any medical issues, vaccines for the new born, etc.
Pre and Post Hospitalisation Expenses
The maternity health insurance covers costs incurred before the covered individual becomes hospitalised. Post-hospitalisation coverage means the new born baby and the mother will be cared for post-op.
Pre and Postnatal Expenses
This insurance for pregnancy pays for childcare expenses, including doctor visits and prescription drugs.
Delivery Charges and Inpatient Hospitalisation
Under this insurance for pregnancy, all hospitalisation costs related to delivery are fully covered. Depending on the coverage, the total amount covered may vary.
How To Calculate Maternity Insurance Premium?
The premium for health insurance for pregnancy is higher compared to regular medical insurance plans. This is due to the guaranteed filing of claims under the policy, which leads insurers to charge a higher premium. Before making a purchase, conducting a thorough cost-benefit analysis of different plans offered by various insurance providers is essential.
It is essential to remember that as you age, the premium for health insurance for pregnancy increases. Additionally, the costs associated with pregnancy are rising steadily. To secure an affordable plan with maximum benefits, purchasing today is recommended and therefore avoiding any delays in decision-making.
Filing a Claim for Maternity Insurance
You can choose a cashless claim facility and utilise the network hospitals affiliated with your insurer. Your claim will be promptly confirmed and processed upon submitting all required documents online.
For reimbursement claims, you can select any hospital you prefer. Inform the company about the timing of the delivery and provide details of other related expenses. After the childbirth procedure, you may submit the necessary bills and information to the insurance company for reimbursement processing.
Conclusion
Keep in mind that significant milestones like these are not a regular occurrence. Proper planning is crucial, whether it’s your first or second child. The start of parenthood is a remarkable and demanding experience. It brings excitement, nervousness, fulfilment, uncertainty, and restlessness. The maternity phase is a transformative journey that ultimately leads to immense joy. Therefore, it is essential to prioritise maternity insurance policy planning, both for unplanned and planned pregnancies.