Health insurance is an important aspect of life and is especially crucial for pregnant women. Pregnant women need access to quality health care to ensure a safe and healthy pregnancy. That’s why surrogate mothers must have health insurance coverage. In this blog post, we will discuss the health insurance plan for Surrogate Mothers.

Let’s get started.

An Overview of Surrogacy?

Surrogacy is an arrangement between a woman and a couple in which the woman agrees to become pregnant and deliver a child for the couple. The child’s biological mother is usually referred to as the surrogate, while the couple who commissions or requests her services are known as the intended parents.

Who can Go for Surrogacy?

As per the Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2022, any healthy woman between the age of 25-35 years can become a surrogate mother. The woman must have had a healthy pregnancy in the past with a full-term delivery and should have no medical history of any chronic disease such as diabetes, hypertension, etc. She must also be psychologically fit to undergo the surrogacy process.

Surrogacy Provisions in India

In India, there are two types of surrogacy- traditional and gestational.

a)      Traditional Surrogacy

In traditional surrogacy, the surrogate mother is impregnated with the sperm of the intended father through artificial insemination. Therefore, the child is biologically related to both the surrogate and the intended father.

b)     Gestational Surrogacy

Gestational surrogacy, on the other hand, involves the implantation of an embryo created through IVF using the eggs of the Intended Mother and sperm of the Intended Father. The child born out of gestational surrogacy is unrelated to the surrogate mother. Under gestational surrogacy, the surrogate mother only provides the womb for carrying and delivering the baby.

3-Year Health Insurance for Surrogate Mothers: Latest Provision

The government of India has released a new provision that all surrogate mothers must have health insurance in India that covers them for at least three years. This is in addition to the already existing requirement that they have a life insurance policy. The rationale behind this decision is to protect the health and well-being of the surrogate mother and the child she is carrying.

Here are the essentials to know about the Surrogacy (Regulation) Act:

1. Couples opting for surrogacy must register with the appropriate authority in their region.
2. After registration, couples will be required to go through a series of tests and counseling sessions.
3. Couples must also prove that they have been married for at least five years and are unable to conceive a child naturally.
4. A woman can attempt surrogacy only thrice.
5. As per the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971, the maximum gestation period for a surrogate mother is 26 weeks.
6. Gynecologists can terminate a pregnancy only if it threatens the mother’s life.
7. After the baby is born, the surrogate mother has no legal rights over it.

The Bottom Line

There are several factors to consider when choosing a cashless health insurance plan for surrogate mothers. Ultimately, your best plan will depend on your individual needs and budget. However, all surrogate mothers should make sure to have some form of health insurance in place before beginning the surrogacy process. This will help to protect you financially in the event of any complications that may arise during your pregnancy.