Planning a babymoon or jetting overseas before your little one arrives? Choosing the best travel insurance is even more important when you're pregnant, but it can be tricky when the details on what is covered and for how long can vary so much between policies.
We've reviewed over 100 international travel insurance policies and rounded up our pick of the best travel insurance policies that cover pregnancy and what you need to consider.
On this page:
- Does travel insurance cover pregnancy?
- Can you travel when you're pregnant?
- What should you know about travel insurance cover for pregnancy?
- Which travel insurers cover pregnancy?
- Which are the best travel insurers for pregnancy?
Does travel insurance cover pregnancy?
Most travel insurance policies will cover cancellation and a mother's medical costs as a result of pregnancy complications, up to the gestational period specified by the travel insurer.
Different policies will cover you up to different stages of your pregnancy, so which provider you go with will depend on when you plan to travel (and return home).
Travel insurance usually does not cover for childbirth or for medical costs relating to your newborn if you give birth while on holiday.
Travel insurance pregnancy cover will protect you in circumstances such as if you need to cancel your trip due to doctor's advice, or if you are on holiday and incur medical costs that are a result of unexpected complications (something that you weren't already been treated for or had no history of).
Can you travel when you're pregnant?
As long as your pregnancy is uncomplicated and your general health is good, government advice says it's fine to travel when pregnant, with the safest time being in the second trimester, as long as you aren't experiencing complications.
If you're pregnant, seek your doctor's advice before you travel and ensure you pick a travel insurance policy that provides the coverage you need.
Make sure you check with your airline before you travel too, because many airlines will only let you fly up to a certain stage in your pregnancy, and may require medical certificates or other documentation before allowing you to board.
If you have an uncomplicated single pregnancy, most travel insurers won't require you to do a medical assessment, but if you have a history of pregnancy complications, or you're expecting multiple births, you may need to undergo a medical assessment to get travel insurance that covers your pregnancy.
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What should you know about travel insurance cover for pregnancy?
Travel insurance cover for pregnancy can vary widely between insurers. There are differences in the pregnancy related costs they do and don't cover, and the specific wording around what stage of gestation you are covered until can be confusing. So make sure you check your policy before you purchase it. Here are some basics you should be aware of.
1. Travel insurance pregnancy cover is limited by gestational period
Most policies only cover you until between 23 and 26 weeks gestation, but there are some that will provide insurance up to 30 or 36 weeks.
2. Not all travel insurers cover multiple pregnancies or medically assisted pregnancies (e.g. IVF)
If you're pregnant with twins or have conceived with any kind of medical assistance, your pregnancy is usually considered to be complicated and therefore not covered by many insurers.
3. Many travel insurers don't cover giving birth
Policies that cover pregnancy do not always cover medical costs associated with childbirth or for the care of a newborn.
So if you're on holiday and you unexpectedly go into early labour, you might not be covered for your medical costs or any associated costs if your child has to be put into intensive care (a likely scenario if the baby comes early).
Insurers that do cover costs associated with childbirth – such as hospital or obstetrician fees – usually only do so when the birth is caused by accidental injury, but not, for example, if it's a pre-existing medical condition.
If a policy states that it does cover you for childbirth, this coverage will only extend up to the period of gestation specified in their policy – for example, Southern Cross Travel offers coverage for pregnancy up until 24 weeks, so they will only cover you for childbirth if the child is born before the 24-week mark.
Which travel insurers cover pregnancy?
All of the travel insurers in our comparison cover pregnancy. Below is a snapshot of how many weeks of gestation your cover extends to. This number is inclusive, meaning the policy covers you for that entire week of gestation.
Visit our travel insurance comparison or see below to find out which insurers also cover childbirth costs for the mother or child.
Which are the best travel insurers for pregnancy?
Below, we reveal which travel insurance policies cover provide the best cover for which gestation, and which companies will cover IVF-assisted pregnancies and neonatal care.
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