Need to know
- Ensure your trip is within the period of gestation covered by your policy
- Be aware of exclusions such as coverage for childbirth, antenatal care, IVF and multiple pregnancies
- Check with your doctor and your airline before you fly
Planning a babymoon or jetting overseas before your little one arrives? Choosing the best travel insurance is even more important when you're pregnant, and the detail on what's covered and for how long varies between policies.
We've reviewed 137 single-trip travel insurance policies and rounded up our top-scoring policies that cover pregnancy, along with some advice on things you need to consider.
On this page:
- Tips for getting travel cover when pregnant
- Top-scoring policies that cover pregnancy
- Top-scoring policies that cover childbirth and neonatal care
- Top-scoring policies that cover IVF and multiple pregnancies
Tips for getting travel cover when pregnant
Be aware that policies that cover pregnancy don't always also cover medical costs associated with childbirth or the care of a newborn.
But as long as your pregnancy is uncomplicated and your general health is good, the World Health Organization says it's fine to travel when pregnant, with the second trimester the safest time to avoid an overseas birth.
"Policies vary widely and the specific wording around what stage of gestation you're covered until can be confusing, so make sure you read product disclosure statements closely so you know what you're buying," says CHOICE travel insurance expert Ines Gruber.
"If you're pregnant, get your doctor's advice before you travel and pick a travel insurance policy that provides the coverage you need. Unless you have an uncomplicated single pregnancy, you may also need to undergo a medical assessment."
Top-scoring policies that cover pregnancy
- Tick Travel (up to 32 weeks)
- InsureandGo (up to 32 weeks)
- Good2Go (up to 26 weeks)
- RACV (up to 26 weeks)
- Worldcare Travel Insurance (up to 23 weeks)
- Columbus Direct with pregnancy extension option (up to 30 weeks)
Good to know
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).
Pregnancy cover will protect you in circumstances such as:
- you need to cancel your trip due to doctor's advice
- you're on holiday and incur medical costs that are a result of unexpected complications (something that you weren't already being treated for or had no history of).
It usually doesn't cover childbirth or medical costs relating to your newborn if you give birth while on holiday.
Check with your airline before you travel: many airlines will only let you fly up to a certain stage in your pregnancy, and may require medical certificates or other documentation.
Top-scoring policies that cover childbirth and neonatal care
CHOICE top-scoring policies that cover childbirth
- Good2Go (up to 26 weeks if accelerated by accidental injury)
- InsureandGo (up to 32 weeks if caused by a specified list of complications)
- RACV (up to 26 weeks if accelerated by accidental injury)
- Tick Travel (up to 32 weeks if caused by a specified list of complications)
- Columbus Direct with pregnancy extension option (from 26 to 30 weeks)
CHOICE top-scoring policies that cover neonatal intensive care for the new born
- Good2Go (if the childbirth was before 26 weeks and accelerated by accidental injury)
- RACV (if the childbirth was before 26 weeks and accelerated by accidental injury)
- Columbus Direct with pregnancy extension option (if the childbirth is from 26 to 30 weeks)
Good to know
If you're on holiday and you unexpectedly go into early labour, the associated costs could run into thousands. Not all insurers will cover you for the costs of childbirth, 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, and not because you had a pre-existing medical condition," says Ines. Check product disclosure statements to understand specific terms and conditions of each policy.
If a policy states that it does cover you for childbirth, this coverage will only extend up to the period of gestation specified in the policy. For example, Good2Go offers coverage for pregnancy up until 26 weeks, so they'll only cover you for childbirth if the child is born before the 26-week mark.
Top-scoring policies that cover IVF and multiple pregnancies
CHOICE top-scoring policies that cover IVF
CHOICE top-scoring policies that cover multiple pregnancies up to 26 weeks
Good to know
If you're pregnant with twins or you've conceived with any kind of medical assistance such as IVF, your pregnancy may not covered by many insurers.
