When traveling during pregnancy, plans can change quickly. Morning sickness, early labor, or pregnancy complications could derail your trip. If this happens, can you recoup the costs of your nonrefundable tickets with travel insurance?
The short answer is maybe. Certain travel insurance plans provide pregnancy coverage under trip cancellation benefits. But this depends on your pregnancy status when you purchased the plan, the specific coverage details, and the insurance company.
Below we’ll explain how pregnancy affects travel insurance claims. We’ll also provide tips on finding policies that include pregnancy protections.
Can You Claim Pregnancy as a Covered Reason?
Most travel insurance plans cover illness as a reason to cancel your trip and claim benefits. But pregnancy is not considered an illness. It’s viewed as a natural, expected condition.
Normal pregnancy and delivery generally do not meet the criteria for a covered sickness for trip cancellation. So if you simply choose to cancel your trip because you are pregnant, insurance will not reimburse you.
However, many policies provide cancellation coverage for complications of pregnancy and childbirth. This includes medical events like:
- Hyperemesis gravidarum (severe morning sickness)
- Preterm labor
- Preeclampsia
- Placental abruption
- Intrauterine growth restriction
- Gestational hypertension or diabetes
- Reduced fetal movement
- Stillbirth
These unpredictable medical issues that arise during pregnancy may qualify you for trip cancellation coverage. You’ll need documentation from your doctor confirming you can no longer travel due to pregnancy complications.
What if delivery or bed rest is ordered?
Two common pregnancy situations that interfere with travel are:
- Your doctor determines you are at risk for early delivery and recommends bed rest.
- You go into labor before or during your trip.
Delivering early or needing antepartum bed rest are often covered reasons for cancellation under travel insurance. But this depends on the specifics of your plan. Confirm this with your provider when purchasing a policy.
Does When You Buy Insurance Matter?
Yes, your pregnancy status and due date when you purchase insurance are key factors. Here are some general guidelines on how this works:
Not pregnant when booking
If you buy insurance when you are not pregnant, you will have coverage for complications that arise should you get pregnant before traveling. This includes severe morning sickness, risk of early labor, and other medically-necessary cancellations.
Already pregnant when booking
If you are already pregnant when you buy insurance, most plans exclude claims related to your pregnancy. They consider your condition pre-existing.
The exception is “cancel for any reason” policies. These allow you to cancel for pregnancy and delivery up to 48 hours before your trip.
Don’t know you are pregnant when booking
What if you didn’t realize you were pregnant when you purchased insurance? This situation offers some gray areas.
You can make a case for coverage of pregnancy-related claims. But insurance companies may push back if you are far enough along that you “should have known.” Be prepared to provide documentation on gestational age from your doctor.
Does Trip Delay or Interruption Coverage Help?
Two other types of coverage to look at are trip delay and trip interruption insurance. These provide benefits if pregnancy causes delays en route or forces you to cut your trip short.
Trip delay coverage
This benefit reimburses expenses like hotels, meals, and transportation if your trip is delayed for a covered reason. Pregnancy complications may qualify if they arise unexpectedly and prevent you from traveling on schedule.
Trip interruption coverage
This type of policy reimburses you for lost prepaid trip costs and/or additional transportation expenses to return home. It provides coverage if you need to cut your trip short due to a covered reason during travel.
Again, pregnancy-related complications may be eligible causes for a claim. But not for simply changing your mind about traveling while pregnant.
What About Emergency Medical and Evacuation Coverage?
Travel medical insurance provides emergency care for injuries and illnesses abroad. It will also cover medical evacuation to get you home or to better medical facilities if necessary.
This coverage applies to pregnancy too. Trip medical insurance will cover expenses like:
- Hospital and doctor’s fees for pregnancy complications
- Costs for an emergency C-section or early delivery
- Medical transport to evacuate you home or to a country with better maternity care
The costs here can easily reach tens of thousands of dollars. So medical and evacuation coverage is crucial when traveling while pregnant.
How To Find Pregnancy-Friendly Travel Insurance
The best way to make sure your policy covers pregnancy cancellations is to ask. When comparing plans:
- Confirm the insurer considers pregnancy complications eligible for trip cancellation claims.
- Ask what documentation they require if you need to cancel for a pregnancy-related cause.
- Read the fine print and make sure it aligns with the agent’s answers.
Also consider getting “cancel for any reason” coverage. While more expensive, this gives you the flexibility to cancel due to pregnancy even when it is not a medical necessity.
Below are some top insurers to consider for pregnancy coverage:
Allianz
Allianz provides pregnancy cancellation coverage. You must purchase insurance within 21 days of your initial trip payment for pregnancy claims eligibility.
Travelex
Travelex is one of the few insurers that covers pregnancy without pre-existing condition exclusions. However, you must purchase their policy within 14 days of your initial trip payment.
Nationwide
With Nationwide’s “cancel for any reason” upgrade, you can cancel for pregnancy concerns up to 48 hours before departure. Their regular plans also cover pregnancy complications when medically necessary.
AXA
AXA’s policies cover pregnancy medical emergencies, complications leading to cancellations, and delivery up to 31 weeks. Their upgraded plans also allow cancellation for normal pregnancy.
Seven Corners
Seven Corners is clear that pregnancy cancellations are covered if you purchase within 14 days of your initial trip payment. After 14 days, complications are covered but normal pregnancy is not.
Tin Leg
Tin Leg has customizable plans that allow you to add pregnancy cancellation coverage. They also offer high medical limits which are important for maternity emergencies.
Key Takeaways
When buying travel insurance for a trip during pregnancy, there are a few key points to remember:
- Normal pregnancy is not an eligible claim reason – complications are required
- Your pregnancy status when you buy insurance matters
- Confirm pregnancy cancellation coverage with the insurer
- Consider “cancel for any reason” upgrade for flexibility
- Emergency medical coverage is crucial
- Read fine print carefully for exclusions
With the right policy, you can travel with confidence throughout pregnancy knowing your costs are covered if plans need to change.
The Bottom Line
Travel insurance can reimburse you if pregnancy forces you to cancel or interrupt your trip. But most plans require you to have complications beyond a normal pregnancy. Confirm cancellation coverage for pregnancy before purchasing a policy.
Trip delay, medical, evacuation, and “cancel for any reason” coverages also provide important protections. Read the details carefully and shop around to find a policy that fits your pregnancy travel needs.
Insurance Company | Covers Normal Pregnancy Cancellations? | Requirements |
---|---|---|
Allianz | No | Must purchase within 21 days of initial booking |
Travelex | Yes | Must purchase within 14 days of initial booking |
Nationwide | With “cancel for any reason” upgrade | None |
AXA | With upgraded plans | None |
Seven Corners | No | Must purchase within 14 days of initial booking |
Tin Leg | With added pregnancy cancellation rider | None |
Frequently Asked Questions
Does travel insurance cover pregnancy?
Most policies do not cover normal pregnancy. But many cover complications leading to cancellation when medically necessary. Some insurers like Travelex provide coverage for pregnancy without pre-existing exclusions if you buy within 14 days of booking.
Can you get travel insurance when pregnant?
Yes, you can still get coverage but pregnancy claims may be excluded if you are already pregnant when purchasing insurance. Opt for “cancel for any reason” policies if possible when traveling while pregnant.
What if I didn’t know I was pregnant when I bought insurance?
You can make a case for pregnancy coverage if you were not far enough along to reasonably know you were pregnant. Provide documentation from your doctor on the gestational timeline.
Does travel insurance cover giving birth abroad?
Medical emergency coverage will pay for delivery and newborn care if you go into early labor on your trip. Evacuation coverage can transport you home or to a country with better maternity care.
What pregnancy complications allow cancellation?
Severe morning sickness, risk of early labor, placental abruption, preeclampsia, reduced fetal movement, gestational diabetes or hypertension and other dangerous conditions may qualify you for a cancellation claim.