Posted on: Apr 26, 2019 | | Written by:

Planning To Start a Family? Protect Them With Maternity Cover

Pregnancy is one of the most joyous occasions of a woman’s life. The sheer joy of welcoming a new life into this world is inexplicable. With the happiness that a newborn gets into one’s life, one is always worried about the hefty maternity bills one will have to bear owing to the childbirth. With the rising medical costs, bearing the maternity cost or even for that matter the cost of any illness can be a huge burden on the expecting parents. But even at such times, a health insurance plan with a maternity cover can come in handy to provide you financial protection to welcome your child into this world. Read on to know all about the importance of maternity cover.

What does maternity health insurance cover?

Maternity insurance is a type of health insurance that provides coverage for all the maternity-related medical expenses including caesarean delivery. The cover pays for expenses including pregnancy, pre and postnatal care, pre and post hospitalization expenses. In addition to pregnancy, the maternity cover also covers costs for lawful termination of pregnancy during the term of the policy, after a specific waiting period.

Ideally, maternity cover is provided as an inclusion in the policy or you can opt for it as an additional rider. The coverage of a maternity cover is provided after a certain pre-specified limit. In addition to this, the newborn is also provided health coverage up to a certain period of time.

Inclusions of maternity health cover

  • Maternity health insurance provides coverage for the following:

  • Pre and post-natal delivery or termination expenses

  • Hospitalization expenses including room rent limit, specialist fee, cost of drugs, etc

  • Ambulance charges

  • Pregnancy termination expenses

  • Delivery expenses limited up to a specified number

Exclusions of maternity health cover

  • Ectopic pregnancy is not covered

  • IVF treatment is not covered

  • Treatment of congenital diseases is not covered

  • Hospitalization arising out of alcohol or drug abuse

  • Pre-existing diseases

  • Hospitalization expenses arising out of self-inflicted injuries

  • Non-allopathic treatments

  • Dental and cosmetic treatments

  • Diagnostic tests, consultation fee and regular check-ups anytime during the period of nine months of pregnancy is not covered.

  • Cost of medicines that is not a part of the treatment is not covered.

Why do you need to invest in a maternity health insurance plan?

If you are planning a baby anytime in the next 3-4 years, buying a health insurance plan covering maternity or opting for a maternity cover rider is imperative as it takes care of all the pregnancy-related costs. With the rising medical costs, having a maternity cover can give you a sigh of relief as it largely covers all the hefty medical bills.

Benefits of maternity health insurance cover:

  • You get comprehensive coverage: Maternity health insurance not just offers coverage for pregnancy but also for its lawful termination. It also covers such as pre and post hospitalization expenses, room rent, doctor’s consultation fee is covered.

  • Pre and post hospitalization expenses: Pre and post hospitalization expenses related to pregnancy are covered for a certain number of days as specified in the policy documents.

  • Avail cashless facility: You can avail the cashless facility at hospitals that fall under the network of the insurance company.

  • Pre and postnatal care: The newborn is provided coverage in case he/she is diagnosed with any critical illness.

  • Tax benefits: You can avail tax benefits under section 80D of the Income Tax Act, 1961.

  • You can choose the sum insured: As you deem fit, you can opt for the sum insured you want for covering the maternity costs.

  • Safeguards you against increasing healthcare costs: With increasing health costs, a maternity health cover takes care of all the expenses, thus helping you overcome the effect of inflation to a certain extent.

Ideally, you should opt for a maternity health cover a few years before you are planning to conceive. Maternity health coverage under health insurance is provided after a waiting period of a few years, post which only you will be eligible to receive coverage.

If you are looking for a good maternity health insurance cover, then opting for Health Suraksha health planby HDFC ERGO is a good choice. HDFC ERGO’s Health Suraksha insurance provides maternity coverage up to a specified limit.

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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