If you’ve got a trip coming up, you might be wondering how pregnancy fits into travel insurance. Does it count as a medical condition? Do you need to tell us? And what happens if plans need to change?
The good news is that you don’t need special travel insurance just because you’re pregnant. With us, pregnancy is included within standard travel insurance, and you don’t usually need to declare it when you take out a policy. What matters is whether you’re experiencing any pregnancy-related complications, which this guide explains in full.
Do I need special travel insurance if I’m pregnant?
If you’re pregnant, you should be able to take out Avanti travel insurance in the usual way. Pregnancy itself isn’t treated as an illness or an injury, and there’s no need for a specialist or pregnancy-specific policy.
However, if you have any pregnancy-related complications, these are treated differently and need to be declared.
Cover during pregnancy is limited to specific sections of the policy, including Section 1 and Section 2 (Cancelling and cutting short your holiday) and Section 3 (Medical Emergency Expenses, Repatriation and Hospital Daily Benefit). For full details, please read our policy documents.
What about cruise travel insurance?
You can also get cruise travel insurance with Avanti while pregnant.
With this said, cruise lines often set their own rules about travelling while pregnant, including how far along you can be. It’s worth checking these directly with your cruise provider before you travel.
Do I need to declare pregnancy when buying travel insurance?
You don’t need to declare pregnancy itself when you take out travel cover with us.
What does need to be declared are any pregnancy-related complications, as well as any other pre-existing medical conditions, whether they’re related to pregnancy or not.
What pregnancy-related conditions can Avanti cover?
Your policy may be able to cover the following complications of pregnancy, as long as the due date is more than 8 weeks (16 weeks for a multiple birth) after the end date of your trip:
- Toxaemia
- Gestational hypertension
- Pre-eclampsia
- Ectopic pregnancy
- Hydatidiform mole, also known as a molar pregnancy
- Placental abruption
- Placenta praevia
- Hyperemesis gravidarum
- Retained placenta membrane
- Post-partum haemorrhage
- Stillbirth
- Miscarriage
- Premature birth more than 8 weeks before the expected delivery date, or 16 weeks in the case of a known multiple pregnancy
- Medically necessary emergency Caesarean sections
- Medically necessary termination of pregnancy
Is going into labour or giving birth abroad covered by travel insurance?
Travel insurance is designed to cover unexpected medical situations, rather than planned or routine care. This means if you go into labour while travelling with no complications, you won’t be covered.
If complications of pregnancy or childbirth do arise while you’re away, you should contact Avanti Assistance as soon as possible.
Can I claim to cancel or cut my trip short if I find out I’m pregnant?
You may be able to cancel your trip or return home early if you find out you’re pregnant after your policy start date or the date you booked your trip (whichever was later), as long as your return date is more than 8 weeks from your due date. If you’re expecting a known multiple birth, this timeframe is 16 weeks.
If you already knew that your due date would be within this timeframe when you booked your trip or took out your policy, cover for cancellation or cutting your trip short due to pregnancy or childbirth wouldn’t apply.
Any changes to your travel plans must be recommended by a medical professional, either because of complications of pregnancy or because the pregnancy itself was unexpected.
Get a quote for Avanti travel insurance
Getting a quote online with Avanti is quick and straightforward. If you need to declare a pregnancy-related complication or any other pre-existing medical condition, our screening process guides you through it step by step. You can search for more than 1,300 conditions and select from clear dropdown options at your own pace.
If you’d rather talk it through over the phone, we’re always here. Our team can help explain how pregnancy fits into cover, talk through any complications or medical details you need to declare, and answer questions so you’re clear on what’s covered before you travel.
