If a health maintenance contract issued or renewed on or after July 1, 1996, by a health maintenance organization provides maternity coverage, the contract shall provide coverage for a minimum of forty - eight hours of inpatient care following a vaginal delivery and a minimum of ninety - six hours of inpatient care following delivery by cesarean section for a mother and her newborn child in a health care facility licensed pursuant to chapter 34-12 , except as otherwise provided in §