Can I Get Maternity Insurance While Pregnant?

Motherhood is a beautiful and transformative journey in the life of a woman. Becoming a mother brings immeasurable joy and a sense of purpose. At the same time, it also comes with a host of challenges and responsibilities. One way to ensure that both you and your baby are protected is through a Maternity Insurance Cover that you can buy with health insurance. It provides you with financial support and peace of mind during the important and often expensive time of pregnancy and childbirth.

In this article, we’ll talk about Maternity Insurance, the conditions associated with its coverage, and whether you can buy it when you’re pregnant. Let’s go!
 

Maternity Insurance Cover

Maternity coverage provides financial coverage for the medical expenses associated with pregnancy. Their availability varies across different plans - some might have them as a built-in feature with their health insurance, while others might require them to be added as an extra cover by paying an additional premium. A Maternity Cover allows you to focus on the needs of your growing family without worrying about the cost of medical expenses or lost income. It is, thus, considered a valuable resource for new mothers.
 

Maternity Insurance Cover - Scope of Coverage

A Maternity Insurance Cover encompasses a wide range of expenses, like -

1. Prenatal expenses, i.e., the expenses that are incurred before the delivery. These are generally covered for up to 30 days.

2. Both types of deliveries, whether normal or caesarean, are covered.

3. Postnatal expenses, i.e., the expenses that are incurred after the delivery. These are generally covered for up to 60 days.

4. Some plans also cover ancillary costs like medicines, tests, check-ups, etc.

5. Some plans cover newborns by default as part of the parent’s policy, while others may require an additional premium payment. The coverage period can range from day 1 until the next renewal or be limited to a specific number of days. Additionally, the expenses covered can either be up to the policy's sum insured or up to a specific limit specified in the policy.

6. Some plans also cover the baby’s vaccinations. However, the time span and the type of vaccines covered can vary across plans.

   Note: The coverage may be different for different plans. Please read the policy wording carefully before making a purchase!
    

Maternity Insurance Cover - Conditions

A maternity insurance cover comes with certain conditions and limitations -

Maternity Insurance Cover - Can You Get It While You’re Pregnant?

Yes, you can get a Maternity Insurance Cover while you are pregnant. But, you need to be aware of the associated waiting periods. As discussed before, when it comes to the Maternity Insurance Cover, you need to serve a waiting period of 9 months - 4 years or more, depending on the insurer, before you’re eligible for coverage.

So, even if you buy a Maternity Insurance Cover when you’re expecting, your delivery and other maternity-related expenses will not be covered until the waiting period gets completed.
 

So, What Is The Right Time to Buy A Maternity Insurance Cover?

It is recommended to purchase a maternity insurance cover as early as possible, ideally before conception or at the start of the planning to expand your family. This allows you to serve the waiting periods and enjoy the benefits offered by the policy, such as coverage for prenatal and postnatal expenses, delivery costs, and other related medical expenses.

If you wait until after you are pregnant, you may not be eligible for coverage. It is also important to carefully review the terms and conditions of a maternity insurance cover, including the waiting period, coverage limits, and any exclusions, to ensure that it meets your specific needs and provides adequate protection for you and your baby.
 

Conclusion

A maternity insurance cover takes care of various medical expenses related to pregnancy and can help alleviate the financial burden associated with bringing your newborn into this world. To ensure that you get the most out of your maternity insurance cover, it is recommended that you purchase it as early as possible, carefully review the terms and conditions, and understand the coverage limits and exclusions, if any.