Newborn baby health insurance

As its name suggests, a newborn baby health insurance plan provides coverage of the medical expenses of newborn babies. There are very few insurance policies that provide coverage to a newborn baby right from birth. When the child turns 90 days i.e. 3 months, he becomes eligible for health insurance. Instead of buying a separate health insurance plan for your baby, if you’ve already purchased maternity health insurance or a family floater insurance policy, then the newborn can be covered under these.

(Read more: The best health insurance)

Children's bodies are more sensitive than those of adults and, which makes them more prone to many types of diseases. That is why newborn babies need more attention and care. Newborn care usually includes routine medical checkups, vaccinations and treatments.

Health-related problems can be completely unpredictable and develop in anyone at any time. Babies also have weakened immune systems, which increases the risk of having a medical emergency even more. Hence, it is important to buy a health insurance plan for a newborn or include it in an already existing one, so that you can stay financially strong even in tough times.

Having health insurance is a win-win for everyone, but even more so when it comes to babies as they are relatively more prone to various medical conditions. Below are some of the benefits of buying health insurance for newborns:

• Buying a health insurance plan for a newborn or covering the baby in a pre-existing health insurance plan gives you coverage of medical expenses like pre and post hospitalization, daycare treatments, ambulance and ICU stay.
• A newborn baby may need multiple treatments due to a weak immune system, so a health insurance plan can at least support you financially and maybe even emotionally during such times as it can get the best treatment without thinking twice.
• When you know that your child is covered and protected under a health insurance plan, you too can lead a blissful life without worrying about money or illnesses.
• Health insurance plans for newborn babies do not have high premiums and the premium does not change much if you cover the newborn baby as a new member of the pre-existing health insurance.
• You can also get income tax exemption when you get a newborn baby health insurance or when you cover the newborn in the pre-existing insurance (family floater or maternity health insurance). It is applicable under section 80D.
• Some health insurance companies offer the facility of annual medical checkups, with the help of which you can keep the entire family, including the baby, safe.
• Some health insurance plans that cover the newborn may also offer you a reward in the form of a no-claim bonus for being healthy and not making a claim. However, it completely depends on the company and not all insurers will necessarily give you this bonus.

(Read more: Top-up insurance)

If you are thinking of buying a health insurance policy, then it is very important to research it thoroughly. Often people do not know much about health insurance before buying it and later they have to face problems. When buying newborn baby health insurance, it’s best to keep some things in mind:

• Premium: Some health insurance plans provide coverage to the newborn by including them in the family. And while some health insurance companies provide coverage to a newborn baby as an add-on, the premium may become slightly higher. So you have to take care and decide on the option that gives you the best coverage at the lowest cost.
• Inclusions: The coverage period and conditions of each insurer may vary. Some plans cover all immunizations of the baby, while others provide coverage of medical expenses incurred on congenital diseases. While buying a newborn baby health insurance plan, you have to see which plan will be right for your baby.
• Early coverage: Most of the insurers include the baby in the health insurance plan after the child turns 90 days. You have to choose an insurer who covers your child in the health insurance plan as soon as possible.

(Read more: Cheapest health insurance)

If you want to include a newborn baby in an already existing health insurance plan or are planning to buy a new plan for him, then you may need the following documents:

• Birth certificate of the baby
• Maternity discharge card
• Photocopy of cashless card
• Health report of the child if there is any health problem

Apart from this, keep all your documents ready, so that you can show them if the insurance company asks for them.

(Read more: Cashless health insurance)