Does travel insurance cover pregnancy?
You can purchase travel insurance that covers pregnancy, although it’s important to be aware that pregnancy cover is not automatically included in travel insurance policies. Some policies may require you to pay extra to cover you for travelling while pregnant, and some may require you to undergo a health assessment before a provider will agree to give you coverage.
It’s also important to know that travel insurance policies will only cover you up to a certain point in your gestation period. Some providers may cover you up to the time you are 30 weeks pregnant, while others may only cover up to 18-26 weeks. Some may offer you more limited cover if you are pregnant with twins relative to a single pregnancy, and none will provide cover for childbirth or care of a newborn infant.
It is important, therefore, to read the terms and conditions of any policy you plan to take out, and if in doubt, get in contact directly with the insurance provider to make sure your policy will cover everything you need. Likewise, if you plan on flying to your destination, or taking a cruise, it is important to check with the relevant airline or cruise line to understand their policies on traveling while pregnant, to make sure you will not face any unexpected restrictions.
What should a travel insurance policy for pregnancies include?
When comparing travel insurance cover for pregnancy, then it’s worthwhile to consider each policy with regards to:
- The gestational period that it covers you for (i.e. how many weeks pregnant you can be and still be covered)
- Whether it covers pregnancies that come from IVF and fertility treatments
- Whether it covers pregnancy complications or premature birth
- Whether it covers cancellation of your trip due to pregnancy or birth issues
When seeking out travel insurance for pregnancy, you may wish to find an insurance provider who covers you for the maximum number of weeks into your pregnancy, to ensure that you will be covered in the event of a medical emergency.
Is pregnancy a pre-existing medical condition?
Pregnancy complications – which is to say, health problems that occur at the same time as or as a result of your pregnancy, and can adversely affect your pregnancy – may be treated as pre-existing conditions by an insurer. If you experience complications from your pregnancy prior to purchasing your travel insurance policy then it’s likely you will need to disclose these or complete a medical screening before signing up. Sometimes, you may also be required to disclose whether you have experienced complications with a previous pregnancy.
After you have disclosed the relevant facts about your pregnancy, your provider will asses whether they are willing to offer you cover, possibly with an additional premium. It is important to be honest with a travel insurance provider about the circumstances of your pregnancy, and whether you have experienced any complications, as failing to disclose may mean that your claim, should you need to make one, could be reduced or refused entirely.
What is excluded from travel insurance with pregnancy cover?
As with any form of travel insurance, travel insurance for pregnancy comes with certain exclusions, meaning there are certain situations in which you will not be covered. There are also certain important restrictions that come with this kind of cover. It is important to have a thorough understanding of any specific restrictions your policy may have, but generally speaking, travel insurance for pregnancy will not cover you if:
- You need to claim routine medical check-ups for your pregnancy overseas
- You need to claim expenses for childbirth or a newborn
- You plan on travelling after the maximum number of weeks allowed by your insurance provider
- Your doctor has advised you not to travel
There are some situations in which a provider may ask you to provide further details or complete an assessment before providing cover, and you may find that you face exclusions, depending on the outcome of this assessment. This may be the case if:
- You conceived via a fertility treatment such as IVF
- You have experienced complications with this or an earlier pregnancy
- You are pregnant with multiple babies – for example twins