March 22, 2024 - Kate
When you’re pregnant, travel insurance becomes more important than ever if you plan on taking a baby moon or any sort of trip soon. You want to make sure that, in the unfortunate event that you experience any unforeseen issues, your medical assistance and trip costs will be covered.
According to most medical professionals, expecting a child shouldn’t stop you from traveling. In fact, anytime up until the final month—unless you expect to deliver early—you should be good to travel. If you feel comfortable, don’t put your trip on hold for an entire nine-month period!
That said, pregnant or not, we can never really know what’s going to happen for each of us health-wise. That’s why we abide by the “better safe than sorry” motto by purchasing travel insurance. We prefer travel insurance coverage over incurring substantial medical expenses abroad. Read our other blog post on why travel insurance is a good idea for a better reference.
If you agree with this, you’re probably wondering if there’s even travel insurance for being in the “family way” to begin with. Here are the main things you need to know:
Is pregnancy a pre-existing condition under travel insurance?Most policies would not cover pregnancy as a medical condition. If you’re already pregnant when you purchase your travel insurance, it’s likely to be a pre-existing condition as defined by the policy.
Typically, conditions ongoing before purchasing coverage are considered pre-existing, a common condition exclusion under insurance. Is your travel dependent on whether or not you suddenly become pregnant? Read the next section below for your answer before you buy a travel insurance plan.
What if I need to cancel my trip?“Normal” pregnancy and childbirth are defined as expected events without medical complications such as extreme illness or premature labor. Most travel insurance plans don’t cover them. Moreover, if you opt to travel within the month leading up to your due date and you have the baby in another country during that time, your medical costs for the childbirth won’t likely be covered by insurance.
That said, if you encounter any unexpected complications that result in an emergency birth, your travel insurance policy may cover those costs. If you do buy a travel insurance plan regardless, you’ll have access to a 24/7 emergency assistance team to help locate the nearest medical facility and offer medical monitoring services to make sure you’re getting adequate care.
Does travel insurance cover pregnancy complications?Because “normal” pregnancy and childbirth are considered to be expected events, most travel insurance plans don’t cover them. “Normal” pregnancy and childbirth are those without medical complications such as extreme pregnancy-related illness or premature labor.
Consequently, if you opt to travel within the month leading up to your due date and you have the baby in another country during that time, your birth expenses likely will not be covered by insurance.
That said, if you encounter any unexpected complications that result in an emergency birth, your travel insurance plan may cover costs related to the pregnancy complications. If you purchase a travel insurance plan, you’ll have access to a 24/7 emergency assistance team to help find the nearest medical facility and provide medical monitoring services for your care.
Here’s a list of common complications potentially covered under travel insurance:
These medical conditions are not typically considered complications:
Does travel insurance cover miscarriage?It’s possible! Many policies include coverage for complications in the event of “spontaneous termination of pregnancy”. Note this does not allow coverage for elective abortion. You’ll want to check with your provider to double-check the policy language regarding miscarriage. Futhermore, the next section provides a helpful alternative.
Opt for Cancel for Any Reason coverageIf you’re pregnant or think you might become pregnant before you travel, a good foolproof option is buying Cancel for Any Reason coverage. You can’t predict how you’ll feel when your departure date arrives, especially if it’s months away.
Having this insurance will give you peace of mind in case you’re ill or just downright exhausted. You can call off your vacation, get reimbursed for 75% of your trip cost, and reschedule it for a later date when you can really make the most of your trip –maybe with your new bundle of joy!
Do you have any tips for expecting mothers who are traveling? Share them with us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter!
Kate's authoritative voice in travel writing is backed by years of extensive travel experience, allowing her to infuse her writing with the tips and tricks she has gathered over time. This wealth of experience enhances her ability to write authoritatively on travel-related topics.
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