Pregnancy Health Insurance: Why It’s a Must-Have for New Parents

10 min read Posted on 18 Jul 2025

Pregnancy is a time with substantial medical expenses that is frequently accompanied by both physical and emotional changes. Private hospitals in India frequently incur delivery expenses exceeding ₹1 lakh. Prenatal diagnostics, medications, and postnatal care are not typically included in the standard delivery bundle and are considered to be additional expenses.

In these situations, maternity insurance in India is a critical financial safeguard. In certain instances, it provides coverage for delivery expenses, doctor consultations, diagnostic imaging, and newborn medical care. Vaccination coverage and room rent benefits are also included in a few of the best maternity health plans. Early purchase is prudent due to the fact that the majority of policies include a waiting period.

What Is Pregnancy Health Insurance?

Pregnancy health insurance is a practical and efficient method of managing medical expenses associated with childbirth. Financial coverage for pre-delivery, delivery, and post-delivery medical requirements is available through a variety of maternity insurance plans in India.

Here’s what’s included:

• Hospital stay: Room charges, doctor visits, delivery room expenses, and even ICU if needed.
• Delivery costs: Covers both normal and C-section births, including medicines and procedure fees.
• Pre-pregnancy care: Tests, ultrasounds, doctor checkups, and vitamins during pregnancy.
• After delivery: Postnatal checkups, recovery treatments, and any post-birth complications.
• Newborn care: Some of the best maternity health plans also cover the baby's care for the first 90 days, like NICU charges or health screenings.

These plans have a waiting period, so buy before planning for a baby.

Maternity Insurance Benefits

Check out the benefits of pregnancy insurance.

1. Covers Delivery Costs: This insurance does cover normal and C-section delivery bills. Some pregnancy insurance coverage also pays if the doctor recommends a medically necessary termination.
2. Coverage Begins Before the Baby Is Born: Covers prenatal scans, blood tests, medicines, and OB-GYN visits. These often cost thousands each trimester. Postnatal expenses like healing medications, supplements, and doctor reviews are a part of this.
3. Comprehensive Hospitalisation Benefits: Maternity insurance benefits cover the mother’s full hospital stay along with the baby's care. It also includes doctor rounds, specialist consultations, and nursing care.
4. Covers Newborn Expenses From Day 1: Most plans cover newborn care for the first 90 days. This will include NICU bills, doctor visits, congenital disorder treatment, and vaccinations.
5. Coverage for High-Risk or Complicated Deliveries: Premature births, emergency surgeries, and high-risk pregnancy care are covered in this. Many parents miss this clause and end up borrowing money during medical emergencies.
6. Post-Delivery Recovery Support: If the mother needs extended hospital stay or special treatments post-delivery, those are covered too. Some insurance covers mental health consultations or lactation support after delivery.
7. Inclusion in Group Insurance and Family Floater Policies: If an individual is covered under an employer’s group insurance plan, they might already have partial benefits. In family floater plans, both parents and the child are covered under one umbrella, which simplifies claim filing.

When and How to Buy Pregnancy Health Insurance

• Ideal Time for Newly Married Couples:Newly married couples planning for parenthood in the next few years should get this policy to avoid future claim issues.
• While Switching Insurance Plans: If the existing health plan does not include maternity benefits, it’s advisable to add this coverage while transitioning to a new policy.
• Early Age Brings Lower Premiums : Premiums for maternity insurance benefits are lower in the 20s and early 30s.
• Before Major Life Transitions : Those planning a job change, relocation, or other significant life changes should get maternity insurance.

How to Buy Pregnancy Health Insurance

1. Understand the Full Cost Involved: Estimate the total delivery cost at a preferred hospital. Add doctor visits, tests, and baby care. This helps decide how much pregnancy insurance coverage is needed.
2. Compare Plans Smartly: Focus on plans with the shortest waiting periods. Look at hospital networks, exclusions, and actual benefits like NICU cover or pre/postnatal bills. A well-rounded plan offers far better value in the long run.
3. Check Age and Conditions: Most plans allow entry between 18 and 45 years. Always verify the age limits and understand how long the waiting period lasts before coverage begins.
4. Choose a Plan Based on Personal Circumstances: Choosing between a rider, individual plan, or family floater? For families planning multiple children, a plan with lifetime renewability and broader newborn coverage may be more suitable. That’s how one should choose a maternity plan wisely.
5. Submit the Application and Complete Payment: Once a plan is finalised, the application can be submitted online or offline. Fill out accurate medical details. Payments can be made through various modes such as UPI, debit/credit card, or net banking.
6. Ensure Receipt of Policy Documents: After payment, download the policy PDF and save the confirmation email. This will be useful during hospital admission.
7. Maintain Continuous Premium Payments: One must keep paying premiums during the waiting period. Any lapse in payment resets the waiting period, delaying access to maternity benefits.

Preparing Financially for Parenthood

While pregnancy is a significant life event, hospital bills don’t wait for expenses to pile up. Individuals may explore maternity insurance in India with expert assistance through platforms such as RenewBuy. Also, check out Star Health’s Maternity plans. These are counted among the best maternity health plans, offering wide maternity insurance benefits like delivery cover, newborn protection from day one, and even vaccination costs.

Wrapping Up

Family planning is a joyful yet financially demanding phase of life. Without proper pregnancy insurance coverage, medical bills can take up money if a person is admitted to a private hospital.

That’s why applying early for maternity insurance in India is important. From delivery to newborn care, it protects both your health and savings. Use RenewBuy to know how to choose a maternity plan smartly.

Disclaimer: The details, facts, or figures given here are intended solely for the reader's informational purposes and should not be relied upon for personal, medical, legal, or financial decisions. Please visit the insurer's website for the latest updates. We do not endorse any particular insurance company or insurance product provided by any insurer.