New Delhi, Aug. 26 -- What maternity features should one look for in a family health plan? This was a query posed by a 31-year-old man who was planning to start a family with his 29-year-old wife within a year and is currently relying on my employer's group health cover.

Prioritising financial planning over family planning is a thoughtful decision, Sarbvir Singh, joint group chief executive of PB Fintech, told Mint. "The good news is that maternity health insurance has become more practical for young couples than it was a few years ago."

Traditionally, Singh noted, maternity benefits came with waiting periods of two to four years, which meant many couples either missed out on coverage or had to plan well in advance, "something that was ...