Understanding Maternity Scans as Part of Employee Health Cover

Maternity care, particularly access to key pregnancy scans, is a crucial component of modern health benefits for employees in South Africa. As the need for supporting expectant mothers in the workplace becomes more apparent, employers are seeking group cover health plans that address the unique requirements of maternity health, balancing quality with affordability.

What are Maternity Scans and Why Are They Important?

Maternity scans are essential diagnostic procedures performed during pregnancy to monitor the health of both the mother and the developing baby. Common types of scans include:

• Early pregnancy ultrasound: Typically done around 6-12 weeks to confirm pregnancy and estimate gestational age.
• Mid-pregnancy anomaly scan: Conducted between 18-22 weeks to assess foetal development and detect congenital conditions.
• Growth scans: Performed at various stages to ensure the baby is growing appropriately and to check the amniotic fluid level, placenta position, and more.

Including these scans in group health plans provides peace of mind for employees, promotes wellness at work, and enhances staff retention by demonstrating employer commitment to holistic health support.

Key Features of Employee Health Cover for Pregnancy

When evaluating employee health cover options such as those from Affinity Health Group Cover, consider how maternity scans fit into the benefits structure. Employee plans tend to provide:

• Coverage for routine and diagnostic maternity scans under the hospital section of the plan.
• Access to a nationwide network of private hospitals and practitioners (see the hospital provider search tool).
• Transparent pricing and eligibility, helping employers plan monthly costs with clarity-rates are fixed nationally.
• Support for pregnancy-related claims, including pre-authorisation and telephonic assistance.

Benefits of Extending Maternity Scans Cover to Employees

• Boosts employee morale and job satisfaction.
• Reduces out-of-pocket expenses during pregnancy.
• Promotes early intervention and better neonatal outcomes.
• Strengthens the company’s reputation as a caring, family-oriented employer.

Employers who invest in this type of group health cover signal that their organisation not only values productivity but cares for the long-term wellness of employees and their families. Find out more about the various employee cover options in the Affinity Health Group Cover guide.

Eligibility, Waiting Periods, and Plan Design Considerations

Eligibility for maternity-related benefits typically requires that staff are registered on the group policy before falling pregnant, and may involve waiting periods. Here’s a summary table for group cover features relevant to maternity scans:

Aspect	Details
Maternity scans covered	Yes, under hospitalisation/antenatal care on many group plans
Eligibility	Employee (and relevant dependants) must be on policy prior to conception
Waiting periods	May apply to maternity benefits (typically up to 12 months)

For an overview of current group plan options, see the group cover pricing and benefits page. You may also be interested in our Comprehensive Day-to-Day Health Cover for Employees: An Employer's Guide.

Best Practices for Employers Offering Maternity Scans Benefits

To fully support employees, employers should communicate plan features clearly and ensure that expecting staff understand how to access covered maternity scans. Consider these steps:

1. Share plan documents and benefit details with all team members.
2. Encourage staff to enrol or add dependants before planning a family, to avoid exclusions or waiting periods.
3. Provide HR contact details for assistance with maternity-related queries and navigating claims.
4. Direct team members to online provider directories, such as the Affinity Health provider finder, for convenient appointments.

Maximising the Value of Employee Health Plans

To get the most from day-to-day health cover benefits for employees:

• Review limits and qualifying criteria per policy-these differ by plan and may depend on hospital vs. day-to-day coverage.
• Stay informed about network hospitals that provide quality maternity services near your workplace location.
• Ensure that antenatal scans are pre-approved as required, and that claims are submitted promptly for reimbursement.

The Broader Impact of Maternity Benefits

Providing maternity scans cover through group health insurance not only supports the health of pregnant employees, but also contributes to workforce stability and improved morale. In the South African context, such benefits are pivotal for promoting gender equality and reducing health-related absenteeism.

Summary: Why Maternity Scans Cover Matters in the Workplace

• Protects families from unexpected healthcare costs.
• Demonstrates an employer’s investment in employee wellbeing.
• Reduces stress by ensuring consistent, predictable access to private maternity services.

For more guidance on structuring a comprehensive employee health programme, review the resources on Affinity Health’s group cover page and their overview of combined hospital and day-to-day plans-ideal for employer groups seeking holistic protection.

Sources

• Affinity Health: Group Cover Overview
• Affinity Health: Plan Rates and Benefits
• Western Cape Government: Antenatal Care Guidelines
• Health Systems Trust: South Africa Health Review 2019
• National Institute for Communicable Diseases: Antenatal Surveillance Overview