Maternity coverage is a part of most health insurance policies. Does a maternity cover make sense for you? Let’s find out.
If you are planning to start your family then, it is more likely that you are looking out for a maternity insurance cover. But, does having a cover like that actually, makes sense? With all the additional premium, waiting period and capping involved one would think twice before buying a maternity plan. Here we have dissected each element to help you make a choice.
What is maternity cover?
Maternity cover would help you get financial coverage for both the caesarian and normal deliveries. This cover also includes coverage against complications related to pregnancy and delivery. Some of these plans offer coverage for newborn expenses including coverage for vaccination charges.
Isn’t Your Health Insurance Policy Enough?
Your health insurance policy might not be sufficient for the pregnancy-related claims. This is where a need for maternity coverage is often felt. Some corporate policies do give maternity insurance benefits of up to Rs. 50,000. However, amounts covered for regular health policies tend to vary. There is a chance that you would be charged an extra premium for it.
All maternity-related expenses fall under riders of a health insurance. So extra costs are incurred. In some cases, it is considered as an OPD-related expense. Given below is an insight on the things you should be aware of-
Waiting Period
The average waiting period for the maternity coverage is about 3-6 years. If you get pregnant before that, you would be denied the claim. Also, don’t assume you can get a claim right after the beginning of the policy.
Inclusions/Coverage Under Maternity Coverage
Coverage for maternity insurance differs from one company to the other. Here’s what you can expect-
- Hospitalisation expenses (with a cap depending on provider)
- Pre-hospitalisation expenses of about 30 days
- Post-hospitalisation expenses of 60 days. This also includes your room charges, nursing expenses, anaesthetist charges, etc.
- Delivery expenses
- Vaccination of the infant (only in some cases)
- Ambulance charges
- Pre and post-natal expenses. It would again depend upon the type of delivery. Costs vary for caesarean and normal ones.
- Baby cover is provided if a new-born is diagnosed with congenital disorders
Premium for Maternity Coverage
The maternity coverage premium is always on the higher side. The claim ratio is almost 100% as compared to other health insurance policies. The premium depends on the following
- Type of industry
- Risk factors
- Age profile
- Number of employees (group policies)
- Company location (group policies)
When To Get Maternity Insurance?
The best age to get the maternity insurance is usually around 25. Remember that the lack of proper planning could lead to added costs. It is a critical aspect of planned pregnancies, and hence you should not delay in getting one.
Companies Offering Maternity Coverage
It is always a wise to compare and evaluate maternity coverage before getting one. Here are some companies that offer excellent coverage-
- Apollo Munich Insurance – Easy Health Family Floater. The plan offers maternity insurance benefits along with the new-born care.
- Cigna TTK Health Insurance – ProHealth Plus Plan. The company provides coverage of Rs. 15000 for normal delivery and Rs. 25000 for a caesarean delivery.
- Star Health Wedding Gift Pregnancy Cover. Under this plan, you have covered for Rs. 10 lakhs and 2 deliveries. However, the waiting period is 3 years.