Maternity Health Insurance

Maternity Health Insurance in India

Becoming a new parent and bringing a new life into the world ushers in joy, happiness, and excitement. Just like the quote goes, “With great power comes great responsibility”, becoming a parent brings the responsibility of caring for a new life. While this is an exciting phase of life, uncertainties may crop up, and it is always better to be prepared.

Most pregnancy delivery packages provide a broad spectrum of services that may help monitor and support the health of a mother and baby. Usually, expecting parents compare different pregnancy packages to get an estimate of overall maternity spending.

While standard plans require advance purchase, some insurance companies now provide pregnancy insurance after becoming pregnant with modified waiting periods, though coverage typically applies only to future pregnancies.

We realise that growing medical inflation and escalating hospitalisation costs are putting a strain on the couple’s finances. As a result, Star Health Insurance provides Maternity health Insurance Policies, so you no longer have to worry about growing medical costs.

As per IRDAI, Maternity expenses are termed as medical treatment expenses traceable to childbirth, including normal or cesarean sections incurred during hospitalisation. It includes expenses towards the lawful termination of pregnancy during the policy period.

A medical policy with delivery benefits is essential to meet the growing expenses, particularly when it comes to prenatal care, doctor’s visits, delivery, and post-natal care.

A medical policy with delivery benefits ensures the mother and baby are well protected during labour, particularly if any complications arise during the delivery and the early days of the child’s life. It is recommended to review maternity claim guidelines earlier to avoid unpleasant surprises and last-minute confusion. In addition, many couples also look for a flexible pregnancy cover that fits their budget easily.

Understanding what is maternity insurance helps parents financially prepare for having a baby, as pregnancy is an expensive affair.

To enjoy their benefits efficiently, it is better to have maternity insurance plans with no waiting period or have the lowest waiting period for maternity insurance.

Why do you need delivery expense coverage as a part of your regular health insurance?

“Nearly 41% of all deaths in under-fives occur among newborns, babies in their first 28 days of life, or babies in the neonatal period”, says WHO in its report on newborn death and illness.

The average cost of Normal or C-section deliveries is rising and can go up to ₹ two lakhs and above in most cities in India.

Although there are limited maternity health insurance policies in India, one of the key benefits of Star Health Insurance’s individual and family floater policies is that they cover expenses incurred during delivery and for the newborn.

This is a great feature if you are looking to buy a Mediclaim plan with delivery expense coverage or pregnancy insurance for your spouse or your family. Health insurance with maternity cover can cover expenses that arise due to normal delivery or cesarean delivery and/or if the baby has been hospitalised due to any medical complications.

The pregnancy insurance has to be considered by every new mother for their delivery needs. Many parents choose a pregnancy check up package to monitor healthy progress. These tests are beneficial during pregnancy as they help assess the mother’s health and the baby’s health as well.

Whether you plan to purchase a Mediclaim policy with delivery benefits or you are looking to switch to a family policy, Star Health Insurance provides soon-to-be parents with the right medical insurance. Star Health Insurance’s individual and family floater policies offer the support they need to have a healthy and happy pregnancy.

As we are aware, having a child comes with its own joys and expenses. And these expenses could take a toll on the finances and well-being of new parents.

Hence, it is important to purchase a medical insurance policy that covers maternity-related expenses well before pregnancy.

Can husband and wife both claim maternity insurance in India? Yes, both the wife and husband are allowed to claim maternity health insurance in India. However, they must check whether their respective plans allow dual coverage or have any limitations. This can be helpful in managing the total costs, including maternity and neonatal care.

Star Health policies covering delivery expenses?

With maternity health plans, you can stay financially protected from the costs incurred during pregnancy. Here is a detailed table that explains the various plans offered by Star Health for pregnant women, along with the sum insured and waiting period:

Note that pregnancy insurance after pregnancy is excluded from most plans unless specified under special provisions, such as employer group policies or government schemes. Star Health's policies require enrollment before conception for maternity coverage.  It is advisable to go for a health booster maternity cover rider for enhanced safety. It provides coverage for various delivery methods, including both natural and caesarean births.  The plan is tailored to meet the needs of a diverse range of customers with a flexible entry age starting at 18 years and above.

Why is a medical policy with maternity benefits important?

Pregnancy and going through labour are important phases of a woman’s life. While there is certainly the joy of becoming a parent, most women experience the accompanying anxiety as well. So one thing you need not worry about during this time is hospitalisation expenses. If you have an insurance policy that provides cover for maternity expenses, you can put your worries to rest and enjoy your pregnancy, knowing that all the costs are taken care of.

With the escalating medical costs across the country and the surge in delivery expenses in private hospitals, opting for maternity insurance cover, especially the maternity insurance plans with no waiting period, and family medical insurance, is the best approach to tackle expenses.

Many couples often wonder, Does health insurance cover pregnancy if I’m already pregnant? The answer to this is that many standard policies usually do not  include maternity benefits if it is purchased after conception, as insurance company considers it a pre-existing condition. Nevertheless, some insurance companies offer pregnancy insurance after pregnancy with shorter waiting periods (e.g., 12–24 months), but coverage typically begins only after the waiting period.  

Advantages of buying a medical policy with a delivery benefit

 The key features & benefits of buying a maternity policy in India are :

Financial backup

Maternity cover health insurance includes expenses incurred during either normal or cesarean delivery. No matter what medical treatment you may require, you need not stress or worry. Moreover, policies with maternity insurance coverage cover pre- and post-natal expenses.

Covers a newborn baby

Our plans, namely Star Comprehensive Insurance Policy, Young Star Insurance Policy and Super Surplus Insurance Policy, provide coverage for the newborn from day one. This includes expenses due to medical emergencies and vaccinations as well.  With the steady rise in medical inflation, a large number of pregnancy expenses such as tests, check-ups, etc, are now becoming a financial burden for many people.

Covers delivery expenses

Buying a Mediclaim plan with maternity benefits offers financial protection during pregnancy. It takes care of pre-and post-natal expenses, ambulance charges, and delivery expenses, irrespective of a normal or cesarean delivery.

Easy and hassle-free online application Process

Many health insurance companies provide a quick online application process, making it convenient to secure one of the best maternity health insurance in India without the need for any paperwork.

What should you consider before buying a Mediclaim plan with maternity benefits?

Every parent deserves maternity cover insurance to cover delivery expenses. Handling the high maternity care costs without medical insurance might be tough for both parents. As a result, the best method to organise your finances is to purchase a maternity health insurance policy, ensuring a healthier and pleasant parenthood.

Here are some things to consider when choosing a medical policy with maternity benefits

• Choose the finest maternity insurance plan that protects you from various medical bills, not just hospitalisation costs.
• Every household needs to save money. As a result, check for premium savings you can take advantage of.
• Browse the listing of Cashless Network Hospitals to ensure that you have easy accessibility to a cashless facility in the event of a medical emergency.
• Understand the policy’s inclusions, exclusions, sub-limits, and waiting period by reading the maternity insurance policy documents.

By carefully comparing the maternity insurance plans and selecting the proper policy with maximum coverage and features, you may acquire maternity coverage at an affordable cost.

Early planning is essential. Pregnancy insurance after pregnancy usually comes with certain restrictions, making pre-conception enrollment the safest option for full coverage. Star Health's plans offer comprehensive protection to couples who purchase them at the right time.

Why choose a health insurance with maternity cover from Star Health Insurance?

Pre- and post-natal care

Not all health insurers offer to cover pre-and post-natal delivery expenses. It is truly an advantage of Star Health offering coverage for your pre- and post-natal expenses.

Cashless facility

Expectant mothers can avail of a cashless facility from more than 14,000+ network hospitals across the country.

Fast and hassle-free claims settlement

Star Health Insurance policyholders can get prompt claim settlement across 14000+ network hospitals, which is a key benefit at the time of childbirth to spend time healing and taking care of your loved ones. At Star Health you can get your claims settled in a hassle-free manner with no TPA (Third-Party Administrator) involvement as per the policy terms and conditions.

Maternity Mediclaim Policy

A "Maternity Mediclaim Policy" refers to a kind of health insurance particularly designed to offer coverage for the medical expenses associated with pregnancy and childbirth, like prenatal care, postnatal care, and delivery (normal or C-section).
In some cases, Mediclaim with maternity cover offers coverage for newborn care, like offering financial protection for expectant mothers during their pregnancy period.  

Factors to Choose a Mediclaim Policy with Maternity Cover

There are some factors that need to be considered when opting for a mediclaim policy for maternity in India. Here are the factors to be considered when choosing a maternity mediclaim policy :

1.  Coverage benefits

• Prenatal care: Check if prenatal checkups, scans, and consultations are included in the policy.
• Postnatal care: See for the coverage for postnatal care, like follow-up visits and medications.
• Delivery Categories: See if the policy offers coverage for both normal and cesarean deliveries.  
• Newborn coverage: See whether the mediclaim policy provides coverage for the medical expenses of the newborn baby for a certain period after birth.

2.  Waiting Period

• Maternity coverage generally has a longer waiting period than other health benefits. It usually ranges from 9 months to many years.
• Check and compare the waiting periods across different policies before choosing one.

3.  Accessible Network of Hospitals

• Choose a mediclaim with maternity cover with several hospitals in your area where you can get a cashless treatment feature.

4.  Premium cost

• Compare the premiums from different insurers while considering the coverage provided to know which premium is suitable for you.

  
Exclusions:

Check if any pre-existing medical conditions connected to pregnancy might be excluded from insurance coverage by carefully reading the mediclaim policy document.

Add-on Advantages:   

A few insurers might provide add-on choices to boost maternity coverage, like coverage for particular risks or enhanced newborn care.