Guwahati, Sept. 25 -- Maternity health insurance works best when the timing lines up, when the waiting period has already run its course by the point coverage is actually needed. Understanding how that timing works helps buyers plan purchases around their family timeline rather than reacting once a pregnancy is underway.

A waiting period in health insurance is the span of time right after buying a policy during which certain claims aren't payable, even though premiums are being paid and the policy is active. Insurers build in waiting periods to preserve the risk-pooling model that makes insurance affordable for everyone, ensuring people buy coverage well before they know exactly what treatment they'll need.

Maternity sits among the most...