Very few joys in life compare to the joy of bringing a child into this world. Parenthood, without a doubt, is one of life’s most beautiful experiences. It, however, can be a very anxious time - if you are not prepared. Bringing one extra member in the family means added expenditure. Hence, it is important to be prepared not just emotionally but also financially. 

A maternity health insurance plan is one insurance product that can help you be financially prepared. There, however, are a few things you must know before you buy a health insurance plan with maternity cover. Let's look at them in this article.

5 Things To Know About Maternity Health Insurance In India

1️⃣ Several Expenses Covered

Maternity health insurance will not only cover expenses related to the delivery of the baby. Some plans may cover pre and post-natal expenses too. These include expenses related to medicines, ultrasound, medical examinations, etc. Mostly, prenatal costs incurred 30 days prior to the delivery of the baby, and post-natal costs incurred 60 days after the baby is born are covered. 

2️⃣ Waiting Period

When you buy maternity cover with your health insurance, the insurer won’t cover the expenses related to maternity immediately. They may apply a waiting period, i.e., a period during which you won’t be able to make a claim related to maternity costs. This waiting period may vary from 9 months to 4 years depending on the product and insurer you choose. 

For instance, in July 2022, Divya buys a health insurance policy with a sum insured of Rs. 25 Lakhs. Her policy has an inbuilt maternity cover with a waiting period of 1 year. This means that she won’t be able to apply for a maternity-related claim during this period. The insurer will pay for the maternity-related costs from July 2023. Let’s say she gets pregnant in December 2022 and undergoes some medical tests. In this case, the insurance company won’t pay for these tests as the waiting period of 1 year is not over.

3️⃣ Coverage Limit

Some insurance companies may set a limit up to which they will pay for maternity-related expenses. This limit may range from INR 30,000 to 10,00,000 depending on the health insurance plan and base cover you opt for. Any expenses you incur that exceed the limit specified by the insurer, you’ll have to pay for them yourself.

For instance, Ayesha has a health plan of INR 10 Lakhs. As per the terms and conditions of the plan, the insurer will cover maternity costs up to INR 2 Lakhs. A few months after buying the plan, Ayesha gives birth to a beautiful baby boy. The expenses incurred amount to INR 4.5 Lakhs. In this case, the insurer will only pay INR 2 Lakhs. Ayesha will have to pay the remaining INR 2.5 Lakhs (4.5 Lakhs - 2 Lakhs) from her pocket. 

4️⃣ Limit On The Number Of Deliveries Covered

If you’re buying a health insurance plan with maternity cover, you should know that insurers may apply restrictions on the number of deliveries they will cover. Some insurance companies, for example, will only cover a maximum of two deliveries under the maternity benefit. So, make sure you go through the policy wordings and check if there’s a limit on the number of deliveries covered. And, if possible, try to buy a policy without such a restriction.

5️⃣ Newborn Baby Coverage

Some insurance companies also provide health insurance coverage for the newborn baby for a certain duration. Some plans cover the newborn baby from day 1 until the next renewal, while others cover the baby from day 1 to day 90. And, in some policies, the newborn baby is covered up to the policy sum insured, whereas others may specify a specific limit up to which the baby's expenses will be covered. 
So, these were 5 important things about maternity health insurance in India. If you have any further questions related to maternity insurance, you can post them on the Beshak Insurance Forum, and get answers from vetted experts!