Pregnancy is a significant time for couples or families expecting a new member. Being thoroughly prepared for all facets of being a parent is vital. Childbirth is a life-changing procedure for expecting parents, but it is not without its issues. It is necessary to have some financial stability to guarantee that the childbirth process runs properly and that you do not have to worry about money during this vital period.

This is why some of India's leading health insurance companies offer maternity coverage. Maternity insurance will provide coverage for all parts of childbirth, including hospitalisation, delivery bills, and more. This will help any growing family enjoy one of life's most important moments.

What is a Maternity Cover?

Maternity insurance is a type of family health insurance plan that covers the medical and treatment costs of expecting women and their newborns. One can get maternity insurance as an add-on to an already-existing coverage or as a stand-alone policy. Maternity coverage includes both caesarean and normal births. For most people, pre- and post-hospitalisation coverage is covered by their maternity insurance.

Why Do You Need Maternity Insurance?

Anyone coping with childbirth or preparing to become a parent should budget for the costs of pregnancy and child delivery. Maternity insurance is designed to give families financial protection against hospitalisation and other medical expenses. Having maternity coverage ensures that both the mother and the child receive the best possible healthcare during childbirth.

Medical expenses are rapidly rising due to medical inflation. This includes childbirth and delivery costs. Maternity insurance provides coverage for any expenditures incurred during pregnancy and childbirth.

You will gain from including maternity coverage in your insurance plan in the following ways:

1. Financial Security

Childbirth is an exciting moment for any expecting parents. Unfortunately, it may become costly at unexpected times. Having to worry about hospital bills can often be burdensome at this critical time. Maternity insurance protects both your family and your finances during delivery. This allows you to focus on the joy of becoming a parent without having to worry about finances at such an important moment in your life.

2. Pre and Post-Natal Care

Maternity insurance often covers delivery fees and also all other natal expenditures. The list of expenses they pay for includes frequent check-ups, tests, medications, and other services. This is to ensure that both the mother and the child are taken care of, whether it be before, during, or after the delivery. 

3. Specialised Coverage

Sometimes, even if the childbirth has taken place without a hitch, parents find out after birth that their child may have some unexpected illness. In such cases, maternity insurance includes infant coverage, which provides specialised care for the child. This means that patients can be covered and treated right away, as well as get expert care without any concerns. A newborn child can thus be immediately treated and recover from the illness they had.

4. Future Planning

Even for newly married couples, maternity insurance may be quite beneficial. It can be convenient if a couple wishes to extend their family. This allows expanding families to focus on making memories and providing a loving atmosphere for their children without worrying about medical expenses.

How to Add Maternity Cover to an Insurance Plan

Maternity coverage can simply be added to an existing base policy if it isn’t a part of the base policy already. Most of the best mediclaim policy for family include pregnancy coverage. If your current plan does not already include maternity coverage, it can be added as part of an extra rider insurance on top of the base plan. Most insurance firms combine maternity and other coverages in their riders. This is to guarantee that the riders are reasonably priced while still providing very concrete benefits and coverage to interested parties.

What is the Waiting Period for Maternity Covers?

Most maternity insurance plans need a waiting period, and it is not possible to buy one after pregnancy. The waiting period for maternity coverage is decided by that particular insurance company. Insurance companies often include a waiting period for maternity coverage ranging from 9 months to 6 years. The insurance firms want to offer maternity coverage as a long-term benefit for customers, rather than something they may purchase as soon as they get pregnant.

Some insurance providers, however, provide maternity coverage with a shortened waiting time. They only provide this reduction as an extra rider to minimise the waiting period for maternity coverage.

Final Thoughts

Maternity cover is an essential investment for any couple to make to secure themselves against maternity costs. Some of the best health insurance company in India like Niva Bupa offer comprehensive maternity insurance plans for expecting families. It is important to note though, that all maternity covers and family health insurance plans covering maternity have a waiting period for these costs. It is important to take a look at all the fine details, inclusions and exclusions of the policy before deciding on one.