What You Should Know About Travel Insurance Coverage and Pregnancy
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| What You Should Know About Travel Insurance Coverage and Pregnancy |
If you are pregnant or attempting to conceive, you are undoubtedly wondering what travel precautions to take. The good news is that, for the majority of a pregnancy, it is normally safe to travel. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, infrequent plane travel is generally safe during pregnancy. Cruising, road excursions, and other kinds of travel are generally safe throughout the second trimester.
After your doctor gives you the go-ahead, you may need to consider unexpected events while away from home. If you need to cancel or reschedule your plans, how can you ensure that you and your infant are taken care of and that your non-refundable travel fees are paid?
Learn everything about pregnancy and travel, including how to get the best travel insurance.
Speak with your doctor
If you want to travel while pregnant, you should always consult with your doctor beforehand and consider any potential risks. Miscarriage or ectopic pregnancies, an imperfect cervix, heart valve problems, a history of blood clots, and severe anemia are all potential complications of air travel.
After discussing possible issues with your doctor, you will have a better understanding of what sort of travel is best for you and what travel insurance to consider. Even if your pregnancy is straightforward, you should still obtain travel insurance. If you need to cancel your trip for a covered reason or encounter unforeseen problems while traveling, the appropriate coverage may protect you.
Educate yourself about pre-existing conditions
Because infants sometimes come before or beyond their due date, you may worry whether travel insurance will cover a typical labor and delivery while you are on vacation. Generally, the answer is no; however, travel insurance coverage for pregnancy varies. It is critical to explore your alternatives and understand the terms and coverage, since most insurance excludes regular maternity, pregnancy, and birthing care.
Pre-existing illnesses, including pregnancy, are often excluded from travel insurance coverage. A pre-existing condition is often defined as a medical condition for which you sought treatment within a certain number of days (generally 90 to 180 days) prior to the policy purchase date. If you see your doctor for a pregnancy-related problem before your vacation, your travel insurance will most likely not cover any expenditures linked to that ailment while you are away. If you have a pregnancy-related issue while traveling that is not an excluded pre-existing condition (for example, a new sickness or accident), your travel insurance coverage may cover the costs.
A pre-existing medical condition exclusion waiver may address certain pregnancy difficulties (for example, unforeseen pregnancy complications). If a plan includes a pre-existing medical condition exclusion waiver, you must meet the plan’s eligibility criteria to be eligible for coverage. In most situations, the eligibility condition is to purchase the insurance between 14 and 21 days before the first trip payment date and insure 100% of pre-paid and non-refundable trip expenses.
As you can see, it is vital to investigate if your specific pregnancy-related issue is covered by your travel insurance policy. If not, you may need to acquire extra coverage, such as an optional Cancel For Any Reason upgrade, or make other arrangements to reduce the financial hazards of traveling while pregnant.
Learn about trip cancellation insurance for pregnant travelers.
If you are pregnant when you get travel insurance, would you be covered if you had to cancel your trip due to a pregnancy-related issue? The answer depends on the reason for the cancellation. If you are already pregnant when you get travel insurance, trip cancellation is often not covered unless the cancellation is due to a problem that is not considered a pre-existing condition. Travel insurance does not cover trip cancellations due to pregnancy-related concerns. For example, if your doctor advises you not to travel close to your due date “just in case,” your insurance will not cover the cancellation.
If you were not pregnant at the time you purchased your travel insurance, pregnancy and its complications may not be considered pre-existing conditions. If you don’t want to travel while pregnant, your insurance may let you cancel. When purchasing insurance, be sure to check to see whether a future pregnancy or certain linked conditions will be covered as a cause for trip cancellation.
Invest in emergency medical evacuation insurance
If you are worried about the likelihood of a pregnancy-related emergency during your vacation, particularly if you are going to a distant region, you might consider getting emergency medical evacuation insurance. This sort of insurance covers emergency transportation to the closest suitable medical facility. Some travel insurance policies include around $1 million in medical evacuation coverage per person.
Consider canceling coverage for any reason
Given that pregnancy is seldom covered as a cause for trip cancellation or reimbursement under a typical travel insurance policy, you may want to consider adding a Cancel For Any Cause (CFAR) upgrade to your policy. A CFAR upgrade allows you to cancel your trip for any reason and reimburses you up to 75% of your non-refundable travel fees.
There are a few conditions for this form of coverage. You must insure all of your pre-paid and non-refundable travel fees. You are normally required to cancel your trip at least 48 hours before its planned departure, so plan ahead wherever feasible. Your insurance company may additionally demand that you acquire the upgrade within 14–21 days of completing your original trip payment.
Review your airline’s pregnancy flyer guidelines
Your comfort with flying doesn’t guarantee airline approval. Before you board your flight, be sure you examine your airline’s pregnant flier restrictions. The safest period for a woman to travel is often during her second trimester of pregnancy, which lasts from 14 to 28 weeks. Each airline is different, but as a general rule, you will require an obstetrician’s certificate to travel at 36 weeks or later. Some airlines, such as United, demand the original certificate and two copies stating that you are fit to fly.
Contact your hotel, resort, or tour provider
It is doubtful that your hotel or resort would impose special pregnancy restrictions. Check for any restrictions on the excursions you want. Pregnancy may prevent you from participating in activities such as horseback riding, skydiving, and aquatic sports. Some trips may need a doctor’s note to participate, so check your tour operator’s website or phone them before booking.
What happens if you give birth in another state or country?
Your regular health insurance may cover your medical expenditures if you give birth in a different state or country, and your travel insurance coverage may cover certain non-refundable charges if you have unanticipated difficulties.
Some nations, like Canada, provide automatic birthright citizenship. Just because you give birth over the border does not mean you are not charged. A birth in Canada may cost between $3,000 and $20,000 for tourists. This cost may vary based on your travel insurance, health insurance, and the kind of service needed.
If you give birth while abroad, be sure you understand your infant’s coverage before you return home. Some travel insurance packages automatically cover a baby delivered during your vacation. Others may demand that you obtain separate coverage for your infant. Keep in mind that some airlines require newborns to be 2 days to a month old before they may travel.