Maternity Health Insurance Policy – Definition, Coverage, Exclusions, Claims, Best Plans, Benefits, Premiums | Free Quote Online

What is a Maternity Health Insurance Plan? – Definition

A Maternity Health Insurance Policy is a type of Health Insurance Policy that covers Maternity-Related expenses for expecting mothers including Normal and C-Section Delivery Expenses. Maternity-related expenses mean: - medical treatment expenses traceable to childbirth (including complicated deliveries and caesarean sections incurred during hospitalization); - expenses towards lawful medical termination of pregnancy during the policy period. Many Health Insurance Policies in India provide coverage for Maternity Expenses with Sub-Limits after a Waiting Period. Some Health Insurance Policies also offer New-Born baby Coverage which covers medical expenses related to newborn Babies.

What expenses are covered under a Maternity Health Insurance Plan?

1. Maternity Related Expenses: Maternity Health Insurance Plans cover Maternity Related expenses traceable to childbirth (including Normal and Caesarean sections deliveries incurred during hospitalization) and expenses towards lawful medical termination of pregnancy. These expenses include doctor’s fees, room rent expenses, pharmacy bills, diagnostic tests etc.
2. Pre and Post-Natal Expenses: Some Health Insurance Plans also provide coverage for Pre and Post-Natal Expenses including Blood Tests, Doctor’s Consultations, Ultrasounds etc.
3. Delivery Complications Expenses: Some Health Insurance Plans also provide coverage for medical expenses incurred for the treatment of the new born baby for delivery-related complications.
4. New-Born Baby Coverage: Medical Insurance Policies also provide New-Born Baby Coverage. This is an important cover as sometimes substantial medical expenses are incurred if the baby is born with some complications.

What is not Covered under Pregnancy Health Insurance Plans?

Maternity Insurance Plans have the following exclusions:

1. Waiting Periods: If the delivery happens within the Waiting Period of the Maternity Health Insurance Policy, then the Policy will not provide coverage for delivery expenses.
2. Infertility Treatments: Many Health Insurance Plans do not provide coverage for Infertility treatments
3. Claims outside the eligible Age Period: Many Health Insurance Plans cover delivery expenses if the Insured female is within a certain age bracket (for example: between 18 to 45 years). If the Insured conceived a child outside the age bracket, then the Insurance Coverage will not be provided under the Policy
4. Ectopic Pregnancy: Most Maternity Health Insurance Plans do not provide coverage for Ectopic Pregnancy.

It is important that the Policyholder understands the Policy exclusions thoroughly by reading the Policy Wordings in detail.

How to choose the best Maternity Health Insurance Plan?

If you wish to purchase a Health Insurance Plan with Maternity Coverage, it is important to compare the below mentioned coverages:

1. Waiting Periods: Health Insurance Plans offer Maternity Coverage only after a Waiting Period of 2-3 years. It is important to compare the Waiting Periods before the Health Insurance Plan begins to cover Maternity Related Expenses under the Insurance Policy.
2. Sub-Limits: Health Insurance Plans with Maternity coverage have Sub-Limits for the benefit. Most Health Insurance Plans cover Maternity Expenses only up to a limit of Rs50,000 to Rs1 lakh. Therefore, it is extremely important to compare the Sub-limits for Maternity Coverage.
3. Pre and Post-Natal Expenses Coverage: Some Health Insurance Plans exclude coverage for Pre and Post-Natal Expenses. It is better to choose plans which offer Pre and Post-Natal Expenses Coverage as well.
4. New-Born Baby Coverage: Another important coverage under Maternity Health Insurance Plans is coverage for Newborn Babies. Sometimes, babies suffer complications upon birth and might require treatment with significant medical expenses. Plans offering Newborn baby coverage are extremely helpful in such cases.
5. Premiums: The last factor to compare maternity health insurance plans is to compare premiums. The Premiums of Health Insurance Plans with Maternity cover will be higher than premiums of plans without Maternity cover. Policyholder should carefully evaluate the benefits of availing insurance coverage for maternity while paying higher premiums for the same.

List of best Maternity Health Insurance Plans in India

1. ICICI Lombard Health AdvantEdge Apex Plus Plan: ICICI Lombard Health AdvantEdge Apex Plus Plan is a comprehensive Health Insurance Policy which offers Maternity Coverage as an Add-On Cover on payment of additional premium. The Plan offers Maternity Coverage with a Sub-Limit of 10% of Policy Sum Insured subject to a maximum of Rs1 lakh with a low Waiting Period of 2 years.
   The Policy also offers a New-Born Baby Cover with a maximum limit of twice the Maternity Sum Insured and covers the vaccination expenses of the baby for the first year upto 1% of the Sum Insured subject to a maximum limit of Rs10,000. Additionally, the Policy also offers coverage for Pre-natal (from conception until delivery of baby) and post-natal (up to 30 days from date of delivery of baby) expenses within the Maternity Sum Insured
2. SBI Health Edge: SBI Health Edge Insurance Policy is a comprehensive Health Insurance Plan offering a Maternity Sub-Limit of Rs25,000 lakhs/Rs50,000 for Normal and C-Section Delivery respectively after a Waiting Period of 4 years. The Policy also offers a New-Born Baby Cover upto a limit of Rs1 lakh.
3. Tata AIG Medicare Premier: Tata AIG Medicare Premier Plan is a comprehensive Health Insurance Plan offering a Maternity Sub-Limit of Rs50,000 lakhs/Rs1 lakh for a Boy child and Rs60,000/Rs1.20 lakhs for a Girl Child after a Waiting Period of 4 years. The Policy also offers a Delivery Complications Cover upto a limit of Rs10,000/Rs25,000 which covers medical expenses incurred for the treatment of the new-born baby for delivery-related complications. Tata AIG Medicare Premier Insurance Policy also covers the vaccination expenses of the baby for the first year upto Rs10,000.
4. Manipal Cigna ProHealth Prime Advantage Plan: Manipal Cigna ProHealth Prime Advantage Plan offers a Maternity Coverage along with a New Born Baby Cover (including 1st Yeat Vaccination Expenses) with a Sub-Limit of 10% of Policy Sum Insured subject to a maximum limit of Rs1 lakh. The Waiting Period for Maternity Coverage is 3 years. The Policy also offers Infertility Treatment Cover of upto Rs2.5 lakhs.
5. Niva Bupa Aspire Titanium Plus Plan: Niva Bupa Aspire is a comprehensive Medical Insurance Policy offering a Maternity Coverage along with a Newborn Baby Cover. The Policy offers cover from Rs40,000 to Rs2.5 lakhs (with the Unutilised Sum Insured being carried forward under the Booster+ benefit). The Waiting Period for under the Titanium+ Variant is 9 months.
6. Royal Sundaram Lifeline Elite Plan: Royal Sundaram Lifeline Elite is a comprehensive Health Insurance Plan offering a higher Maternity Sub-Limit of Rs2 lakhs/Rs2.5 lakh after a Waiting Period of 3 years. Both parents should be covered under the same plan to avail the benefit under the Policy. The Policy also offers a New-Born Baby Cover of upto 25% of the Policy Sum Insured and covers the vaccination expenses of the baby for the first year upto Rs10,000.
7. Star Health Assurance Insurance Policy: Star Health Assure Insurance Plan is a comprehensive Health Insurance Plan offering a Maternity Sub-Limit of 10% of Policy Sum Insured after a Waiting Period of 2 years. Both parents should be covered under the same plan for 2 years to avail the benefit under the Policy. The Policy also offers a New-Born Baby Cover and covers the assisted reproduction treatment.

Best Maternity Health Insurance Plans in India

What are the Benefits of a Maternity Health Insurance Policy?

A Health Insurance Plan with Maternity Coverage provides the following Benefits

1. Comprehensive Coverage for Delivery Expenses: A Maternity Health Insurance Policy covers all expenses traceable to childbirth as well as expenses towards lawful medical termination of pregnancy during the Policy Period
2. Newborn Baby Coverage: Most Maternity Health Insurance Plans provide Newborn Baby Coverage. A Newborn baby cover is extremely useful if the baby suffers complications upon birth and might require treatment with significant medical expenses.
3. Pre and Post-Natal Expenses Coverage: Maternity Health Insurance Plans also offer coverage for Pre and Post-Natal expenses as well as vaccination expenses of the newborn baby for the first year. These expenses are substantial and having Insurance for the same is a big support.
4. Tax Savings: The Premiums paid towards Maternity Health Insurance Plans are eligible for tax deduction under Section 80D of the Income Tax Act, 1961.

Should you purchase a Maternity Health Insurance Plan?

People who wish to purchase a Maternity Health Insurance Plan should always weigh the benefits and the costs when purchasing the Policy. The Maternity Coverage under a Health Insurance Policy is not cheap and the extra premium paid towards availing Maternity Coverage should be evaluated against the benefits that will be received in the form of a Maternity Insurance Claim.

When should you buy a Maternity Health Insurance Plan?

Only young people should purchase a Maternity Health Insurance Policy as the Premiums for a Maternity Cover are higher than plans without maternity cover. Some plans require that both parents should be covered under the Policy. In that case, a Maternity Health Insurance Policy should be purchased immediately after marriage so that the Waiting Period is over by the time the couple conceives a child. Policyholder should carefully consider the Waiting Period before they purchase a Maternity Health Insurance Policy.

Is there a way to get maternity insurance without a waiting period?

Most Individual Health Insurance Policies have a Waiting Period of 2-3 years before providing Maternity coverage. However, Corporate Health Insurance Policies provide Maternity Coverage without any Waiting Period.

Get Best Quotes for Maternity Health Insurance Policy with Qian!

Giving birth to a child is a significant milestone in one’s life. However, delivery expenses are high and having Insurance Coverage for the same protects oneself from such high expenses. Delivery Expenses in a Hospital in a Metro City range from Rs75,000 to Rs3 lakhs and a Health Insurance Policy with Maternity Coverage provides. Including Maternity Coverage in your Health Insurance Plan ensures that you are financially prepared for all maternity-related expenses. Qian is a licensed Insurance Broker for Health Insurance Policies. Our team will provide you with quotes for multiple Maternity Insurance Plans as well as assist you with the complete claims process. If you wish to learn more, you can reach out to us at insurance@qian.co.in or call us on 022-35134695. We promise to give you a quote in 15 minutes.