Travel Insurance – Pregnancy Issues
| July 28, 2010 | Posted by Rach under insurance, Travel Tips, Women Travellers |
If you’re planning on going travelling or even just taking a short holiday, you should always make sure you have adequate travel insurance. Pregnancy can complicate the issue a little as many travel insurance policies do not cover pregnant women or have restrictions in place that mean you will not be able to claim on your policy if you need medical care for a pregnancy related condition. It is important if you’re pregnant and planning to travel for any length of time that you choose appropriate travel insurance for pregnant women.
When you are planning a holiday or extended trip, you should consider the stage of pregnancy that you will be at when you go. The second trimester is the best time to travel as the major risk of miscarriage has passed and you will not be feeling as uncomfortable as you may in the third trimester. Many airlines also restrict travel after you are 26 or 27 weeks pregnant and either may not allow you to fly or may require a note from your doctor. This is extra important to check if you will be away for some time as you do not want to be stranded in a foreign country and not allowed to fly home!
Travel insurance during pregnancy will protect you if you need to cancel your trip because of a pregnancy complication or you need medical care in a foreign country which can be expensive. You should check the policy wording carefully as many travel insurance pregnancy cover will only apply up to a certain number of weeks of your pregnancy. You should always inform your insurance provider you are pregnant before buying any insurance to make sure that you are fully covered.
Different policies may also cover you for different aspects of your pregnancy. You will find that travel insurance in pregnancy varies a lot. Some policies will cover you for complications requiring medical treatment only and will not cover the cost if you go into labor early. This should be considered carefully as if you go into labor prematurely while abroad you and your baby are likely to need a lengthy hospital stay which can be very expensive. Some policies will only cover ‘normal’ pregnancy and premature labor is not covered by this.
Everyone needs travel insurance. Pregnant women however are considered high risk to the insurance companies as they are more likely to need medical care. This can make travel insurance while pregnant more expensive than normal policies. Even if you are not covered for pregnancy related conditions by your policy, you should still make sure to have insurance to cover lost baggage and lost or stolen money, passport, cameras and so on.
Keep a look out for specialist travel insurance when pregnant. Good policies will protect you up to the full term of your pregnancy, as long as the airline agrees to carry you; cover your full birth expenses if you should go into premature labor; and preferably cover the baby if it happens to be born while you are away from home. You can usually choose from single trip or annual insurance cover just as with normal policies. However be aware that if you do go into labor while you are away, your trip is likely to be longer than planned and the extra time may not be covered by your single trip policy. Do yourself a favor and make sure you have good quality travel insurance. Pregnancy is a great time for a holiday and you don’t want it to be ruined with huge hospital bills!
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