Top 6 Best Health Insurance Plans With Maternity Cover in India 2025

Having a child is a big joy in life, but it also brings medical costs. Normal delivery, C-section, prenatal checkups, newborn care — these can add up. If your health insurance policy has maternity cover, it helps reduce that cost burden. In this blog, I will explain what maternity cover means, what to check for, and then list the Top 6 Health Insurance Plans With Maternity Cover in India in 2025.

What Is Maternity Cover in Health Insurance?

Maternity cover is the part of a health insurance plan that helps pay for costs related to pregnancy. Some of the expenses that maternity cover may include are:

·       Prenatal (before delivery) check-ups and tests

·       Delivery (normal or C-section) in hospital

·       Postnatal (after delivery) care of mother

·       Newborn care for a few days or weeks

·       Vaccinations for the newborn (sometimes)

But there are some things you need to know:

·       Waiting Period: Usually you can’t use maternity benefits immediately after buying policy. The waiting period might be 9 months, 2 years, or more.

·       Sub-limits: Even after waiting period, the cover amount for maternity might be limited. There could be a cap on how much is paid.

·       Pre-existing conditions / fertility treatments: Some plans may or may not cover things like infertility treatments, surrogacy, or pre-existing pregnancy issues.

·       Newborn cover: When and how newborn is covered (for how many days, whether vaccinations are included).

What To Check Before Buying a Plan with Maternity Cover

Before choosing a policy with maternity cover, always check:

1.     Sum Insured for maternity: How much amount is allowed for pregnancy related costs.

2.     Waiting period: How long you have to wait before maternity cover starts.

3.     Newborn benefits: Whether care for baby (after birth) is included. Vaccinations? How many days?

4.     Room rent / hospital type: Some plans limit room type or hospital class. That can change how much you pay out of pocket.

5.     Claim Settlement Ratio: How many claims insurer accepts vs rejects. A higher ratio means more reliability.

6.     Extra features: Pre- and post-hospitalisation, daycare procedures, maternity complications, add-ons for fertility or infertility if needed.

Top 6 Health Insurance Plans With Maternity Cover in 2025

Here are six good health insurance plans in India that offer maternity cover. These are among the best choices for 2025, based on coverage, waiting periods, features, and value.

Maternity Insurance Plan	Maternity Waiting Period	Maternity Cover (₹)
Aditya Birla Activone Maternity Plan	3 months	Up to 50,000
Care Joy Tomorrow Plan	2 years	1,00,000 (includes newborn cover of 50,000)
Star Women's Care Insurance Plan	2 years	Up to 1,00,000 per delivery (covers up to 2 deliveries)
Tata AIG Premier Medicare Plan	4 years	Up to 50,000 (60,000 in case of girl child) per policy
Niva Bupa Health Premia Plan	2 years	Up to 1,00,000
ICICI Lombard Elevate	2 years	Up to 1,00,000

How Much Do These Plans Cost?

Premiums vary a lot. They depend on:

·       Your age

·       City you live in

·       Sum insured (how much coverage you want)

·       How many benefits (extra features) you choose

·       Waiting period (shorter waiting, higher premium)

Here are rough ranges (for a healthy couple/young parents) you might expect in 2025:

·       Simple maternity add-on + mid-range health coverage: ₹15,000 - ₹25,000 per year

·       More premium plans with big sum insured + extras (newborn care, IVF, high room rent, etc.): ₹25,000 - ₹50,000+ per year

Remember: paying a higher premium for more cover might save you a lot when many maternity expenses come together.

Claims: How Does Maternity Claim Work?

When you need to use maternity cover, here’s how the process usually goes:

1.     Policy in force + waiting period passed: Make sure your policy has been active for the waiting period required.

2.     Hospitalization for delivery: You get admitted for delivery (normal or C-section). The insurer will need hospital bills, doctor reports etc.

3.     Pre- and post-hospitalisation bills: Collect all bills for tests before delivery and the care after delivery.

4.     Newborn care & vaccination bills: If your plan includes newborn cover, keep those receipts.

5.     Submit claim: Garage or the hospital helps with claim sitting. Use network hospitals for cashless if possible.

6.     Check sub-limits / deductibles: Sometimes insurers limit what room you choose, or reduce amount for certain items. Know the fine print.

If everything is correct and all documents are submitted, the insurer pays up to the covered amount. If anything is outside the cover or limit, you may have to pay that difference.

Who Should Choose a Plan With Maternity Cover?

You should strongly consider a plan with maternity cover if:

·       You are planning to have a child in future (soon or later).

·       You want to avoid big medical bills for delivery and newborn care.

·       You prefer having maternity and general health together in one plan rather than separate policies.

·       You want peace of mind that both prenatal and postnatal care, and baby’s first few days, are covered.

If you already have a health insurance policy without maternity cover, adding a maternity cover or switching to a plan that includes it may be a wise move.

Final Thoughts

In 2025, medical and hospital costs are rising every year. Delivery costs, newborn care, tests — all cost more. Having a health insurance policy that includes maternity cover helps protect you financially when you plan a family or are expecting a child.

The Top 6 Health Insurance Plans With Maternity Cover listed above offer good options. Depending on your budget, your needs (how much sum insured, waiting period, extra features like newborn care), you can pick what works best for you.

Always read the policy document, check exclusions, waiting periods, claim process, and make sure the maternity cover portion gives you enough sum insured for your expected needs.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is maternity cover in health insurance?
Maternity cover is a benefit under health insurance that pays for expenses related to pregnancy, including delivery (normal or C-section), pre- and post-natal care, and in some plans, newborn baby care and vaccinations.

2. Is maternity cover included in all health insurance policies?
No. Not all policies have maternity benefits. It is usually available as an add-on or as a feature in specific health insurance plans.

3. What is the waiting period for maternity cover?
Most insurers apply a waiting period before you can use maternity cover. It can range from 9 months to 4 years, depending on the plan.

4. Do maternity health insurance plans cover newborn expenses?
Yes, many plans cover newborn care for a limited period (for example, up to 90 days after birth). Some also include vaccination costs. However, this varies by insurer.

5. Are infertility treatments or IVF covered under maternity insurance?
Generally, infertility treatments like IVF are not covered under regular maternity insurance. However, a few premium plans (such as Niva Bupa Aspire) may include such benefits in certain variants.

6. Will maternity claims affect my overall health insurance benefits?
Yes. The claim is settled within your overall policy sum insured or the maternity sub-limit (whichever applies). It may also affect your No Claim Bonus for that year.

7. How much does health insurance with maternity cover cost in India?
Premiums can range between ₹15,000 and ₹50,000 per year, depending on your age, city, insurer, sum insured, and extra features chosen.

8. Can I add maternity cover to an existing health insurance policy?
In some cases, yes. Many insurers allow you to add maternity cover as a rider or add-on during policy renewal. Otherwise, you may need to buy a new policy that includes maternity benefits.

9. Does maternity insurance cover complications during pregnancy?
Most comprehensive plans include coverage for pregnancy-related complications, but the extent of coverage varies. Always read the policy document carefully.

10. Who should buy a health insurance plan with maternity cover?
It is best suited for young couples planning to start a family, women who expect to have children in the near future, and parents who want newborn care included in their insurance.