You’re counting the weeks and days until you welcome your child into this world. You must’ve covered volumes of literature and even bought toys for your infant, but have you taken care of yourself? New sights, a warm sea, and a light summer breeze could energize you before your first most challenging months of parenthood.
Indeed, traveling is one of the best ways to pamper a future mom, but here the question arises: will your standard policy be enough to cover your needs on your babymoon, or should you buy extra travel insurance when pregnant?
Below is everything you should know about travel insurance for pregnant travelers.
There’s no evidence that flying can harm pregnant women or their babies. Again, neither changes in air pressure nor changes in humidity during a flight can harm you or your baby, provided you are healthy and we’re talking about a straightforward pregnancy.
At the same time, there are nuances:
You can fully cover your pregnancy with travel insurance, but such a type of plan would go beyond what most standard travel medical insurance policies provide. In this case, you need a tailor-made policy for soon-to-be moms.
There are two ways to get the coverage you need:
Traveling while pregnant is associated with extra risks per se, but this doesn’t mean you necessarily need extra coverage. Here you should proceed from the duration and distance of your trip, your age, health, budget, and risk tolerance. But then again, all other things being equal, it’s always better to be protected than to be left up to chance.
Travel policies for pregnant travelers vary dramatically depending on the country and provider. What is considered standard in the United States may be excluded in the United Kingdom and vice versa. Every case is individual, so make sure to review the contract before putting your signature on it.
A typical pregnancy plan will cover:
As for the rest, travel insurance for pregnant travelers includes the same benefits that a standard plan does: personal liability, lost luggage, rental car reimbursement, emergencies, theft, flight cancellation, etc.
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Exclusions vary depending on the country and the insurance company, but you always have a chance to add more coverage at the expense of a higher premium. However, there are a few exclusions that will come with almost any travel insurance for pregnant women.
You will likely be denied coverage for pregnancy if (most restrictions and exclusions are about lowering the possibility of you going into labor mid-air where medical help is complicated or may not be available to the extent that it is available on the ground):
Likewise, your airline may also have restrictions. For example, you may not be allowed to fly in the third trimester of pregnancy, so you always have to calculate whether you will still fit the requirements of your airline on the way back.
Airlines are entitled to establish their own rules for pregnant passengers.
Make sure to consult with your airline before booking your flight or purchasing your travel insurance.
Whether it is a classic travel plan or an extended policy for a pregnant traveler, cancellation coverage may be provided if caused by unforeseen circumstances, such as:
Cancellation coverage will reimburse you for the cost of your trip, including pre-booked transport, accommodation, and other expenses (tours, campsites, etc.). On the flip side, travel policies do not cover trip cancellations resulting from a normal pregnancy.
You don’t have to mention that you’re pregnant when purchasing your travel insurance because pregnancy is not a medical condition. The very fact of being pregnant will not invalidate your insurance, although you will have to disclose your ‘status’ to get extended coverage.
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You are unlikely to be covered with standard travel insurance, but a tailor-made insurance plan may provide such coverage.
Fill out the form provided by your insurer. A typical form will require personal details and your pre-existing conditions. Keep in mind that:
While most standard travel insurance plans will only include standard coverage, there are some plans covering pregnancy complications: Safe Travels USA Comprehensive insurance (USA), Atlas International insurance (USA), Allianz Global Assistance Travel insurance (UK), and AllClear Travel insurance (UK).
Oleksandr is an expert in deep research. He covers various insurance topics across verticals, adopting to every local law.
