Travel insurance and pregnancy

If you’re pregnant and travelling, it’s a good idea to have travel insurance with medical cover. Depending on the travel insurance policy, you’ll be covered for a whole host of pregnancy-related emergencies.

Travel insurance when you’re pregnant

You’ll be covered for all the standard things like:

• Medical expenses
• Repatriation to the UK
• Having to cancel your trip or cut it short

Importantly, if you claim for any of the above because you have a pregnancy-related condition, you can.

Most conditions are covered, so long as they aren't pre-existing. Things like; preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, miscarriage, premature birth and emergency c-sections. Every insurer lists the conditions they’ll cover in their policy docs.

What is excluded?

There are always limits and exclusions to the cover you can get with travel insurance and it’s just the same if you’re pregnant.

Every policy is different, but usually you won’t be covered:

• For routine treatment in a normal pregnancy or childbirth at term - your insurance is there for emergencies or new conditions only
• If you’ve been advised not to travel and do anyway
• If the airline or travel operator doesn’t let you travel, you won’t be covered
• If you travel after the cut-off point the insurer has set
• If you get a pregnancy-related condition before you travel and don’t tell your insurer
• For premature birth after a particular point in your pregnancy - it can be earlier if you’re having twins

Check policies for exclusions or cut-off dates. If you’re unsure, just call the insurer and ask.

Is pregnancy classified as a medical condition?

It’s not an illness or condition, so you don’t need to declare it when you get cover. You can let the insurer know you’re pregnant if you like, but you don’t have to. Your insurance can’t cost more because you’re pregnant either.

You need to tell your insurer if your condition changes after you take out travel insurance - do it before you travel.

You won’t be covered for your pregnancy-related condition if you don’t tell the insurer before you travel. The same goes for any changes to your health, pregnancy-related or otherwise.

If your condition means changes to your policy, the insurer will probably increase the price of your premium.

EHICs and insurance if you’re travelling in Europe

Your EHIC will cover any pregnancy-related medical treatment in all countries in the European Economic Area, plus Switzerland. But it won’t cover private treatment or other costs like repatriation back to the UK, or the cost of cancelling your trip - that’s where travel insurance comes in.

What to consider when flying when pregnant?

It's perfectly safe to fly when you’re pregnant assuming you have a ‘normal’ pregnancy.

However, most airlines won’t let you fly after 37 weeks. It’s usually 32 weeks if you're pregnant with twins.

Some might ask for a fit note from your doctor and others have earlier cut-off dates, so check before you book your ticket.

Research the country you're flying to as well. That way, you’ll know about medical facilities and transport for urgent treatment nearby before you go.

Take medical notes with you

Your midwife or doctor can provide you with a letter stating that you’re fit to fly and your due date. Lots of airlines will ask to see it before you fly if you’re more than 28 weeks pregnant.

Take your maternity notes in case you need to see a doctor abroad and bring contact details for your midwife and doctor too.

Finding out you're pregnant after booking a holiday

Talk to your midwife or doctor about travelling while pregnant and check health advice for the country you’re visiting.

If you feel unsafe, or you develop a condition which means travelling would be a bad idea, consider changing your destination or cancelling your trip.

Your policy should cover cancellation if:

• You bought it before you knew you were pregnant and you’ll be more than 32 weeks when you plan to travel
• Your doctor says you shouldn’t travel because of pregnancy complications

Check your policy to find out or call your insurer.