Pregnancy is the most beautiful time in a woman’s life. It’s also stressful. This is especially true for the first pregnancy. A child gives meaning and purpose to the parents as well as the entire family. A fair percentage of people begin to plan their pregnancy early in their relationships. Experts suggest the age of the person has a direct implication on how couples plan. However, this might not be the case for everyone.

Despite consistent planning, most pregnancies occur as a pleasant surprise. This is the primary reason why people consider them as a divine blessing. Parenthood is not just a new phase; it is the period when couples embrace responsibility. Although planning is important, many couples embrace the occasional spontaneity of discovering they are pregnant. When you discover you’re about to have a baby, most times the child becomes your top priority, and everything else takes a back seat. Parents begin to overthink every choice to warrant the best of everything for their children. One way to ensure you bring a child into the world without any worry is by purchasing health insurance that covers pregnancy. It is imperative to check for these factors while choosing the best policy.

Coverage plan

Most people confuse hospitalization charges with medical expenses. However, these are two different concepts that make a massive difference while making a claim. Therefore, always choose a health insurance policy that will cover medical expenses. This will help the couple to avail the benefits for a certain period before and after the delivery.

Premium value

Health insurance that covers pregnancy can be slightly expensive. Most insurance companies have a relatively high premium for maternity care. However, leading companies such as Care Health Insurance offer discounts for multi-year policies. Since maternity insurance would cover more than one pregnancy, this is an essential factor to consider.

Cashless Hospitalisation

Always choose an insurer that has multiple impanelled hospitals. This would help the policyholders with health insurance that covers pregnancy to be able to select the hospital of their choice and convenience. It saves them from the hassle of arranging the funds and later applying for reimbursement.

Inclusions & Exclusions

Though IRDAI (Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India) has listed certain conditions, every insurance company has its unique set of inclusions and exclusions for its health insurance that covers pregnancy. Consumers should read the policy document clearly before signing the dotted line.

Newborn Cover

Always choose the health insurance that covers pregnancy and offers newborn coverage. It might not be feasible to source a new policy for your child immediately. However, some policies do provide general coverage for a specific period.

Claim procedure

It would be prudent to understand the claim procedure for an insurance policy. This would help new parents to handle it in a stress-free manner. You can also talk to other policyholders to get a realistic picture.

These are some of the factors to consider while choosing health insurance that covers pregnancy. It is imperative to understand that all health insurance packages might not offer maternity cover. Always look for policies that provide the maximum benefit. The waiting period for these policies is considerably long. Some policies might even take nine months to almost two years. It is advisable to invest in health insurance that covers pregnancy immediately after the wedding or when the couple decides to have a baby. There is no warranty or defined guidelines for the approval period. Hence, it is advisable to be prepared as complications in pregnancy cannot be predicted. This insurance would be the first responsible decision for all parents to be.