TOP MATERNITY INSURANCE PLANS IN INDIA

Overview

Becoming a mother is a beautiful yet challenging journey, and with the rise in medical complications during pregnancy, it's more important than ever for expecting parents to plan ahead. One of the key ways to reduce financial stress during this period is by investing in maternity health insurance. 

These policies are designed to cover pregnancy-related expenses, ensuring that parents can focus on welcoming their new family member without worrying about hefty medical bills. If you're expecting, it's essential to consider purchasing maternity insurance for peace of mind. 

We'll explore everything you need to know about pregnancy insurance, its benefits, the best time to buy, what's included and excluded, eligibility criteria, necessary documents, and the claiming process.

 

 

What is Maternity Health Insurance?

Maternity health insurance or pregnancy insurance is a type of health insurance policy for expecting mothers that provides financial coverage to various aspects of pregnancy and childbirth. Pregnancy insurance covers the costs related to prenatal care, delivery expenses, postnatal care, and sometimes newborn care.

 

Benefits of Maternity Insurance Policy?

• Cover costs associated with delivery, including normal and C-Section.
• Covers costs for Prenatal care like routine check ups, ultrasounds, medical consultations and tests.
• Postnatal coverages include financial support for care after childbirth like after birth complications treatments, hospitalization costs, home nursing.
• Some pregnancy insurance policies provide coverage to new born babies for limited time like routine check ups, vaccination costs.
• Pregnancy policy covers medical complications associated with both baby and mother arising during pregnancy like Emergency C-Section, Prenatal, NICU.
• Many maternity policies offer cashless hospitalization in network hospitals allowing direct payment to the hospital by the insurance company.
• Premiums paid for maternity insurance policies are eligible for tax deductions under Section 80D of the Income Tax Act, offering an additional financial benefit.

 

When Should You Buy Maternity Insurance?

Women should consider buying pregnancy insurance as early as possible, ideally before they conceive or while planning for a family. Most maternity insurance policies come with a waiting period ranging from 9 to 36 months, during which claims for pregnancy-related expenses cannot be made. 

Purchasing the policy early ensures that this waiting period is completed before you need coverage, allowing you to access extensive benefits such as prenatal care, delivery costs, and postnatal care. Early planning also helps secure comprehensive financial protection during pregnancy without last-minute worries.

 

Best Maternity Health Insurance Plans

1. HDFC Ergo Health Insurance's Simple Health Premium Plan

 

For women looking for health insurance, the Easy Health Premium Plan is a fantastic insurance option. The policy is offered for terms of 1 year and 2 years, with options for insured sums ranging from Rs. 4 lakh to Rs. 50 lakh. 

The policy offers a variety of coverage benefits, making it a popular option for many women. These benefits include maternity coverage for both normal and cesarean deliveries (including before and after childbirth procedure), pre- and post-hospitalization expenses for up to 60 days and 90 days, respectively, newborn baby cover as a complimentary benefit on payment of additional premium.

 

2. The ManipalCigna ProHealth Insurance Plan

 

The ManipalCigna ProHealth Insurance Plan provides comprehensive answers to all of your health insurance needs. ProHealth Protect, ProHealth Plus, ProHealth Accumulate Large Cover, ProHealth Preferred, and ProHealth Premier are the many types of the policy, with sums insured ranging from Rs. 2.5 lakh to Rs. 1 crore. 

The policy provides coverage for pre-hospitalization and post-hospitalization costs, as well as coverage for maternity, newborns, first-year vaccines, worldwide coverage, and donor expenses. Additionally, you can expand your coverage by adding value-added and optional covers to your policy, such as deductible, critical sickness, cumulative bonus, etc.

 

3. Aditya Birla Activ Health Enhanced Plan

 

The Aditya Birla Activ Health Enhanced plan is a more expensive version of the Aditya Birla Health Insurance's Activ Health plan. The plan provides substantial coverage up to Rs. 2 crore of the insured amount and, in addition, rewards members for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. By paying an additional premium, you can use this policy's pregnancy coverage. 

Pre-hospitalization and post-hospitalization costs for up to 60 and 180 days, respectively, as well as coverage for inpatient hospitalization costs, road ambulance costs, daycare procedures, a free health checkup, and costs associated with organ harvesting are additional benefits that the policy covers.

 

4. Health Guard Family Floater Plan from Bajaj Allianz

 

Is a comprehensive health insurance plan that includes maternity coverage at a reasonable rate. The policy offers options for sum insured that range from Rs. 1.5 lakh to Rs. 50 lakh for those aged 3 months to 65 years. The policy, which comes in two plan variations, includes maternity and newborn baby coverage for up to two deliveries among its many other perks. 

Ayurvedic and homeopathic treatment costs, bariatric surgery costs, a 10% cumulative bonus benefit for each year without a claim, up to a maximum of 100%, coverage for daycare treatments, and pre-hospitalization and post-hospitalization costs are all additional advantages provided by the policy.

 

5. HDFC Ergo My: Health Suraksha Plan

 

Is created to provide insurance against medical bills. The Silver Smart, Gold Smart, and Platinum Smart plans are the three available variations of the coverage. The policy is renewable for a lifetime and offers sum insured options between Rs. 3 lakh and Rs. 75 lakh. Parent and child care cover-Booster is one of the policy's many additional features. 

By paying an additional premium, you can get this add-on cover and get protection from costs associated with pregnancy, infertility treatment, and childbirth. Organ donation costs, pre and post-hospitalization costs, road ambulance costs, in-patient hospitalization costs, etc. are additional costs that the coverage shields you against.

 

Eligibility Criteria for Maternity Coverage Policy

Age limit 18-45 

Insurance companies have an age bracket of 18-45 for the enrollment of Maternity policies.

 

Waiting Period

After the purchase maternity policyholders must complete the waiting period before claiming the policy. Waiting period could range from 9 months to a couple of years depending on the insurer and plan you choose.

 

Pre-Existing Pregnancy

Already pregnant womens are not eligible for buying pregnancy coverage insurance.

 

Pre Medical Check Up

Some insurance companies may ask to perform specific medical tests to check certain medical conditions that are subject to scrutiny or not eligible for maternity coverage.

 

Number of Children

Most of the health insurance companies provide coverages for the first two pregnancies, subsequent delivery insurance claims will not be viable.

 

Marital Status

Some insurers may require the policyholder to be legally married to claim pregnancy insurance. However many insurers extend coverage regardless of marital status of policyholders.

 

Regular Premiums

To keep maternity insurance active and viable for claim, it is essential to pay regular premiums of the policy. Failure payment may lapse policy as well as its benefits. 
 

What is Covered in Maternity Insurance

• Normal Delivery Expenses: Covers the costs associated with a vaginal delivery, including hospital stay, labor room fees, and doctor’s fees.
• C-Section Delivery Expenses: Includes expenses related to cesarean section deliveries, such as surgical fees, anesthesia, and recovery room charges.
• Prenatal Care: Covers routine check-ups, screenings, and diagnostic tests needed throughout the pregnancy.
• Delivery Expenses: Encompasses all costs incurred during the delivery process, including room rent and nursing care.
• Postnatal Care: Covers follow-up consultations and medications for the mother after childbirth to ensure her recovery.
• Newborn Care (like vaccinations, NICU): Includes medical expenses for the newborn, such as vaccinations and treatment if the baby requires admission to a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
• Home Care Nursing Charges: May cover expenses for nursing services provided at home after delivery, depending on the policy specifics.
• Ambulance Services: Covers the costs of ambulance transportation during emergencies related to pregnancy or delivery.
• Complications of Pregnancy: Includes treatment for any pregnancy-related complications, such as gestational diabetes or preeclampsia.
   

What is Not Covered in Maternity Insurance

• Infertility treatment Costs, including IVF: Generally not covered, as maternity insurance focuses on pregnancy-related expenses rather than fertility treatments.
• Cosmetic surgeries related to childbirth: These expenses are typically excluded, as maternity insurance does not cover elective cosmetic procedures.
• Covers to complications arising from non-gynecological conditions: Costs related to complications from conditions unrelated to pregnancy or gynecology are generally not covered.
• Pregnancy Termination Expenses: Usually not covered under maternity insurance policies, as they often exclude elective abortions or terminations.

 

Documents Required to Raise Maternity Insurance Claim

You will require the following documents to claim maternity health insurance with your insurance provider.

• Claiming Form
• Policy Documents
• Maternity Certificate
• Discharge Summary
• Medical Bills
• KYC Documents
• Passport Photos
   

FAQs on Maternity Health Insurance

Does IVF Treatments Get Covered in Maternity Insurance?

No, generally expenses related to IVF treatments don’t get covered in the maternity insurance policy; rather there are separate types of health insurance policies designed specially for the treatments related to infertility.

 

What is the Waiting Period in Pregnancy Insurance?

Waiting period refers to the specific time frame after purchasing a pregnancy health insurance policy during which the policyholder cannot make any claims for maternity-related expenses.

 

Does Maternity Insurance Provide a No Claim Bonus?

No, as maternity insurance is designed only for events related to pregnancy and childbirth and does not align with standard annual renewal cycle it could not offer No Claim Bonus like general health insurance.

 

If I'm Already Pregnant, Can I Still Purchase Maternity Insurance?

No. Maternity insurance policies have a required waiting time, so you cannot purchase one when you are already pregnant.

 

Does Maternity Insurance Policy Cover Third Pregnancy?

The majority of maternity insurance policies only cover up to two children who are still living. However, some insurance plans do include maternity coverage for the insured's third child.