Travel Insurance Pregnancy Coverage

Traveling is expensive, and when the unexpected arises, it can be challenging to get refunds for prepaid expenses. Travel insurance helps cover many risks associated with travel, reimbursing you for unforeseen costs or losses. In addition, if you or a family member are pregnant or planning to become pregnant and have plans of traveling, purchasing travel insurance with pregnancy coverage can provide extra protection against lost finances.

This blog reviews several pregnancy-related travel insurance questions and outlines the coverage you can expect to receive.

Does Travel Insurance Cover Pregnancy?

Pregnant individuals are eligible for coverage in some instances. However, you need to review your plan’s Description of Coverage for complete details.

Travel insurance for pregnancy coverage excludes costs incurred during normal pregnancy and childbirth. Additionally, unforeseen complications that are not part of a normal pregnancy and force you to cancel a trip could also be covered. 

Travel Insurance Pregnancy Coverage and Pre-Existing Condition Waivers

When purchasing travel insurance pregnancy coverage, there are some exclusions and special considerations to make before buying insurance. However, it is possible to get pre-existing condition waivers.

Pre-existing conditions generally include injury, illness, or medical conditions that require medical treatment or medication within 60 to 180 days before buying the policy. Certain pregnancy complications may be considered a pre-existing medical condition, especially if you were pregnant when you purchased the insurance.

By seeking a pre-existing medical condition exclusion waiver, you may be able to use your travel insurance pregnancy benefits for those conditions. However, a waiver is unlikely to cover medical expenses incurred on the trip due to normal pregnancy and childbirth.

To get a waiver, you must purchase your policy within the necessary time frame stated by the policy’s description of coverage.  Most often, that time frame is between 14 and 21 days after you spend your first dollar toward the trip you want to be insured.  However, some plans allow you to acquire the waiver as late as within one day of your trip’s Final Payment.

Unexpected Pregnancy Complications While Traveling

Travel insurance with a pregnancy coverage policy may cover certain conditions if unexpected pregnancy complications arise. For example, suppose you cancel your trip because a doctor states you are medically unfit to travel. In that case, your policy could reimburse you for prepaid, non-refundable accommodation and transport costs.

While traveling, if you experience complications related to pregnancy, certain conditions are usually covered by your travel insurance pregnancy coverage. These include hospitalization and miscarriage or ectopic pregnancies and associated care.

A lack of insurance would mean paying for all your emergency care expenses, no longer being able to recoup the non-refundable payments made for your travel, and incurring substantial costs for flights, hotel accommodations, and meals for you and your traveling companion(s).

Travel Medical Health Insurance

Travel medical insurance generally will not cover medical expenses relating to a healthy pregnancy, including normal childbirth and routine medical care. However, it usually covers emergent situations and associated costs. Some common examples include:

• Hospitalization and emergency medical treatment
• Ambulances
• Travel back home or to an adequate facility if it is medically necessary for treatment.
• Access to 24/7 multilingual assistance teams to bridge any language barriers

The exact coverage will depend on your country of residence and the plan you have selected.

Medical Evacuation Coverage for Pregnancy Emergencies

Medical evacuation coverage provides coverage if you require medical treatment while traveling that necessitates sending you to a facility, state, or country with adequate medical care for your condition. In addition, most travel insurance policies for pregnant people cover the costs incurred when transporting you out of state or country for care for a qualifying condition.

When pregnant, this could include going into premature labor or having severe pregnancy-related complications begin.

Surprise Pregnancy and Trip Cancellation

Travel insurance with pregnancy coverage covers complications associated with non-normal pregnancies, regardless of whether you are already pregnant or have become pregnant after purchasing the policy.

Pregnancy Travel Insurance - Cancel for Any Reason

Cancel for any reason (CFAR) coverage is an optional add-on benefit of travel insurance, allowing you to cancel your travel plans, even if the cause isn’t typically covered. This coverage provides additional flexibility that can be critical when booking a trip while pregnant. It enables you to cancel regardless of the reason, unlike standard pregnancy travel insurance requiring a complication. However, CFAR typically only offers partial reimbursement for prepaid, non-refundable costs.

Can You Travel During Pregnancy?

For most, traveling during pregnancy is entirely safe with certain precautions taken. However, specific destinations may increase the risk of contracting an infectious disease.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists notes that the safest time for women to travel is the second trimester — between 14 and 28 weeks.

Can You Travel By Air During Pregnancy?

Travel by air during uncomplicated pregnancies is usually not a problem. Doctors recommend flying in the second trimester, as it can be uncomfortable during the first and third trimesters. Most airlines will allow pregnant passengers to fly up to 36 weeks.

How Late in a Pregnancy Can You Travel By Car?

Traveling by car is safe during pregnancy. As with flying, doctors recommend long road travel during the second trimester for comfort. With precautions taken while driving, traveling by car doesn’t pose any medical risk. Driving may be physically uncomfortable during the first trimester, but driving will not risk your health.

During the last two months of pregnancy, doctors usually recommend limiting travel to no more than two hours away by car because your risk of delivering increases with traveling time.

If you’ll be taking a road trip while pregnant, here are some ways to make it comfortable:

• Drive smoothly, avoiding rapid acceleration, hard braking, or damaged roads that make you jolt around.
• Wear stretchy, comfortable clothing that won’t feel too tight while sitting.
• Take regular breaks every 1.5 hours to stretch and use the restroom.
• Stay hydrated and eat healthy snacks as needed.
• Take your road trip in the second trimester to avoid the discomforts associated with the first and third.

When Should You Stop Traveling During Pregnancy?

Ultimately, the decision on when to stop traveling during pregnancy must be made between you and your healthcare provider and depends on your medical history and whether a pregnancy has any complications.

Most women with complicated pregnancies or risk factors for premature labor are told to avoid travel after 32 weeks. However, women with normal pregnancies can often travel until 38 weeks without worry. If you are comfortable traveling and a medical professional has not raised any concerns, there is no reason to stop traveling.

If you’ve decided to travel while pregnant, here are some tips to help you stay comfortable and enjoy your time:

• Book an aisle seat, and don’t hesitate to stretch your legs! Pregnancy increases the risk of blood clots, and walking around every hour or two helps reduce that.
• Always wear a seat belt properly. Used correctly, it will protect you and your baby.
• Don’t drink carbonated drinks before flying, as the high altitude causes the gas to expand, which can be uncomfortable.
• Eat and drink regularly to stay hydrated and keep your energy up.
• Don’t hesitate to rest if your body needs it. You’re growing a brand new human, and that’s exhausting work.
• Buy travel insurance pregnancy coverage, so you are prepared just in case the unexpected happens.

Aegis Travel Insurance Pregnancy Coverage

Traveling while pregnant can add many unknowns to the equation. By purchasing travel insurance pregnancy coverage, you can protect your investments if you need to cancel your trip or need additional care while traveling for unforeseen complications.

Aegis offers a range of travel insurance plans for every adventure, no matter where or how you plan to travel. Some of our more popular plans include:

• Choice Plan
• Pandemic Plus Plan
• Trip Cancellation Plan

Whether traveling by air or taking a cruise, you can rest assured knowing that we have you covered!