Being a parent brings immense joy to your life, but honestly-negative hospital bills can quickly steal that joy. Normal deliveries cost anywhere from 20000 to 50000 rupees or even more for some cases, and a C-section typically costs twice that amount. Complications during birth could also cause you to drain your savings account.
This is where maternity mediclaim can come into play. Many new parents do not think about maternity coverage when looking at insurance as they usually buy health plans for things like accidents, surgeries, and/or unexpected illnesses. Unlike an accident or unexpected illness, a baby is not on the way unexpectedly. If you do not plan for the maternity insurance side of things, you may be left to pay for the entire process out of your own pocket.
What Is Maternity Coverage Through Mediclaim Insurance?
The vast majority of regular health insurance plans do not provide automatic coverage for pregnancy. You will typically require a separate plan or an optional add-on to your existing plan. A good mediclam maternity insurance policy usually includes:
Delivery charges (normal or C-section)
Postnatal care for mother and baby
Sometimes, even newborn vaccinations for the first few months
But here’s the catch. Almost every plan has a waiting period. Usually nine months to four years. That means you cannot get pregnant today and buy the policy tomorrow. You have to buy it well in advance. Smart couples purchase a family plan that includes maternity coverage at least two years before they wish to conceive.
Why Family Health Insurance Is the Right Choice for You
Let’s look at the bigger picture: You’re having a child. You’re now a three-member family instead of a two-member family, meaning you will need to get health insurance to cover yourself, your spouse and now your child, so this is why family health insurance is your best friend.
Family floaters provide coverage for the whole family under one sum insured instead of buying individual policies for each of you. That means you, your wife, and your child all will have the same 10-lakh sum insured. When any of you goes into the hospital for treatment, money will be taken from the same pool to pay for your hospitalization, so the overall cost is generally lower than if you purchased three individual policies.
What Most Policies Won’t Cover
Let me save you some disappointment. Even the best mediclaim insurance for maternity will not cover everything. Most exclude:
Fertility treatments like IVF
Surrogacy expenses
Newborn congenital issues (some have a waiting period for this too)
Normal delivery if you opt for a luxury private room beyond the policy limit
So before you sign anything, sit with the brochure and a cup of tea. Read each exclusion like a detective reads a crime scene.
A Real-Life Example
Take my friend Priya. She bought a family health insurance policy when she got married. Didn’t pay much attention to maternity cover. Two years later, when she got pregnant, she realized her plan had a three-year waiting period for maternity. Her delivery cost her nearly one lakh rupees. Out of pocket. No claim.
Her sister, on the other hand, planned ahead. She bought a policy with mediclaim insurance for maternity right after her wedding. By the time she had her first baby, the waiting period was over. Insurance paid for everything. She only paid for the extra days she stayed beyond what the policy allowed.
Final Takeaway
Ensure to look into your waiting period. When comparing insurance policies, look at at least 3 different companies.. Ask about newborn inclusion. And remember, the best time to buy mediclaim insurance for maternity was two years ago. The second best time is today. Your future child will thank you for not blowing their college fund on a hospital room.
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