Does Travel Insurance Cover Pregnancy? What You Need to Know
Expecting mothers frequently travel by plane, car, or cruise ship, and for more reasons than one. Women often take time away to visit family, or for work. Many couples even plan special getaways known as “babymoons” to celebrate their relationship and the journey into parenthood.
While pregnancy doesn’t automatically pose a risk during travel, potential complications or discomfort can still occur. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that most commercial airlines prevent pregnant women from flying domestically after 36 weeks gestation for this reason, and some airlines require a doctor’s note for travel as the due date approaches.
Whether pregnant women need doctor’s approval to travel or not, it’s wise to have travel insurance for pregnancy for all types of trips. Read on as Squaremouth breaks down how travel insurance provides financial protection during pregnancy, plus tips on how to find the best coverage.
How Travel Insurance Can Cover Pregnancy
The best travel insurance for pregnancy covers emergency situations that can occur, including early labor, unexpected complications, and the need for emergency medical evacuation. Travel insurance benefits to look for in a policy during pregnancy include:
Emergency Medical Insurance
Emergency Medical coverage can provide financial protection for pregnant women who wind up facing complications or other health-related emergencies during a trip. Many travel insurance policies cover pregnancy-related issues that might occur, including ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, and preeclampsia.
Many travelers have the misconception that travel insurance will cover any health-related issues that may impact their trip, such as pregnancy. However, travel insurance is a highly regulated industry, and policies can only cover specific events that are listed within their Certificate of Insurance.
Emergency Medical Evacuation Coverage
Another component of most travel insurance plans is Medical Evacuation coverage. This protection can pay for evacuation or transportation when any type of traveler (including pregnant women) needs an emergency ambulance or helicopter transfer to a hospital or even their home country.
Trip Cancellation and Interruption Coverage
Trip Cancellation coverage reimburses prepaid travel expenses when a trip must be cancelled for a covered reason, whereas Trip Interruption coverage reimburses for certain expenses when a trip must be cut short. Both types of coverage can apply during pregnancy in certain instances.
Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) Coverage
Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) travel insurance is add-on coverage that lets travelers cancel for any reason at all. This coverage adds to the cost of a travel insurance plan, but it gives pregnant women ultimate control over whether they travel based on how they feel at the time. If a pregnant woman decides she is too tired to enjoy her trip, or if she becomes worried about potential complications, she can stay home and get at least some of her money back.
CFAR adds an average of $56 per day to the cost of a travel insurance policy. Depending on the plan, travelers are typically reimbursed for 50% to 75% of prepaid travel expenses if they need to file a claim.
When Travel Insurance Does Not Cover Pregnancy
Remember that travel insurance is meant to pay for unexpected medical expenses and other emergency situations that occur. This means travel insurance isn’t made to pay for routine or expected medical care for pregnancy or birth.
Specifically, pregnancy travel insurance does not cover:
- Childbirth: If you go into labor without complications during a trip, your travel insurance coverage will not apply.
- Disinclination to travel: If you decide you don’t want to travel during pregnancy and you don’t have CFAR travel coverage, you won’t be able to file a successful claim.
- Potential complications: If your doctor advises you not to travel due to complications that could occur but haven’t yet, you won’t get coverage from a travel insurance plan.
- Prenatal care: Routine prenatal care you would receive if you were not traveling is never covered by travel insurance plans.
How to Choose the Best Travel Insurance Policy When Pregnant
To find the best travel insurance for pregnancy, you should look for plans that provide medical benefits, plus other travel coverages you may need.
These should include:
- Policies with robust limits for Emergency Medical and Medical Evacuation coverage
- Coverage that includes Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption protection
- Additional protection for travel delays, lost or delayed baggage and other travel mishaps
- 24-7 emergency travel assistance
- Optional Cancel For Any Reason protection
Note: In order to be covered for pregnancy and complications that might occur during a trip, the details of various conditions must be listed in the travel insurance policy you buy. This means you’ll need to read over pregnancy travel insurance plans from front to back to know what’s included for sure.
Best Pregnancy Travel Insurance Plans
AXA Assistance USA
AXA Assistance USA is a popular travel insurance provider that offers comprehensive plans for pregnant women and other types of travelers. We recommend the company’s Platinum Plan due to its high coverage limits for medical conditions and evacuations. This plan includes:
- $250,000 in Emergency Medical coverage
- $1 million in coverage for Medical Evacuation
- Trip Cancellation coverage up to 100% of the trip cost
- Trip Interruption coverage up to 150% of the trip cost
- Optional Cancel For Any Reason coverage
- Protection for trip delays, lost and delayed baggage, and more
Berkshire Hathaway
Berkshire Hathaway’s ExactCare Extra plan is another solid option for pregnant travelers due to its high policy limits for medical emergencies and medical evacuation and 24/7 phone assistance for emergency situations. This plan includes:
- $50,000 in Emergency Medical coverage
- $500,000 million in coverage for Medical Evacuation
- Trip Cancellation coverage up to 100% of the trip cost
- Trip Interruption coverage up to 150% of the trip cost
- 24/7 emergency travel assistance
- Optional Cancel For Any Reason coverage
- Protection for trip delays, lost and delayed baggage, and more
Tips for Traveling While Pregnant
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) offers a range of tips for pregnant travelers who want to avoid uncomfortable or risky situations.
- Travel early in your pregnancy. The best time to travel during pregnancy is between 14 and 28 weeks since you may feel more energized during this time in your pregnancy, and you may still be able to get around easily.
- Know your exact due date before you travel.Travel with a copy of your health records and your due date so healthcare providers can provide appropriate treatment.
- Prioritize comfort when you fly. If you need to fly during pregnancy, book an aisle seat for extra space and easy access to restrooms, move your feet and legs as often as you can, and walk around during the flight when possible.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Travel Insurance for Pregnancy
Is pregnancy a pre-existing medical condition for travel insurance?
A healthy pregnancy is not considered a pre-existing condition by travel insurance. However, please make sure to read over the policy details for any travel insurance plan you’re considering, and answer honestly if you’re asked about pregnancy when purchasing coverage.
Do you have to declare pregnancy when buying travel insurance?
You typically do not need to declare pregnancy when purchasing travel insurance. However, you may want to inform the provider of your condition so you can find out what is covered if pregnancy complications arise.
Can you claim on travel insurance for pregnancy?
Pregnant women can file a claim with travel insurance if they encounter emergency medical situations or need to cancel or interrupt their trip for a covered reason.
Conclusion: Is Travel Insurance Worth It if I’m Pregnant?
Travel insurance is always worth it, but that’s especially true if you’re expecting or may be soon. Pregnancy comes with a whole host of medical issues that could occur, and traveling means you won’t have access to your own doctor or medical facility if you wind up needing care.
We recommend getting a travel insurance quote for every type of trip and making sure coverage you buy includes adequate protection for medical emergencies, urgent medical evacuation, and trip cancellation and interruption at the very least. If you’re expecting or may be in the future, purchasing a plan with optional CFAR coverage can give you even more peace of mind.