Top 4 Maternity Health Insurance Plans: How to Find & Know Features

As we celebrate Women's Day in 2024 under the theme "Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress," it's essential to reflect on the positive changes happening around us. In the past, some health insurance plans excluded coverage for maternity-related expenses, such as prenatal care, delivery, and postpartum care. This meant that expecting mothers had to bear the maternity expenses on their own. 

However, today, the insurance industry is evolving and some of the top health Insurance companies are increasingly understanding the unique healthcare needs of women, as a result, many are now offering comprehensive pregnancy insurance plans.

In this article, we'll explore how these positive changes have impacted health insurance plans, making them more inclusive and supportive of pregnant women's well-being. 

Tips on How to Find the Best Maternity Health Insurance Plan 

It’s important to consider the following factors before choosing the right maternity health insurance plan for yourself or someone you love:

• Waiting Period: After buying a health insurance plan, the waiting period is the time you need to wait before you can use any benefit including the maternity benefit. The waiting period may vary from insurer to insurer. Some medical insurance plans have waiting periods of 9 months, 24 months, or even 36 months. For maternity coverage, it's always wise to choose a maternity insurance plan with the lowest waiting period, so you can start using the maternity benefits sooner.
• Sum Insured: Sum insured is the maximum amount the health insurance company will pay for covered medical expenses. When it comes to medical insurance for pregnancy, it's important to pick a sum insured that adequately covers the costs associated with pregnancy and childbirth. Also, don't forget to consider factors like Pre-Post Natal expenses.
• Newborn Baby Coverage: When choosing a maternity insurance plan, you must check what coverage is provided for your newborn. This includes expenses related to the baby's hospital stay, vaccinations, and any potential health complications that may arise during the initial days. Always look for plans that offer comprehensive coverage for your little one from the moment they enter the world.
• In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF): Last but not least, if you're considering or have undergone IVF procedure, ensure you check if your health insurance plan covers IVF expenses. Not all plans automatically include IVF, so you must select one that aligns with your family planning needs.

Top 4 Maternity Health Insurance Plans In India

Have a look at the list of the top four maternity health insurance plans in India in 2024 that can offer you the best experience during your maternity journey:

Plan 1: Niva Bupa Aspire 

Formerly known as Max Bupa Health Insurance Company Limited, Niva Bupa Health Insurance Company Ltd. is a joint venture between Bupa, a UK-based healthcare services provider, and Fettle Tone LLP, an SPV of True North Fund VI LLP, an established private equity firm in India. With 10,000+ network hospitals throughout India, Niva Bupa is trusted by over 1 crore satisfied customers. 

About the Plan: Niva Bupa has recently introduced a groundbreaking health insurance plan i.e. Niva Bupa Aspire. This plan is the first of its kind and offers extraordinary benefits like Lock the Clock*, Booster Plus, Hospitalisation cover if you are hospitalised for a minimum of 2 hours, etc. The cherry on the cake is that the plan provides maternity coverage and the maternity claim does not break the lock. But remember that you might have to pay a higher premium to avail the benefits of this plan. 

* Lock the Clock: The policy locks in the entry age of the consumer until their first claim, allowing them to pay the premium based on that entry age until a claim is made.

This maternity health insurance plan is available in four variants - Gold+, Diamond+, Platinum+, and Titanium+, allowing individuals to choose the level of coverage that suits their specific needs. 

Plan 2: Star Assure

Star Health & Allied Insurance Co. Ltd is one of India's premier private health insurance companies, that initiated its operations in 2006. As the country's first standalone health insurance provider, the company boasts a vast network of over 14,000 hospitals 850+ branch offices, and a remarkable record of over Rs. 30,300 crore in paid claims. 

About the Plan: The Star Assure plan is a comprehensive policy that offers extensive coverage for the policyholder, including self, spouse, dependent children (up to three), parents, and parents-in-law. The plan involves a broad range of benefits, notably covering delivery expenses, including Cesarean sections, accounting for up to 10% of the Sum Insured. 

In addition, this maternity insurance policy in India features a New Born Cover, ensuring that hospitalisation expenses for newborns are covered from day one of birth until the policy's expiry date, subject to specific limits. What sets the Star Assure plan apart is its unique restoration feature where, upon partial or full utilisation of the Sum Insured during the policy period, 100% of the Sum Insured is restored an unlimited number of times throughout the policy year. 

Plan 3: Star Women Care

Star Health Insurance stands out by providing a range of insurance products, including health insurance, personal accident insurance, and overseas travel insurance. Recognised as one of the leading health insurance companies, their health insurance plans offer various coverage benefits, covering inpatient hospitalisation, annual health check-ups, treatment for COVID-19, AYUSH treatments, and more. 

About the Plan: Star Women Care plan is a special medical insurance for pregnancy designed just for women and their families. This plan takes care of a lot of important things. If you're going to have a baby, it covers the expenses for both normal and Cesarean deliveries, including the time before and after the baby is born, up to a certain amount. It also helps with the IVF cost, if you need them. 

And here's the great part, this health insurance plan even covers the hospital bills for your baby, including vaccinations for the first 12 months. Plus, if you need check-ups during pregnancy, the policy helps with those costs too. 

NOTE: In this plan, the proposer has to be a female. 

Plan 4: Reliance Health Infinity 

Reliance General Insurance operates as a fully-owned subsidiary of Reliance Capital, a key entity within the Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group. Starting its journey in 2000, Reliance Health Insurance has since established a strong presence with 130+ offices and over 90,000 intermediaries scattered across India. The company takes pride in delivering an extensive range of health insurance plans, including individual health plans, family health coverage, critical illness plans, and more. 

About the Plan: Reliance Health Infinity provides coverage up to Rs. 5 Crores and takes care of both before and after hospital expenses. Not only this but this pregnancy insurance policy in India also offers extra perks like unlimited restore benefits, OPD cover, and more. The best part is that this health insurance plan is designed to give more coverage, more time, and a more global reach. 

Additionally, if the person applying is a female, they can enjoy a 5% discount. With Reliance General’s Health Infinity Plan, pregnant women can feel at ease knowing that they will get coverage even in one of the most important phases of their life i.e. Pregnancy. 

Key Highlights of Each Plan

Here’s a tabular summary of the key features of each maternity health insurance plan:

Conclusion

The health insurance industry in India is witnessing positive changes, particularly in addressing the significant gaps that exist in maternity coverage. The celebration of Women's Day in 2024, themed "Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress," aligns with the growing awareness of women's health rights. The featured maternity health insurance plans above represent a positive shift in the industry. These plans not only offer comprehensive coverage for maternity-related expenses but also come with unique features and benefits, catering to the diverse needs of individuals and families.  

So, what are you waiting for? If you are a would-be-mother or someone in your connections is expecting a baby then you can suggest these maternity health insurance plans and make maternity a compleley insured journey for you and your loved ones. 

And, don’t forget that we at InsuranceDekho can help you buy the pregnancy health cover of your choice. Call us now at 755 1196 989. 

Happy Women's Day and Happy Maternity!!