When you plan for pregnancy, the joy of looking forward to welcoming the newborn comes first. The next important aspect that comes to mind is maternity treatment expenses.
With a standard health insurance policy, you can cover the treatment costs for various illnesses from pre-hospitalisation to hospitalisation and even further. However, if you need coverage for maternity expenses, you need to have a maternity insurance policy.
Health insurance for pregnancy offers extensive coverage, various benefits and customised options for exclusive coverage.
What is Maternity Health Insurance?
Maternity health insurance is generally offered as an optional add-on to a health insurance policy to cover the medical expenses incurred towards pregnancy and child birth. It offers comprehensive coverage for both the mother and the new born and also covers complications.
Pregnancy Insurance Coverage
- Covers Hospitalisation Expenses – Health insurance for pregnancy covers hospitalisation expenses for both caesarean and normal delivery procedures. It covers in-patient care and room rent.
- Covers a Wide Range Of Related Medical Expenses – Maternity health insurance covers diagnostic tests, ambulance expenses, medications and more.
- Covers Pre-Natal and Post-Natal Expenses – With a maternity health insurance policy, you can cover routine follow-ups before delivery and post-natal medical consultations.
- Covers Newborn Baby Care – Medical insurance for maternity also covers the expenses incurred towards vaccinations and routine check-ups for the newborn.
- Covers Unexpected Complications – Maternity health insurance covers unexpected complications that require special medical attention and advanced treatment procedures.
Benefits of Maternity Insurance for Maternity
- Affordable Premiums – You can get extensive coverage under health insurance for pregnancy at an affordable premium.
- Cashless Hospitalisation – You can raise cashless claims for maternity expenses in a few simple steps and get discharged without making any upfront payments.
- Tax Deduction Benefit – The premium paid for a health insurance policy can be considered for tax deduction under Section 80D of the Income Tax Act.
Best Insurance for Pregnant Women
There cannot be one health insurance policy that is best for all pregnant women. The best maternity health insurance for you is one that offers essential coverage specific to your healthcare requirements and is affordable.
One key consideration is the waiting period. Pregnancy insurance coverage is applicable after the waiting period, which is generally 1 or 2 years. So, purchase maternity health insurance well in advance before you plan your pregnancy.
Wrapping Up
Maternity health insurance covers medical expenses incurred towards your pregnancy and childbirth. It is generally available as an add-on to a standard health insurance policy. It offers comprehensive coverage for the various expenses, from diagnostic tests, follow-up check-ups, and delivery treatment expenses to newborn care and vaccinations.
Compare maternity health insurance plans available online and choose the best policy that suits your medical needs. But, purchase it in advance as the waiting period is a key factor to consider.
