How Can Maternity Insurance Help You Meet Pre-and Post-Natal Costs?

Posted on: Apr 19, 2023 | 3 mins | Written by: HDFC ERGO Team

How Can Maternity Insurance Help You Meet Pre-and Post-Natal Costs?

Maternity Insurance with Pre and Post Natal Costs

Pregnancy is an important and beautiful phase in a woman’s life. However, this joyous time can strain your finances and increase stress levels if you are not prepared for it. The pre-natal care costs, delivery expenses, and post-natal care bills can pile up in no time and cause significant financial setbacks. While you cannot avoid pregnancy-related expenses, the best you can do is keep a good insurance plan handy. You can either take health insurance with maternity coveror opt for a standalone maternity insurance policy for comprehensive coverage. These healthcare plans will cover a chunk of your maternity bills so that you can enjoy a stress-free pregnancy journey and the best post-natal care.

In this blog, we will talk about maternity insurance, the inclusions and exclusions of this health plan, and the many benefits it offers. Let’s get started!

What are Maternity Health Insurance and its Working Strategies?

A maternity health insurance policy is a healthcare plan that covers the expenses related to pre-natal care, childbirth, and post-natal care. This includes pre- and post-hospitalisation expenses, delivery bills, and newborn baby cover.

You can take maternity insuranceas an add-on to your existing healthcare plan or as a separate policy. Although most Mediclaim insurance policies also offer an inbuilt maternity cover to policyholders, the coverage may not beadequate. So, if you are looking for comprehensive protection during pregnancy and beyond, you must opt for maternity health insurance.

Coverage of pre- and post-natal expenses

A comprehensive maternity insurance policy offers wide coverage to policyholders and saves them from exorbitant medical bills during pregnancy and after childbirth.

The following are the inclusions of a maternity health insurance policy:

1. Pre-natalcoverage:

If you incur any medical expenses 30 days prior to hospitalisation for delivery, your insurance provider will reimburse the same. Pre-natal care costs includedoctors’ consultation fees,medical tests and investigations bills, the cost of medications, and more.

2. Post-natalcoverage:

These are the medical expenses incurred post-hospitalisation or after the mother and the newborn get discharged from the hospital. Most insurance companies offerpost-natal coverage for up to 60 days from the date of discharge. Post-natal expenses can includethe cost of medical check-ups, immunisations, medical investigations, treatments, and more.

Delivery expenses coverage:

A maternity insurance policy will cover expenses related to normal or caesarean delivery, such as hospital room charges, doctor’s fees,as well as charges of nurses and anaesthetists.

Additional advantages of maternity health plan

In addition to covering the above-mentioned expenses, a maternity health insurance policy also offers the following coverage to policyholders:

• Cashless hospitalisation at network hospitals

• Daycare treatments

• Ambulance charges

Exclusions of maternity insurance

Maternity health insurance comes with certain exclusions.So, before you buy a policy, make sure you check the terms and conditions to avoid any hassles later.

In most cases, maternity health insurance will not cover the following expenses:

1. Cost of vitamins and other supplements

2. Expenses related to infertility treatment

3. Expenses related to congenital diseases or a health condition that exists at the time of birth

4. Medical expenses related to a pre-existing ailment

5. Medical expenses that are not tied to pregnancy or childbirth

An important point to keep in mind:

Typically, maternity insurance policies come with a waiting period of 9 months to6 years. This means you can raise a claim only after your policy’s waiting period is over.

So, if you are planning to conceive a child in the future, make sure you buy health insurance with maternity cover or a maternity health plan well in advance. This will ensure that the waiting period is over by the time you want to use the policy benefits.

Benefits of pre- and post-natal expense coverage

A maternity health insurance policy also offers the following benefits to policyholders:

1. Peace of mind:

Having a maternity cover handy will ensure peace of mind during this stressful phase. The policy will take care of your major medical bills and ensure the best possible medical care before, during and after delivery. This way, you can concentrate on your health and recovery rather than worrying about finances.

2. Financial security:

Pregnancy will be easier on the pocket if you have health insurance or maternity cover handy. The insurer will cover the majority of your medical bills and save you from financial setbacks during this crucial phase.

3. Timely and quality treatment:

If you have a maternity health insurance policy, you can opt for timely and quality treatment without worrying about expenditures. The policy will cover your pre-natal check-up bills, the cost of tests and medicines, hospitalisation expenses and delivery charges, and post-natal tests, medications, immunisations, and more. So, you can opt for the best treatment and care during pregnancy and after delivery.

4. Cashless hospitalisation:

When you have maternity healthcare coverage, you can choose a network hospital for your delivery as well as pregnancy-related tests, investigations, and treatments. This will save you from the hassles of settlingthe medical bills from your pocket and help keep your savings intact.

5. Comprehensive coverage:

Most maternity plans offer coverage for 90 days, i.e., 30 days before delivery and 60 days after childbirth. This includes delivery charges, the cost of tests and medicines, the cost of immunisations, and more. Hence, investing in this healthcare planwill make things easier for you and your family.

Conclusion

Having an adequate maternity insurance policy can reduce your financial liability and ensure peace of mind. You can focus on your health before delivery andyour newborn after childbirth rather than worrying about the hefty medical bills. Since the policy has a waiting period, ensure you take it much before you plan to conceive a child. You can shortlist some insurance providers online and choose the best health insurance or maternity coverage from the comfort of your home. Have a safe and stress-free pregnancy!

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purpose only. For more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.

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