Pregnancy itself isn’t typically a covered reason under most travel insurance policies unless complications occur. Coverage may also apply if you find out you’re pregnant after having already made travel bookings and purchased an insurance plan, though it depends on your terms, conditions, and exclusions.
Keep in mind that cruise ships and airlines may have specific rules regarding traveling while pregnant. In some cases, it’s not permitted if you’re close to your due date.
When pregnancy may be covered
Unexpected complications
While morning sickness is often considered a normal part of pregnancy, unforeseen pregnancy complications, such as preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, and hyperemesis gravidarum, are not.
Your travel insurance policy may reimburse you for nonrefundable expenses if you decide to cancel or interrupt a trip for these or similar unexpected reasons related to pregnancy. However, the medical condition would likely have to be serious or disabling enough that a medical professional would advise you not to go on or continue your trip.
Emergency medical care
Comprehensive travel insurance policies include emergency medical coverage, which reimburses you for costs related to sudden, unexpected illnesses, injuries, or other medical conditions that could cause serious harm if left untreated.
This could include emergency medical care related to unforeseen pregnancy complications, though routine medical visits and even normal childbirth likely wouldn’t be covered.
Trip cancellation due to medical advice
It depends on your travel plan’s terms and conditions, but if a medical professional is advising you not to travel because of pregnancy complications, you may be able to cancel your trip before you leave and receive reimbursement for nonrefundable expenses.
You may also be able to cancel a trip if you find out you’re pregnant after purchasing a travel insurance policy with trip cancellation coverage, and after you’ve already made nonrefundable travel bookings.
When pregnancy isn’t covered by travel insurance
Routine prenatal care
Routine medical visits during pregnancy or any other aspect of normal pregnancy care are most likely not covered by travel insurance. In general, many travel insurance policies include emergency medical and dental coverage, which excludes optional and routine treatment.
Normal pregnancy
If there are no unforeseen circumstances with your pregnancy, such as preeclampsia or anything requiring emergency medical treatment, any expenses associated with your pregnancy are most likely not covered by travel insurance. This includes regular childbirth, provided there are no unexpected circumstances or the need for emergency treatment.
Traveling against medical advice
If you have a travel insurance policy and a medical professional advises you not to travel because of pregnancy complications, but you choose to travel anyway, you may void the option to receive reimbursement for trip expenses with trip cancellation or trip interruption insurance.
Timing rules and coverage limits
Gestational cutoffs
Certain travel carriers, such as airlines and cruise operators, may have gestational cutoff dates for travel. This means you may not be able to travel with a certain airline or cruiseline if you’re past the gestational cutoff date by the date of travel.
You can check with your airline or cruise operator to find out their policies on pregnancy. In some cases, you may need to provide a note from your doctor confirming your due date.
Purchase windows
In general, many travel insurance providers allow you to purchase a plan any time before you travel, though it’s often recommended that you buy coverage soon after making your first trip deposit. This is because add-on benefits, such as an existing medical condition benefit or cancel for any reason (CFAR) coverage, may only be available for a few weeks after your first travel booking.
This could matter if you’re planning to get pregnant and want CFAR coverage just in case. However, you may be able to use trip cancellation coverage if you find out you’re pregnant after purchasing a policy and making your travel bookings.
Choosing the right policy when pregnant
Medical coverage limits
Emergency medical expenses can get expensive, so it’s essential to have enough coverage to satisfy your needs.
Of course, it’s impossible to know how much you may have to pay ahead of time, especially for emergency treatment. So, the best way to choose the right amount of coverage is to find a balance between how much you’re willing to pay and how much risk you’re willing to take on.
Evacuation coverage
Not all policies include evacuation or emergency transportation coverage, but it’s worth considering plans that do. This type of coverage can reimburse you for necessary transportation to the nearest appropriate medical facility following an unforeseen injury, illness, or other medical condition, which may include unexpected pregnancy complications.
Destination healthcare considerations
It’s important to consider access to medical facilities whenever you travel, but it’s also important to review whether your health insurance works in different destinations. For example, if you plan to travel abroad, your personal health insurance plan may not cover you. Even in some domestic locations, you may not have as much in-network coverage.
For these reasons, a travel insurance policy with medical coverage that works anywhere you plan to travel can be useful.
Key takeaways on travel insurance and pregnancy
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Routine pregnancy care: In general, travel insurance doesn’t cover routine doctor visits or standard childbirth.
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Unexpected pregnancy complications: Travel insurance may apply if you have unforeseen pregnancy complications, such as preeclampsia or another similar complication. Depending on the situation, you may need to use emergency medical, trip cancellation, and/or trip interruption coverage.
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Finding out you’re pregnant: You may be able to use your trip cancellation insurance to cancel your trip and receive reimbursement for nonrefundable travel bookings if you find out you’re pregnant after purchasing your trip and travel insurance.
