Welcoming a baby into the world is one of life’s most beautiful moments. Yet, it’s not uncommon for parents to feel mixed emotions when expecting. Along with the excitement and dreams of a bright future, it's natural for parents to feel some anxiety and apprehension. After all, ensuring the health and well-being of both, the mother and the newborn, can be physically, emotionally, and financially taxing.
The truth is, pregnancy and childbirth come with a range of unpredictable expenses — from pre-natal check-ups and delivery costs to postnatal care and vaccinations. Without the right back-up, these costs can quickly add up. That’s why having a health insurance plan that covers the mother and the newborn is necessary.
In this article, we’ll break down health insurance for newborns, help you navigate the process of choosing the right policy for your growing family, and share the top maternity and newborn health insurance plans for 2025. Let’s dive in!
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What Does Health Insurance for Newborns Mean?
Health insurance for a newborn means having insurance coverage from the moment a child is born. Most maternity health insurance plans with newborn coverage generally cover the child from Day 1, i.e., the day of birth. However, if the plan does not have the maternity or newborn coverage benefit, then the child would have to be added to a family floater plan after 91 Days, i.e., after the lapse of three months. This addition usually requires the fulfillment of insurer-specific underwriting.
Why is Health Insurance Crucial for a Newborn?
Delivery coverage: Bringing a baby into the world is magical. However, it’s also expensive, especially if you’re delivering at a private hospital. A normal delivery can set you back ₹40,000–₹80,000, while a C-section may easily cross the ₹1 lakh mark. Apart from the delivery charges, you have to add in hospital stays, operation theatre charges, and doctor fees, making the costs stack up fast. A good maternity health plan helps cover these expenses so you can focus on the moment you meet your baby, and not the bills.
Pre- and post-natal costs: Pregnancy is a lot of things, but cheap isn’t one of them. Even before the due date, regular ultrasounds, routine check-ups, medications, and tests are required to ensure everything’s on track. After birth, there are medical follow-ups for both the mother and the baby. Over time, these costs add up to thousands or lakhs. A health insurance plan with comprehensive maternity coverage takes care of these expenses.
Complications with the newborn: Not everything goes according to plan, and sometimes, newborns may need some extra medical attention. Whether it’s admission into the NICU, emergency treatments, or monitoring for unexpected complications, the costs can spiral into lakhs within days. The right policy ensures these expenses are covered so you can focus on your baby’s recovery without worrying about how to foot the bill.
Medications, vaccinations, and diagnostic tests: Newborn care extends beyond hospital walls. There are essential vaccines, diagnostic tests, and medications that are crucial for your baby’s health, which are expensive. First-year vaccinations alone can cost ₹15,000 or more. The right insurance policy helps cover these ongoing expenses.
Choosing the Right Policy for your Baby
Selecting a maternity and newborn health plan isn’t just about ticking boxes — it’s about finding a policy that truly protects your family when it matters most. Let’s break it down:
Waiting periods: Waiting periods in maternity plans range from 9 months to 4 years, so timing your policy purchase is key. If you're planning to conceive soon, look for plans with shorter waiting periods or options to reduce them through add-ons. This way, you avoid unexpected out-of-pocket expenses when your baby arrives. Some insurers let you reduce this waiting period with an add-on, but that too, comes at an extra cost. Planning ahead can save you from unexpected out-of-pocket expenses when the baby arrives.
Maternity sub-limits: Check if your policy’s maternity sub-limit aligns with hospital costs in your city. If the limit is lower than typical delivery expenses, consider policies with higher coverage or a top-up plan to avoid paying from your pocket later. Make sure the sub-limit is realistic, and check whether it covers extras like medications, follow-ups, and NICU expenses, just in case.
Corporate policies: If you’re relying on your corporate health insurance, don’t assume it will cover all maternity expenses. Check for limits on delivery costs and newborn care. If it’s insufficient, consider getting a separate family floater plan or a maternity add-on for better protection.
Cost vs. Return On Investment: Comprehensive policies with extensive maternity and newborn coverage can be pricey. While a higher premium might save you lakhs in hospital bills if complications arise, it’s worth considering the long-term cost. Most people have only one or two children in their lifetime, but they’ll pay the extra premium for the entire policy duration — which could end up costing more than the potential maternity expenses. It’s a trade-off between upfront affordability and long-term peace of mind.
Lifetime coverage: Some policies cover your newborn right from Day 1, while others make you wait 91 days to add the baby to the policy. That’s three whole months of potential out-of-pocket expenses if something goes wrong. Policies like Niva Bupa Aspire Titanium+ and Aditya Birla Activ Fit let you add the baby immediately, so you don’t have to stress about a coverage gap.
Exclusions: Not all newborn health insurance policies are created equal. Some don’t cover assisted reproductive treatments like In Vitro Fertilization, surrogacy, or oocyte donor expenses — which can be a dealbreaker if you’ve conceived through Assisted Reproductive Technology. Others might exclude voluntary pregnancy terminations, congenital conditions, or high-risk pregnancies. Reading the fine print can save you from nasty surprises later.
Both spouses' coverage: Most insurers require both spouses to have maternity coverage, even though only one partner will give birth. It might sound unnecessary, but it’s often a policy condition for enabling newborn coverage. If you and your partner have separate plans, consolidating into a single family floater might simplify things and give you more comprehensive benefits.
When it comes to welcoming a new baby, that kind of security is key. Choosing the right policy is about knowing that your family is protected, no matter what life throws your way.
Top 5 Maternity and Newborn Plans in 2025
| Plan | Room Rent Restrictions | Disease-wise Sub-limits (Other than Maternity) | Maternity Coverage | Other Maternity Features | Other Perks | Drawbacks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aditya Birla Activ Fit Preferred | SI 1L & 2L - 2% of SI for normal room rent SI 3L & 4L - Single Private Room SI 5L & above - No restrictions |
No sublimits | Covered up to 2 Deliveries/terminations Normal Delivery - ₹40,000 C-Section Delivery – ₹60,000; Covered after 3 years; only for family floaters |
New Born Baby Expenses Pre or post - natal expenses Vaccination Expenses Stem Cell Preservation of the newborn - within Maternity Limits |
Unlimited automatic restoration of sum insured. HealthReturns for maintaining an active lifestyle. Wellness & mental health coverage. |
No coverage for assisted reproduction, surrogacy or oocyte donor & adoption expenses. |
| Niva Bupa Aspire Titanium + | No restrictions | No sublimits | Up to ₹ 25k based on the cover amount; Waiting period is 9 months | Offers Miracle benefit for maternity, surrogacy, adoption, and ART. Child aged up to 90 days and newly wedded spouses can be added in the policy after issuance. Newborn coverage is extremely beneficial. |
Future Ready -- Covers waiting period for future spouses. Lock the clock - premiums won't increase as per age until you make a claim. |
Expensive policy Insurer's Operational efficiency should be improved |
| ICICI ELEVATE | Single Private Room (Add on available to remove this restriction) | No sublimits | Available as an add on; 10% of the base SI, up to ₹ 1 lakh. Waiting period of 2 years (can be reduced to 1 year with an add-on) | Pre & post natal expenses covered New born cover is available upto 2x maternity limit Vaccinations covered up to 1% of the cover amount up to 10K Surrogacy and Oocyte donor expenses covered up to 5L |
Wellness programs and rewards | Air ambulance cover up to ₹ 5 lakhs Inflation adjusted cover amount available as an add on Insurer's CSR is low compared to peers |
| STAR Super Star | No restrictions | No sublimits | Available as an add on, ₹ 2 to 5 lakh maternity cover, based on the sum insured, waiting period of 1-2 years | Available as an add on for childbirth, newborn expenses, and even Assisted Reproduction treatment based on the type of coverage chosen. Pregnant women can purchase an add-on by submitting 12 and 20 week scan reports of their pregnancy period, the newborn will be covered immediately after its birth covered till end of the policy year. Pre & post natal expenses are covered. Policy covers up to 4 deliveries. |
Premium will not increase based on age until you make a claim Future Shield -- Waiting Periods are waived off for your future spouse. Unlimited cover amount option available |
Insurer's Claim Settlement Ratio could be improved. Insurer's operational efficiency needs enhancement. |
| Tata AIG Medicare Premiere | No restrictions | No sublimits | Up to ₹ 50k for boy child & ₹ 60k for girl child, can be higher depending on the cover amount chosen; Waiting period is 4 years | Child age should be 91 days at the time of addition in the policy after issuance. Addition of spouse is not allowed. First year vaccination is covered Delivery Complications Cover - Additional ₹ 10k or 25K based on the cover amount |
Global coverage, high end diagnostics, vaccinations as well OPD expenses are covered | Expensive policy Pre & post natal expenses are not covered Voluntary termination of pregnanacy is not covered |
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Conclusion
Childbirth surely comes with its share of ups and downs. Despite that, there are things you can do to make your journey into parenthood as smooth as possible. Getting maternity and newborn health insurance is one of them. With the right plan, you can focus on creating beautiful memories with your little one, knowing that unexpected medical expenses are taken care of. After all, peace of mind is the best gift you can give your growing family.
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