Bringing a child into this world can be a life-changing experience, especially for first-time parents. Securing adequate insurance protection is one of the best ways to prepare yourself and your family for the arrival of a new baby. Read on for some frequently asked questions that might help you in your planning.
MATERNITY INSURANCE
-
If an abortion or miscarriage occurred previously, would insurers reject the application for maternity insurance?
Pre-existing conditions are taken into consideration as part of the underwriting process. For maternity coverage, individuals who have experienced multiple miscarriages may have their application rejected.
Each application, however, is subject to a rigorous process of underwriting.
Typically, underwriters will request for reports of the applicant’s medical history from the gynaecologist and any other relevant medical professionals.
-
Do such pre-natal and post-natal policies provide coverage for all medical tests?
In general, such policies cover specified congenital illnesses as well as pregnancy complication listed under the policy terms. Rather than covering the full cost of specific tests, a lump sum (usually around $5000) would be paid out upon diagnosis of claimable conditions.
-
Do maternity policies cover natural births outside a hospital setting? And wellness activities such as Yoga and Pilates classes for pregnant women?
As a matter of good will, some insurers may cover natural births outside a hospital setting if they are emergencies. Unfortunately, there are no policies that would provide coverage for Yoga and Pilates classes.
-
How is one maternity policy plan different from another offered by a different insurer?
There may be variations in costs as well as terms and conditions. For instance, some policies will cover assisted reproduction methods such as IVF while others do not. When selecting a policy, it is good to seek professional consultation. This will ensure that you pick the policy that best suits your needs and that of your family.
CHILD INSURANCE
-
What kind of policy plans would be most suitable for newborns?
Newborns are particularly vulnerable to illness and other health issues at this early stage in their lives. Some basic plans that might come in handy are listed below.
| Policy Plan | Rationale |
| Hospitalisation plans including shield plans and policy riders | To cover hospitalisation for common ailments like bronchitis and persistent high fever. |
| Accident plan | To cover treatment of common incidents like falls, insect bites and Hand Foot Mouth Disease. |
| Early stage critical illness plan | This is important regardless of age and it is cheaper to insure an individual at a younger age. Also, premiums do not increase with age. |
| Any other life and critical illness cover that your budget allows | Medical expenses for life and critical illnesses can exceed most premium amounts and quickly exhaust your savings.
Prudent planning and getting the right policies can provide peace of mind and protect you and your family. |
-
Can insurance premiums be paid using funds from the baby’s Child Development Account (CDA)?
Certain insurers allow for private integrated hospitalisation plan to be paid via CDA.
-
With a national health insurance scheme like MediShield Life providing for all Singapore citizens and Permanent Residents, is there a need for parents to buy additional policy plans for their children?
MediShield Life only provides cover for up to $100,000 per year – enough for the cost of stays in B2 or C wards in government restructured hospitals. Depending on the illness or medical condition, this may not be sufficient.
Beyond the scope of MediShield Life, integrated private hospitalisation shield plans would cover B1 to A wards in both government and private hospitals. In addition, the coverage amount per year is usually higher and ranges from $300,000 to $600,000 in general.
For those who have limited cash on hand, the addition of a policy rider under integrated private hospitalisation shield plans would provide full coverage of medical bills. In contrast, patients who are only insured under MediShield Life have to pay for deductibles and cover a co-insured amount on their own.
Leave a Reply