Any travel insurance company covers the cost of your trip if your trip is canceled due to unforeseeable events listed in your policy, such as severe weather, injury, or a medical emergency. But if you cancel your travel plan due to issues related to normal pregnancy, then in this case no travel insurance company will cover your trip cost.
However, trip cancellations due to pregnancy-related medical emergencies and risk situations are generally covered. In this article, we will clear all your important questions and doubts before taking travel insurance during pregnancy.
Read More: Travel Insurance When Pregnant: Things To Know (Updated Guidelines 2024)
Table of Contents
Does Travel Insurance Cover Pregnancy Complications
If you have any complication during your pregnancy and you undergo medical treatment at a hospital nearby during the trip, your travel insurance policy will cover your medical costs. But if you do not have any complex problems during your pregnancy and you are only feeling normal sickness and undergo normal routine checkups, then this type of medical treatment will not be covered under your travel insurance policy.
Apart from this, if as per your pregnancy record, you have a history of giving birth to a child before the delivery date and to avoid such emergency situations, your doctor refuses to travel but you still travel, then in this situation you are not eligible for coverage claim for medical costs incurred due to pregnancy complication issue.
does travel insurance cover unexpected pregnancy
Although not all travel insurance companies, some travel insurance companies cover non-refundable costs of your trip cancellation in case of unexpected pregnancy. But for this you will have to prove that the date of your pregnancy occurred after planning your travel and purchasing a travel insurance policy. For this, you will have to show the pregnancy document signed by the doctor, which shows that the pregnancy has occurred after the date of purchasing the travel insurance policy.
Read also: Does Travel Insurance cover Car Rental Accidents & damages?
let’s consider a situational example:
Emma, a 30-year-old woman, is excited about her upcoming international vacation with her partner. Unbeknownst to them, Emma becomes pregnant shortly before the trip. As the pregnancy was unexpected, they hadn’t factored it into their travel plans.
During their overseas vacation, Emma experiences unexpected complications related to her pregnancy, requiring immediate medical attention. They are faced with unplanned medical expenses, including hospitalization and additional travel costs for an early return home.
Now, the question arises: Does their travel insurance cover these unexpected pregnancy-related complications?
Insurance Policy Check: Upon reviewing their travel insurance policy, Emma and her partner discover that standard travel insurance usually does not cover normal pregnancy but covers complications and unforeseen medical emergencies.
In this case, Emma and her partner had purchased their travel insurance soon after booking the vacation. The policy includes coverage for unforeseen pregnancy complications, offering reimbursement for medical expenses, hospital stays, and adjustments to travel plans necessitated by the unexpected situation.
So Emma and her partner made their claim by submitting documents signed by the doctor which included her pregnancy date which is known after the date of purchase of travel insurance.
Documentation, such as medical records and statements from healthcare professionals, may be required to support a claim for unexpected pregnancy-related expenses.
This example illustrates how coverage for unexpected pregnancy complications can depend on the details of the travel insurance policy and the actions taken by the travelers in terms of when they purchase the insurance and how well they understand its provisions.
Also Read: Is Travel Insurance Necessary for International Travel? (updated Guidelines 2024)
Does Travel Insurance Cover Surrogate Pregnancy
Most travel insurance policies do not cover surrogacy. Although there are very few travel insurance companies that cover surrogacy, according to creativefamilyconnections, Allianz and some travel insurance companies also cover new born babies through surrogacy.
However, some policies also have the option of gender, meaning if the couple is straight or has same sex parents.
Travel Insurance When Pregnant With Pre-Existing Disease
Most of the insurance companies, while giving travel policy, also give pre-existing disease waiver add on to their customers.
And in case of pregnancy, only the cost of trip interruption or trip cancellation or medical treatment due to unforeseeable emergency medical condition is covered.
If you or your partner has sugar, BP, cholesterol or any other pre-existing diseases and you take pre-existing diseases waiver add on in travel insurance and you are thinking that it will cover in case of pregnancy, then it will cover only medical treatment or trip interruption due to only unforeseen medical emergencies.
It will not cover routine check-ups, or trip interruptions in your normal pregnancy, even if you have a pre-existing waiver add-on
Does Travel Insurance Cover Pregnancy Delivery
Even in the case of child-birth, if there is a normal pregnancy and normal delivery without any complications, then travel insurance will not cover this case. But if there is any complication in your pregnancy and the delivery is a bit risky, and your baby is delivered through a high-end medical cesarean, then in this case you will be eligible for coverage.
Here are some scenarios that can help us understand travel insurance in case of pregnancy in more detail:
Olivia, a 32-year-old woman, is excitedly planning a babymoon vacation with her partner to a tropical destination. Before the trip, Olivia is in good health, and her pregnancy is progressing without any complications. They purchase travel insurance to cover unexpected events during their vacation.
During the babymoon, Sarah goes into labor earlier than expected. Fortunately, it turns out to be a normal pregnancy, and she delivers a healthy baby without any complications. Since it’s a straightforward, uncomplicated birth, the travel insurance policy does not cover the medical expenses related to the childbirth, as stated in the policy terms.
However, in a different scenario, let’s consider Emma:
Emma, also expecting a child, is on a vacation abroad with her partner. Unfortunately, she experiences complications in her pregnancy, and a high-risk situation arises. The local healthcare professionals recommend and perform a high-end medical cesarean to ensure the safety of both Emma and the baby.
Given the unexpected complications and the need for specialized medical intervention, Emma’s travel insurance policy kicks in to cover the substantial medical expenses associated with the complicated delivery.
FAQs
Is Travel Insurance More Expensive When Pregnant?
In general, being pregnant shouldn’t directly make your travel insurance more expensive. Insurance companies don’t categorize pregnancy itself as a pre-existing medical condition, meaning it shouldn’t automatically bump up your premium. However, it depends on your age, your pre-existing disease, your trip coverage level, your travel Destination and planned activities.
What Airline Guidelines for Pregnant Flyers?
Most airlines allow pregnant women to fly until about 36 weeks of pregnancy, but some airlines may have specific requirements and restrictions. Pregnant flyers may need a medical certificate, wear compression stockings, and consult with their doctor before flying. Pregnant women should use their seat belts continuously while seated.
