Navigating Maternity Leave and Insurance: How Can My Friend Ensure Coverage for Her Pregnancy?

Dear All,

A friend of mine has worked for more than 80 days in her current employment (over 3 years of experience in the same company, a private firm). She is pregnant and expecting delivery by November or December. She has informed her boss and HR that she will be going on maternity leave and has requested a handover procedure, as she is handling multiple projects and wants to do it properly. However, the management continues to say that the revised act has not been implemented.

I have sent her the amended notification and asked her to send it to HR along with her doctor's reports. Please suggest whether this is sufficient or if anything else needs to be done.

She also mentioned that she is covered under "Max-Bupa" insurance. Instead of a group mediclaim, they have provided individual coverage (for cost-saving), which includes maternity benefits only after two years. However, the management tied up with the vendor just a year ago.

Kindly let me know if, in this case, her medical expenses related to pregnancy will be covered by the company or if it is not their liability, as she is not covered under ESI.

Regards,

Calyan

Dear Caly,

As you have provided notification of the amendment of the maternity act to the organization, then that is enough. Also, if the clause of 2 years membership is there in the policy from MaxBupa, then she won't be able to claim from it. However, she can claim maternity bonus from the employer.

Under the Maternity Benefit Act, the employer is obligated to provide 26 weeks of leave with salary and Rs 3500 towards a medical bonus if no prenatal or postnatal care is given by the employer. However, the employer has no obligation to cover the medical expenses of the employee in connection with pregnancy or childbirth.

Madhu.T.K