Pregnancy & Travel Insurance: Coverage & Exclusions

Written By Robin RatcliffAuthor

Reviewed By Steven BennaEditor

Last Updated: October 9, 2018August 24, 2026 — 4 min read

Key Takeaways

• Pregnancy is usually excluded from most travel medical benefits, but some policies may offer coverage as part of Trip Cancellation benefits (see below).
• Exact wording regarding pregnancy coverage and exclusions vary extensively from plan to plan, so always review your exact policy’s wording and speak directly with your provider regarding any questions about coverage.  
• Some travel insurance policies’ medical coverage may offer exceptions for medical care related to emergency pregnancy complications, but there are still many caveats to how this coverage may or may not apply. 
• Ultimately, it’s best to understand that with pregnancy, travel medical coverage is never guaranteed, and instead to focus on other protections like CFAR and IFAR.
• Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) and Interruption For Any Reason (IFAR) coverage can allow you to cancel or cut your trip short for any reason (including pregnancy) and still receive a majority reimbursement for your trip costs, making it an excellent fallback for pregnant travelers.

Does Travel Insurance Cover Pregnancy?

Several travel insurance policies can offer Trip Cancellation protection for pregnancies, and may cover: 

• Cancellations due to finding out you are pregnant after reserving your trip and buying travel insurance
• Cancellations due to the imminent birth of an immediate family member

That said, most travel insurance policies exclude pregnancy from Emergency Medical protection, treating it as a standard pre-existing condition exclusion. 

Additionally, routine care (like pregnancy check-ups) is always excluded by travel insurance, and this extends to other pregnancy scenarios like childbirth, morning sickness, and other common pregnancy symptoms. 

While some travel insurance policies may cover certain pregnancy complications, this coverage varies by policy, and it’s typically subject to heavy exclusions. 

What Pregnancy Scenarios Are Not Covered By Travel Insurance?

Travel insurance generally doesn’t cover routine or expected medical care for pregnancy or birth.

Most policies exclude:

• Childbirth
• Choosing not to travel due to being pregnant
• Traveling against a physician’s advice
• Complications diagnosed before you bought the policy
• Prenatal care
• Physician-prescribed bed rest
• Common pregnancy-related conditions, such as morning sickness, false labor, and minor spotting
• Pregnancy termination, IVF, or fertility treatments

Unfortunately, this means that most of the common scenarios related to pregnancy are excluded from travel insurance. Always review your policy’s certificate of coverage for exclusions before purchasing.

Does Travel Insurance Cover Pregnancy Complications?

Some plans may cover complications related to pregnancy, as long as they occur after the plan is purchased and are not excluded under a policy’s pre-existing condition exclusions. 

Most policies generally define complications as conditions that are distinct from pregnancy but worsened by or caused by the pregnancy. 

That said, coverage for pregnancy complications varies greatly by policy, is typically subject to many potential exclusions and restrictions, and is never guaranteed.

For example, even if a policy lists pregnancy complications as potentially covered, medical reimbursement could still be denied for the following reasons: 

• The complication is not an emergency (e.g. visiting the ER due to high blood pressure and feeling faint)
• The complication was pre-existing when you purchased coverage
• You traveled against your doctor’s orders

The bottom line is that claim eligibility with pregnancy varies greatly depending on the exact scenario and policy wording.

Ultimately, there’s no guarantee that a pregnancy complication will be covered, and so it’s best not to rely on this narrow coverage exception. 

CFAR & IFAR Coverage: Best Options for Pregnant Travelers

If you‘re traveling with someone who is pregnant, consider purchasing CFAR and IFAR insurance instead. 

These benefits will give you the most flexibility to cancel or interrupt your trip for any reason, including ones that aren’t covered by standard travel cancellation insurance, such as pregnancy-related scenarios.

CFAR and IFAR typically reimburse 50%-75% of your prepaid, non-refundable trip costs, depending on the policy. They are time-sensitive benefits, aren’t available on every policy, and always cost extra, but they are the most surefire coverage option for pregnant travelers. Keep in mind these are only available within 14-21 days of your initial trip  deposit.

What Should Pregnant Travelers Look for When Choosing a Policy?

When choosing a travel insurance policy, look for language specific to pregnancy and pregnancy complications. You should:

Always confirm coverage with the provider: Before you purchase any travel insurance plan, you should speak to the insurance provider directly to make sure you have the clearest understanding of what is and isn’t covered.

Look at cancellation criteria: Look for comprehensive travel insurance policies that cover Trip Cancellation for medical reasons. Consider adding CFAR and IFAR onto your plan to get broader protection for pregnancy-related scenarios that are typically excluded from Trip Cancellation insurance.

Consider pre-existing condition coverage: Look for policies with pre-existing condition waivers, and be sure to purchase coverage within 14-21 days of your initial deposit. While a waiver won’t cover a normal, healthy pregnancy, it may improve your chance of reimbursement for pregnancy complications. 

Review wording related to pregnancy complications: Since you’ll have to purchase a policy with medical insurance to get IFAR and CFAR coverage, opt for policies with more inclusive language around pregnancy complications. Though your chances of approval for a pregnancy-related claim are slim, this will give you a better chance for reimbursement.