Importance of Health Insurance Cover During Pregnancy

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.

What is insurance covering pregnancy and delivery?

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 complication during pregnancy and childbirth are 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.

What are the features and benefits provided under pregnancy insurance?

The features and benefits of maternity insurance differ from one policy provider to another. However, in general, the salient features of maternity insurance include:

Coverage of insurance covering pregnancy

The coverage or inclusions offered under maternity insurance differ from policy to policy and usually includes:

• Hospitalization expenses with a limit
• Pre and Post hospitalization expenses
• Delivery expenses
• Vaccination charges for the infant
• Ambulance charges
• Pre and post-natal expenses
• Emergency cover with a limit

Exclusions of maternity insurance

Exclusions are things that aren’t covered under the maternity policy. This include:

• Non-allopathic treatment expenses
• Consultation charges
• Regular general check-ups
• Medication costs
• Dental treatment expenses
• Congenital diseases
• Termination of pregnancy (under 12 weeks)
• Pre-existing diseases
• AIDS treatment-related expenses
• In-vitro fertilization and infertility-related expenses

Premium of pregnancy insurance

The premium in the case of maternity insurance is higher than any other insurance policy. It is because of the high risk and full compensation factor associated with maternity insurance.

These are some of the conditions covered under the pregnancy insurance policy. You must read and understand the policy terms thoroughly before buying a maternity policy to enjoy full benefits.

Lastly, the most important feature—Waiting Period

This is one of the essential elements to consider while buying insurance for pregnant women. Usually, the waiting period, the time before which no claim can be made, and no policy benefits be redeemed, ranges from 2-6 years. However, in the case of a group insurance policy, the maternity cover waiting period is not more than nine months, depending on whether the provider has opted to add maternity to the group plan or not.

The reasons why health insurance cover is required during pregnancy

Below are some of the reasons why health insurance cover is required during pregnancy:

      1. Delivery cost in a private hospital is expensive: There is no doubt that you’d prefer quality healthcare. It is the reason why private hospitals are in demand, but the treatment at such hospitals is expensive. While a normal delivery could cost anywhere around Rs. 60,000, for caesarean delivery, the cost can go up to Rs. 1,50,000. Also, there is a chance of complications in pregnancy, a factor that affects the total cost of the delivery. Maternity insurance can cover all such expenses.

      2. The insurance covers newborn baby from day 1: In general, health insurance policies cover newborn babies only after they are 90 days old. But an insurance policy with maternity coverage covers an infant right from its birth.

      3. You can stay prepared for complications: In case of complexities like premature birth, a newborn is required to be kept in an incubator for a certain time, which can cost up to Rs. 10,000 per day.

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 Lacs for C-Section.