Regulatory Baseline
Indonesian labor law (UU No. 13/2003 on Manpower, as amended by UU Cipta Kerja No. 6/2023) mandates 3 months of paid maternity leave. BPJS Kesehatan covers basic delivery costs under its INA-CBGs tariff schedule. However, BPJS coverage is limited to standard delivery procedures. Employer plans typically provide top-up coverage for private hospital delivery, C-section procedures, and neonatal intensive care.
The ILO Maternity Protection Convention (No. 183) establishes international standards including a minimum 14 weeks of maternity leave and access to medical benefits. Employers operating across multiple jurisdictions must navigate varying leave durations, coverage mandates, and benefit expectations.
Cost Components of Maternity Coverage
Maternity claims represent a concentrated cost event: a single delivery claim can equal many months of typical outpatient utilization for the same employee. The cost variance between normal delivery and complicated C-section with NICU stay can be substantial, making maternity one of the more volatile benefit categories.
Actuarial pricing for maternity benefits considers the age distribution and gender composition of the covered population. Plans with a high proportion of women of childbearing age will see higher maternity claim frequency and should price accordingly.
Benefit Design Options
Employers typically choose between a maternity sub-limit (a fixed annual or per-event cap on maternity claims), full integration with the inpatient benefit (maternity covered under the same limits as other hospitalizations), or a separate maternity rider with its own benefit schedule.
Sub-limit approaches provide cost predictability but may create employee dissatisfaction if the limit does not cover the full cost of delivery at the employee's preferred hospital. Full integration provides better employee experience but increases plan volatility.
Best Practices for Multi-Jurisdiction Employers
Establish a global minimum maternity benefit standard, then layer jurisdiction-specific top-ups to meet local regulatory requirements and market norms. This provides consistency while remaining compliant.
Include pre-natal and post-natal care in the maternity benefit design, not just delivery costs. The WHO recommends comprehensive maternity care including regular prenatal check-ups and postnatal support, as this leads to better outcomes and can reduce total costs over the maternity cycle.