What Is Maternity Health Insurance and How Does It Work?

Maternity health insurance is a maternity insurance policy that provides maternity coverage for costs related to normal and caesarean deliveries. Such a policy is like an additional rider to a   regular health insurance policy undertaken by the insured.

What is Maternity Health Insurance?

• Maternity Health Insurance covers costs related to delivery expenses at the time of childbirth.
• It’s available as both a standalone policy or an add-on cover to regular health insurance plans.
• Premiums are higher when compared to regular health insurance policies.

What is covered under Maternity Health Insurance?

• Covers pre and post hospitalisation expenses 
• 30 days pre-hospitalisation expenses covered
• Post hospitalisation expenses till 60 days from the date of discharge
• Normal and caesarean deliveries
• Coverage available as per plan undertaken for doctor’s consultation, surgeon’s fees, room rent, OT charge, nursing costs and anaesthetists fees
• Expenses for treatment of newborn baby, including vaccination expenses 
• Daycare and ambulance expenses
• Cashless treatment in affiliated hospital networks

Key Points to Know about Maternity Health Insurance Plans

• Premium of maternity health insurance is higher when compared to other health insurance plans due to certainty of event for which policy is taken
• Maternity related expenses are certain to be claimed
• Cost benefit analysis should be undertaken before taking maternity health insurance plan
• Though normally a standalone plan, still group insurance plans provided by employers do cover maternity insurance coverage
• Waiting period of 9 months – 36 months 

Points to Remember: 

Maternity health insurance policy is a comprehensive policy which helps you cover your maternity expenses

Infertility treatment expenses, congenital diseases and pre-existing diseases before pregnancy are not covered under maternity health insurance policy