Maternity benefit in medical insurance helps cover the pregnancy-related expenses of the insured, along with pre and postnatal care. A standard health insurance plan does not cover these expenses, so you need to purchase additional maternity coverage to support expecting mothers during childbirth.
Individuals availing maternity coverage need to pay an additional premium to extend their coverage benefit, securing the best quality care and protection without bearing any out-of-pocket expenses.
What does maternity health insurance cover?
Maternity health cover may vary depending on the insurance provider and plan you choose. However, here are some of the common coverages offered under a maternity cover:
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- Hospitalisation expenses: It covers the expenses of in-patient care, delivery, and other charges during hospital stay.
- Ambulance fees: Some maternity insurance also covers the charges of the ambulance.
- Pre- and postnatal care: It covers the expenses of routine check-ups, postnatal treatment, diagnostic tests, etc.
- Doctor’s fees: It covers the expenses of the surgeon, anaesthetist, consultation fees, etc.
- Vaccination: Maternity health insurance also covers the expenses incurred in the vaccinations of the newborn for a limited period after the child is born.
Why is maternity health insurance important?
Here are some of the reasons why maternity cover is important in medical insurance:
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Acts as a financial backup
Having maternity cover with your health insurance helps cover the expenses incurred in normal or caesarean delivery and other pregnancy-related expenses, providing financial backup. Moreover, some maternity plans also cover the expenses of pre- and post-hospitalisation within 30 – 60 days before and after admission.
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Covers newborn from the first day
Maternity insurance covers the expenses of your newborn from the day they are born for up to 90 days. Besides, some policies cover the immunisation costs of the newborn until the policy year continues.
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Helps stay prepared for complications
If any complications occur, like premature birth or the newborn needing an incubator, it may bring about additional expenses. Maternity health insurance is essential to cover these expenses during hard times.
What are the benefits of maternity health insurance?
Maternity coverage in medical insurance offers multiple benefits to expecting mothers and their families. Here are some of them:
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Financial security with comprehensive coverage
Comprehensive health insurance plans combine maternity coverage and health benefits to ensure financial protection during medical needs.
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Cashless hospitalisation
Maternity coverage allows you to avail cashless treatments from network hospitals. You can receive pregnancy-related treatment without paying any upfront costs. The entire bill will be settled by your insurer.
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Covers newborn
Maternity health cover provides coverage for the expenses incurred in the hospitalisation or vaccinations of a newborn baby. It helps provide extensive protection for the health needs of the newborn.
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Tax benefits
As per the Income Tax Act of 1961, premiums paid for maternity health insurance plans are eligible for tax deductions under Section 80D.
Conclusion
Maternity coverage in medical insurance helps the policyholders to avail comprehensive coverage for pregnancy-related expenses. You can claim the benefits in two ways: cashless claim and reimbursement.
For cashless claims, you need to receive treatment from the network hospital. However, in reimbursement, you need to pay the expenses upfront and claim the amount afterwards by submitting the necessary proof and documents
