Motherhood is one of the most important journeys a woman can embark upon. A tiny baby brings in the biggest of joys and the most wholesome of times. However, preparing yourself for pregnancy can prove to be a tough job, right from dietary changes to lifestyle alterations to actually delivering and taking care of your precious little bundle of joy.
Not to mention the costs associated with pregnancy. You need medicines, regular check-ups, ultrasounds, hospitalisation, and so much more which can be heavy on your pocket. This is where buying Maternity Insurance Cover with Health Insurance plays a huge role.
But, with so many plans in the market, how do you choose the right one? In this article, we will discuss the top 10 maternity insurance covers that are the best for you and your baby.
Let’s first understand what a Maternity Insurance Cover is and why you need it.
A Maternity Insurance Cover is basically an insurance cover that shields you against healthcare expenses related to pregnancy. Maternity coverage can be offered as an in-built benefit or an add-on benefit with your base health insurance plan that can be purchased at an extra cost - depending on the insurer and the product you choose.
You should consider opting for a Maternity Insurance Cover because -
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It covers the costs of deliveries
As discussed before, the cost of healthcare is skyrocketing each year and maternity expenses are not spared. So, delivering a child can be an expensive affair. With maternity insurance in place, both normal and caesarean deliveries will be covered.
Note: Your insurer might impose certain limits on coverage. Any expenses beyond this limit will have to be borne by you.
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It covers prenatal and postnatal expenses
A Maternity Insurance Cover also offers coverage for prenatal and postnatal expenses.
Prenatal Expenses |
Postnatal Expenses |
Expenses incurred for medical care before the baby is born. |
Expenses incurred for medical care after the baby is born. |
Generally covered for up to 30 days. |
Generally covered for up to 60 days. |
Examples: Doctors’ consultations, tests, medication, etc. |
Examples: Additional tests, medication, baby’s vaccination, etc. |
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It covers your bundle of joy too!
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Some plans also cover the newborn baby from the day of birth to the next plan renewal. On the other hand, some plans may cover the baby from day 1-90, after which they will have to be included in the plan by paying an additional premium.
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A few plans also cover the costs of the baby’s immunizations, medical treatments, etc. for a specified period of time. Insurers may lay down a list of the vaccination or the amount up to which they will be covered.
So, all-in-all, a good Maternity Insurance Plan should cover prenatal & postnatal costs, the expenses related to the delivery (no matter what type), and also the baby for a certain period of time.
What Is The Right Time To Purchase A Maternity Insurance COver?
This cover is helpful for anyone planning to go the family’s way in the next few years. You should understand that a waiting period of 9 months to 4 years (or more, depending on the insurance company) will be applicable, so you will have to wait out this time span before getting coverage.
Here’s when you should ideally buy the cover -
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If you’ve recently gotten married and plan to have kids 2-3 years down the line.
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If you already have a kid and are planning to have another one soon,
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If you are getting married in the near future and want to have kids.
Note: You can also consider investing in the cover if you are not planning to have a baby anytime soon but still want to keep yourself protected
Top 10 Maternity Insurance Covers
Here is a list of the top 10 maternity insurance covers available in India -
|
Care Insurance - Joy |
ICICI Lombard - Health AdvantEdge |
ICICI Lombard - Health Elite |
Niva Bupa - Health Premia |
Star Health - Comprehensive |
Aditya Birla - Activ Health Platinum (Enhanced) |
Tata AIG - Medicare Premier |
ManipalCigna ProHealth Plus |
Magma HDI - One Health Premium |
Royal Sundaram - Lifeline Elite |
Maternity Benefit Limit |
Up to Rs 50,000. |
10% of the sum insured, up to Rs 10 Lakhs |
Normal Delivery - Up to Rs 25,000.Cesarean Delivery - Up to Rs 50,000. |
Up to Rs 2 Lakhs |
Normal Delivery - Up to Rs 50,000.Cesarean Delivery- Up to Rs 1 Lakh. |
Normal Delivery - Up to Rs 75,000.Cesarean Delivery - Up to Rs 1 Lakh. |
Up to Rs 50,000(Max up to Rs 60,000 for girl child). |
Normal Delivery - Up to Rs 15,000.Cesarean Delivery Up to Rs 25,000. |
Up to Rs 1 Lakh. |
Up to Rs 2 Lakhs(Max up to Rs 2.5 Lakhs for sum insured of 100 & 150 Lakhs) |
Number of deliveries |
No Limit, until the maternity sum insured is not exhausted. |
3 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
No Limit, until the maternity sum insured is not exhausted. |
2 |
2 |
2 |
Coverage of Pre and Post Natal expenses |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Waiting period for Maternity benefit |
9 Months |
9 Months |
36 Months |
24 Months |
24 Months |
48 Months |
48 Months |
48 Months |
48 Months |
36 Months |
New born baby cover limit |
Up to Rs 50,000. |
2x the maternity cover limit per child, over and above the maternity limit. |
Up to Rs 1 Lakh. |
Up to Sum Insured. |
Up to Rs 2 Lakhs. |
Normal Delivery - Up to Rs 75,000.Cesarean Delivery - Up to Rs 1 Lakh |
Up to Rs 10,000. |
Normal Delivery - Up to Rs 15,000.Cesarean Delivery - Up to Rs 25,000. |
Up to Rs 50,000. |
Up to 25% of Sum Insured. |
Vaccination for newborn baby covered |
No |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Conclusion
A good Maternity Insurance cover is one of the best ways to safeguard your and your baby’s future and ensure access to high-quality healthcare. We hope this article helped you understand the importance of maternity coverage, when you should invest in it, and the best plans available in the market.