India’s maternal healthcare ecosystem is witnessing a significant transformation, driven by increased institutional deliveries and rising dependence on formal healthcare services. According to Care Health Insurance, women’s health insurance claims rose by 37% between FY25 and FY26, with the 20–40 age group continuing to account for the highest share of claims growth.
Government health data indicates that institutional deliveries in India touched 97.3% in 2023–24, while C-section procedures accounted for over 27% of reported births during 2024–25. Reflecting this shift towards medically intensive maternity care, Care Health Insurance observed a steady rise in maternity-related claim costs across the country.
The insurer noted that Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities contributed nearly 60% of all maternity claims reported to the company, highlighting growing healthcare access beyond metros. At the same time, women above 35 years accounted for 12% of total maternity claim volumes in FY26, with this category contributing 18% of the overall maternity claim value, signalling higher treatment costs linked to later-age pregnancies.
Overall maternity claim outgo has increased by 25% over the last two years, even as claim volumes fluctuated. The company also observed that while maternal care pathways are becoming more efficient, with discharge within five days rising from 75% in FY24 to 82% in FY26, treatment costs continue to rise.
Commenting on the findings, Manish Dodeja said, “Women’s health insurance claims are expanding not just in scale, but also in cost intensity. Rising maternity expenses and evolving healthcare utilisation patterns highlight the importance of regularly reviewing health insurance coverage to ensure it remains aligned with changing healthcare needs.”
