Pregnancy and Unborn Baby Insurance : A Closer Look
These days, there are many types of medical insurance policies for various specifications. In addition to the traditional medical card that covers hospitalizations and treatments, there are now specific policies for cancers, critical illnesses, injuries and others.
This wide variety of medical policies has come about as consumers increasingly require more specific coverage. One of the policies that is often overlooked is coverage for pregnant mothers and their unborn babies.
What is a Pregnancy Insurance Policy?
This type of medical coverage can go by several different names. For example, it can be called Mother and Baby coverage, pre-natal policy, unborn baby insurance and so on. Basically, it is an insurance policy that covers pregnancy related illnesses, infections, treatments and complications in both mother and child. This includes medical conditions that happen during the pregnancy, during the birthing process and after the baby has been born.
Pregnancy policies often cover both the mother and baby, including medical conditions that happen to both of them throughout the pregnancy and birthing process. However, there can be certain insurance providers who only cover the mother and offer a separate policy for the baby.
Coverage often starts within the first trimester and lasts for one to three months after the baby is born. Some policies, like Smart Baby Shield from Great Eastern, actually covers your child until they’re five years old.That is, it covers congenital conditions that the baby is diagnosed with, as well as postnatal conditions the mother is diagnosed with.
Any illnesses and medical conditions that develop later on in your baby’s life will also be covered under the same policy, with the exception of congenital diseases. Your child will continue to be covered by this policy throughout their lives even after they’re five. The main benefit here is of course coverage of congenital diseases, which is why it's important to buy a policy for your unborn child.
Why Do You Need a Pregnancy Insurance Policy?
If you’re an expectant parent, you’ll know that having a child comes with many risks and unexpected events. This is a very delicate time as the baby grows in the womb. Additionally, there are also infectious diseases that can affect both the mother and child.
That’s why it is important to prepare in advance, especially from the financial aspect. A mother and child should have access to the best medical attention should anything happen. The only way to ensure this is to have a financial plan to fall back on.
Not preparing or subscribing to a pregnancy insurance policy can mean a delay in accessing life-saving treatments, which in some cases can be emergencies.
However, if you do have a pregnancy policy backing you up, there’s no need to worry about checking into hospitals for much needed medical attention.
What Benefits Can You Enjoy with Mother and Baby Insurance Coverage?
Here’s what you can expect when you buy coverage for yourself and your baby. Most insurance providers will cover you and your child throughout the pregnancy and birthing process. They will also extend the coverage to conditions diagnosed within the first month after birth.
Protection Against Pregnancy Complications
Pregnancy complications are complications that develop when the baby is growing in the womb, and they usually affect the mother as well. It is difficult to predict if and when these complications will happen. In many of these complications, a dangerous symptom is bleeding and it can become dangerous if not treated immediately.
Having financial coverage over these complications will ease your access to emergency treatment if and when they happen.
Coverage for Hospital Admissions
If you need to be admitted, these pregnancy policies will provide a certain amount you can claim to cover your hospitalization. The coverage also extends to stays in the intensive care unit (ICU) or high dependency unit (HDU).
Additionally, these policies also cover instances when your baby is admitted for congenital illnesses or infections for several months after they’re born. Sometimes the coverage extends until they’re one year old.
Protection for Newborn Congenital Diseases
Congenital diseases develop due to developmental issues with certain parts of the baby’s body or organs. For example, there can be issues with the heart, where certain walls do not close properly, leading to what we commonly call a hole in the heart. Other congenital diseases can involve malformations in the lungs, brain, bone and joints.
Pregnancy policies are able to provide generous payouts upon the diagnosis of these congenital diseases. Diagnosis can happen at birth or up to several years after birth.
Financial Support for Infectious Diseases
Infectious diseases, unlike congenital diseases, are caused by external infecting agents such as bacteria, viruses and fungi. Any infectious diseases a mother faces during pregnancy can pose a danger to the baby, and as such will require immediate medical attention.
Some examples of infectious diseases include Dengue, Malaria, Typhoid, Nipah virus and so on. Usually, a one off payment is made under pregnancy policies should the mother be diagnosed.
Critical Protection for Newborns
Sometimes, babies can be born prematurely and require the assistance of an incubator. There are also cases where babies are born with jaundice and require placement under phytotherapy treatment ( under UV lights).
In such cases, policies will cover the baby for several months until they are well enough or grown enough and can be discharged from the healthcare facility.
Life Protection for Mother and Child
Having life protection means that if anything should happen to mum or baby before, during and directly after the birthing process, the rest of the family will be beneficiaries of a payout.
Many people believe that having life protection for mothers and their babies is akin to wishing for something untowards to happen. However, preparing in advance will ensure at least one burden being lifted from their loved ones.
Pregnancy policies offer different payouts in the event of the baby’s demise or the mother’s passing.
Coverage for Maternal Cancer
One of the final things that a pregnancy policy covers is for any cancers that the mother develops. This cancer can be linked to her pregnancy or not. In either case, treatments and hospitalization will be covered. Some insurance providers will make a one off payment instead.
Don’t Overlook Pregnancy Policies
In the busyness of preparing to welcome a new family member, one should not overlook this important step of covering your unborn child with an insurance plan.
Additionally, insurance plans for unborn babies are the only ones that cover congenital diseases. Usually other medical plans will not cover children or adults with congenital diseases. To know more about the pregnancy and unborn baby policies available, speak to our consultants today.
