New Delhi, Sept. 2 -- Pregnancy and related medical expenses are generally not covered under standard health insurance policies unless the plan includes maternity benefits or the policyholder has opted for a maternity add-on or rider.

As pregnancy typically lasts around nine months, a woman may need treatment for illnesses unrelated to pregnancy despite taking all necessary precautions. However, determining whether the ailment requiring hospitalisation is connected to pregnancy can sometimes be a grey area, potentially resulting in disputes between insurers and policyholders.

For instance, in one case, a woman underwent treatment for a gastrointestinal infection while she was pregnant.

At the same time, she was diagnosed with severe hy...