Plan Name & Insurer Key highlights for women Sum Insured Range (₹) Waiting Period for Maternity
Niva Bupa Aspire Plan: An all-round policy covering Maternity (delivery, Pre-/Post-natal care), and also infertility treatment. No sub-limits on surgeries. 1 Crore, depending on the variant (i.e. from as low as 9 months)
Star Women’s Care Policy: Exclusive for women. Protects treatment for assisted reproduction treatment (IVF), for specified women’s critical illnesses and Bariatric surgery.
Covers newborn care. 5 Lakh – 1 Crore 1-2 years
Care Joy 1 Maternity Care Plan for Maternity Only. Includes costs for delivery and care of new baby. Also available for future planning as Care Joy Tomorrow Plan. 3 Lakh – 5 Lakh Min: 9 Months (depending on the policy type/term)
HDFC ERGO my: health Women Suraksha Plan Critical Illness Plan (available as a standalone policy/rider). Also focuses upon women’s cancers (breast, cervical, ovarian etc) and other specific diseases.
Varies (Typically a lump sum for CI benefit) Varies
Aditya Birla Activ Fit Deluxe plan with focus on wellness. May offer some cover for specified critical illnesses and wellness benefits. 5 Lakh – 1 Crore Varies (3 years maximum)
Reliance Women’s Health Insurance Comprehensive plan that covers maternity costs, preventive care services, mental health support and coverage for PCOS/endometriosis (Please read policy document).
Note: The “Waiting Period for Maternity”also affects a lot. 2 Most policies with waiting period of 1 to 4 years for maternity expenses coverage. Some specialized plans have a shorter waiting period if you pay higher premiums or extend your policy term.
Key Features to Look for
As you compare health insurance as a woman, look for these benefits:
Maternity Coverage
Waiting Period: The length of time that you have to wait from the date you purchased the policy for a maternity claim to be covered.
Delivery Expenses: Includes normal delivery and C-Section. See what the plan’s maximum limit is. Newborn and Baby Cover: From the day of birth including vaccines and health issues. Critical Illness Coverage (Women Specific).
Lump Sum Benefit: Look out for plans which may be HDFC ERGO’s or ICICI Lombard’s that pay out a single sum at the time of diagnosis of women’s cancers (eg. breast, cervical, ovarian) or other serious illnesses.
Wellness and Preventive Care
- Annual Health Check-ups: Crucial for the early detection of health issues.4 Many plans cover annual check-ups for free.5
- Preventive Care Screenings: Check for coverage of screenings such as Pap smears, mammograms, and bone density tests.6
- Wellness Benefits: Some of them provide renewal discounts or other benefits in exchange for maintaining a healthy lifestyle, like counting steps.7
- General Policy Parameters
Factor Why it Matters Recommendation
Claim Settlement Ratio (CSR) It shows how reliably an insurer settles claims. Above 90 percent is normally considered good.
Network Hospitals The number of hospitals where you can avail cashless treatment. More is better, especially hospitals near your home or workplace.
Restoration/Reinstatement Benefit Recharges your Sum Insured once it is exhausted, sometimes for an unrelated illness. Very important, especially in the case of Family Floater plans.