Costs of being pregnant
If your health insurance does not cover your pregnancy, expect to fork out anywhere between Dh2,000 and Dh6,000 (550 to 1650 USD) for antenatal care. These costs include your consultations, special organ scans, clothes and possibly supplements.
Keep in mind, total costs will depend on your selected antenatal package and whether you are going to a private or government hospital.
To reduce expenses, get insured. If you have maternity cover as part of your health insurance, make sure you read the terms and conditions, as providers might not cover all examinations or procedures.
Most health insurance policies will not cover your expenses unless you have been insured for at least six to 12 months prior to your pregnancy, as pregnancy is considered a pre-existing condition — so it’s best to plan ahead.
Cost of delivery
The big day is here. Your delivery cost will yet again depend on the hospital, and whether you are having a natural birth or a C-section.
Delivery package costs vary, ranging from Dh2,000 to Dh35,000 ($550 to $10000). How much you spend in the end will be based on the procedure, the kind of room you select and the number of days you’ll stay.
Try to do as much homework as possible about what’s covered in your delivery package. There can be additional costs for inducing the birth, delivery of twins or any complications. So know which services and procedures are covered by your healthcare.
Find out exactly how soon after you go into labor or give birth you should get in touch with your insurance company. Service providers may penalise you if you don’t call within hours of hospital admission or delivery.
Post-pregnancy costs
If you thought the pregnancy and delivery were expensive, there’s a whole list of purchases still to consider. Below is the cost of the first six months of bringing your baby home.
Excluding the pregnancy and cost of delivery, you can easily spend over Dh8,000 ($2000).
For those who have two cars or two-storey villas, you may well end up buying two sets of the big-ticket items like car seats and changing tables.
Having a baby is an expensive affair. The above costs are just for the basics; now add in money for toys, other accessories and help around the house for the first few months.
Becoming a parent is a joyous experience but being financially prepared is an absolute must.
By: Ambareen Musa
The writer is the founder and chief executive officer of Souqalmal.com. Views expressed are her own and do not reflect the newspaper’s policy.
