Buying pregnancy insurance is one of the best ways to cover the expenses of maternity. The rising medical costs have compelled couples planning to expand their families to search for appropriate financial aid. In such cases, getting a pregnancy insurance policy is a viable option.

However, the policy conditions in maternity insurance can be cumbersome to understand. For instance, even if you have a maternity policy, did you know that you would have to wait for 2-6 years to enjoy the cashless benefit? There are various terms and conditions that one must clarify when it comes to maternity insurance.

Have you purchased the best insurance during pregnancy and then delivery? If you aren’t sure, here are a few facts that would help you assess your existing maternity insurance or even help in buying a new policy.

Why Pregnancy Coverage Is Crucial in Health Insurance 

The Maternity Insurance covers pregnancy and delivery, including all medical expenses related to pregnancy. The cost of pregnancy and delivery is at its highest. Moreover, the risk of complications during pregnancy and childbirth is also evident. This is where you need a robust solution. Having a cover for financial expenses allows expecting couples to enjoy stress-free pregnancy. With the change in lifestyle, insurance for pregnant women has become a must, especially considering the risk factors and the high costs involved.

Types of Maternity Health Insurance Plans

Maternity health insurance plans are designed to cover medical expenses related to pregnancy, delivery, and newborn care. Insurers typically offer maternity benefits in two forms, and understanding the differences helps you select the plan that aligns with your needs.

1. Maternity Cover as Part of a Comprehensive Health Insurance Plan

Many family-floater or individual health insurance plans include maternity coverage as an add-on or as an in-built benefit. These plans offer broader protection—hospitalisation, day-care procedures, and maternity—under a single policy. They also provide benefits like no-claim bonuses, wellness programs, and lifelong renewability.

2. Standalone Maternity Health Insurance Plans

Standalone maternity policies focus only on pregnancy-related costs. They cover delivery, pre- and post-natal care, and newborn expenses. These plans tend to have fixed maternity limits and may not include wide medical coverage beyond pregnancy.

3. Group Health Insurance with Maternity Add-On

Employees often receive maternity benefits through their corporate group health insurance. These plans typically have shorter waiting periods (as low as 9 months) compared to individual plans. However, coverage limits may be lower, and benefits stop once you exit the organisation.

What Does a Pregnancy Health Plan Cover?

A pregnancy health plan is structured to reduce the financial burden of childbirth and related medical needs. While coverage varies across insurers, most plans include the following components:

• Hospitalisation costs for normal and C-section deliveries
• Doctor and surgeon fees, anaesthesia, OT charges
• Vaccinations for newborns up to a specified period
• Pre- and post-natal consultations, tests, and medicines
• Ambulance expenses
• Newborn care from day one (depending on plan)

The goal is to ensure financial protection from the early stages of pregnancy until after childbirth, especially given the rising costs in private hospitals.

Pre- and Post-Natal Expenses

Pregnancy involves multiple stages of medical care, and maternity insurance is designed to cover these essential check-ups and follow-up treatments.

Pre-natal coverage includes:

• Routine doctor visits
• Blood tests, scans, and ultrasounds
• Required supplements and prescribed medicines
• Pregnancy-related diagnostic procedures

These services help track foetal growth, detect complications early, and manage maternal health.

Post-natal coverage includes:

• Mother’s hospitalisation after delivery
• Follow-up check-ups for recovery
• Post-delivery medications
• Treatments for medical issues such as infections or blood-pressure fluctuations

Some plans cover post-natal care for up to 6 weeks after delivery, although the duration differs by insurer. Together, these benefits help reduce out-of-pocket expenses throughout the entire pregnancy cycle.

Newborn Coverage and Waiting Periods

Most maternity health insurance policies extend coverage to the newborn immediately after birth. This is particularly important because complications can arise during the early days of life, requiring medical intervention, NICU admission, or vaccinations.

Newborn coverage typically includes:

• Hospitalisation from day one
• Vaccinations up to the first year (depending on policy)
• Mandatory screenings and health check-ups
• Treatment of congenital disorders (in select plans)

Waiting Periods: Waiting periods are one of the most important elements in maternity insurance. The waiting period differs for different insurance providers and plan types.

• Group corporate plans usually have shorter waiting periods—sometimes as low as 9 months.
• If maternity coverage is added after pregnancy begins, insurers may treat it as a pre-existing condition and deny the benefit.

How to Choose the Best Maternity Health Insurance

Selecting the right maternity plan requires evaluating your healthcare needs, budget, and preferred hospitals. Here’s how you can make a well-informed choice:

1. Check the Waiting Period: Since waiting periods vary widely, choosing a plan with a shorter waiting period is beneficial if you’re planning a pregnancy in the near future.
2. Review the Maternity Sum Insured : Look for realistic limits that match current healthcare expenses. Delivery costs in private hospitals can increase depending on location and complexity.
3. Examine Inclusions and Exclusions: Ensure that essential benefits, pre- and post-natal care, newborn cover, vaccinations, C-section, and complications, are included. Also review exclusions such as IVF, experimental treatments, or early pregnancy termination.
4. Choose a Plan with Strong Network Hospital Coverage : Cashless treatment is easier when your preferred hospital is part of the insurer’s network.
5. Compare Premiums with Benefits: Lower premiums may mean lower maternity limits or more exclusions. Focus on value rather than cost alone.
6. Consider Add-Ons and Upgrades: Some insurers offer helpful add-ons like a reduction in maternity waiting period, newborn cover extension, or wellness benefits.

Benefits of Comprehensive Pregnancy Insurance

Comprehensive maternity insurance offers more than basic delivery coverage. It provides a complete financial safety net throughout the entire pregnancy journey.

Key benefits include:

• Financial protection: Covers hospitalisation, diagnostics, and newborn care costs.
• Support for complications: Includes emergency treatments, premature delivery, and medically necessary procedures.
• Coverage from day one for newborns: Reduces early medical expenses.
• Peace of mind: Helps expecting parents focus on health rather than unexpected bills.
• Cashless claim benefits: Smooth admission and discharge at network hospitals.
• Tax benefits: Premiums may be eligible for tax deduction under Section 80D.

With rising medical costs and increasing rates of complications, comprehensive pregnancy insurance becomes an essential part of financial planning.

Conclusion

Now that you have this information at your disposal, make an informed choice in buying the great health insurance cover for pregnancy. You can buy the ManipalCigna ProHealth Preferred plan that covers maternity expenses of up to Rs. 50,000 for normal and up to Rs. 1 lakh for C-Section.

FAQs

When should I buy maternity health insurance?

You should buy maternity insurance well before pregnancy because most plans have waiting periods of 2–6 years. Early purchase ensures you complete the waiting period and receive full benefits when needed.

What is covered under pregnancy plans?

Pregnancy plans typically cover pre- and post-natal care, normal and C-section delivery, hospitalisation, newborn expenses, ambulance charges, and vaccinations. Coverage varies across insurers and depends on the plan type and sum insured.

Is newborn care included automatically?

Most maternity health plans include newborn cover from day one, but the limit and duration vary by insurer. Some plans cover vaccinations or check-ups for up to a year, while others require an add-on for extended newborn coverage.