Travel insurance and pregnancy: coverage comparison and best offers
Travelling during pregnancy is possible in many cases, but it is never a trivial decision.
Everything depends on the stage of pregnancy, the health condition of the expectant mother, and the type of trip planned (duration, destination, access to healthcare).
From a medical perspective, pregnancy is not an illness, but it is a specific physiological condition that increases certain risks (fatigue, thrombosis, unexpected complications).
This is precisely why travel insurance policies treat pregnancy differently from a standard medical condition.
- 🤰 Travel insurance never covers a normal pregnancy (routine care, tests, childbirth).
- 🚨 Only certain unpredictable complications may be covered, and only in emergency situations.
- 📅 Coverage depends on a strict limit in weeks of amenorrhea (WA): usually 26 to 28 WA, sometimes up to 30–31 WA.
- ⛔ Beyond the WA limit: no coverage, even in life-threatening emergencies.
- ✈️ Travel insurance cannot override airline rules (medical certificates, boarding refusal).
- 💶 The price does not significantly increase during pregnancy: conditions matter more than coverage limits.
- 📄 Reading the policy terms and conditions is essential: misinterpretation leads to frequent claim denials (HelloSafe experts do this for you).
Can you travel while pregnant?
Without providing individual medical advice (which is strictly the responsibility of a physician), the generally accepted recommendations are as follows:
- 1st trimester (0 to 14 WA): travel is usually possible, but this is a more sensitive period. Some unpredictable complications may be covered.
- 2nd trimester (15 to 27 WA): the most favorable period for travel. This is also when insurance coverage is generally at its broadest (within policy limits).
- 3rd trimester (from 28 WA): significant increase in restrictions (airlines, medical certificates, insurance exclusions).
Even if insurance still accepts certain guarantees, airlines may refuse boarding:
- often from 28 WA: medical certificate required
- beyond 32–36 WA: frequent refusal depending on the airline
👉 Travel insurance can never override a flight restriction.
The key point to understand
Travelling while pregnant is a medical and personal decision, but travel insurance is not designed to support a normal pregnancy.
It only applies in cases of:
- unpredictable complications,
- occurring before a clearly defined limit in weeks of amenorrhea (WA),
- requiring urgent and non-scheduled medical care.
- know your exact WA
- read the policy terms before travelling
- consider adding a cancellation option
- never assume you are “automatically covered”
Compare the best travel insurance plans in 2 clicks.
What does travel insurance actually cover for a pregnant woman?
This is the most misunderstood point — and the one that causes the most unpleasant surprises when a claim occurs.
Travel insurance does not cover pregnancy itself.
In very specific cases, it may cover unpredictable pregnancy-related complications, but never routine pregnancy care.
Normal pregnancy = excluded
Unpredictable complication = sometimes covered (under strict conditions)
What is always excluded
- ❌ prenatal care (consultations, ultrasounds)
- ❌ routine tests
- ❌ childbirth (planned or unplanned)
- ❌ postnatal care
- ❌ known pregnancy without emergency character
👉 Even with premium travel insurance, a normal pregnancy is never insurable abroad.
What may be covered under conditions
- unpredictable complications,
- occurring before the policy WA limit,
- requiring urgent medical treatment.
Concrete examples: covered or not?
Pregnancy-related medical situation | Travel insurance coverage | Why |
|---|---|---|
Routine prenatal consultation | ❌ Not covered | Normal pregnancy = scheduled care |
Follow-up ultrasound | ❌ Not covered | Predictable, non-urgent care |
Pregnancy monitoring blood tests | ❌ Not covered | Routine examinations |
Planned childbirth abroad | ❌ Not covered | Childbirth is always excluded |
Planned C-section | ❌ Not covered | Considered planned childbirth |
Hospitalization for premature labor (after WA limit) | ❌ Not covered | Exceeds WA contractual limit |
Sudden abdominal pain (before WA limit) | ✅ Possible | Unpredictable emergency complication |
Sudden hemorrhage (before WA limit) | ✅ Possible | Life-threatening emergency |
Threatened premature labor (before WA limit) | ⚠️ Often covered | If medically unpredictable |
Early-stage preeclampsia requiring hospitalization | ⚠️ Sometimes covered | Depends on contract and timing |
Preventive bed rest | ❌ Not covered | Preventive, not an emergency |
Complications linked to pre-existing conditions | ❌ Not covered | Considered pre-existing condition |
Emergency medical transport | ✅ Possible | If complication is covered |
Repatriation after severe complication | ⚠️ Variable | Subject to assistance approval |
- The medical act itself does not matter — the cause does.
- An emergency is only covered if it is truly unpredictable.
- The WA limit is decisive.
- A normal pregnancy, even if perceived as risky, remains excluded.
- Beyond the WA limit: zero coverage, even in emergencies.
The key limit: weeks of amenorrhea (WA)
- 26 WA (very restrictive coverage)
- 28 WA (market standard)
- 30–31 WA (rare, more favorable contracts)
👉 Beyond this limit: no coverage whatsoever, even in life-threatening emergencies.
Get a personalized travel insurance quoteBest travel insurance for pregnancy
There is no “perfect” travel insurance for pregnancy, but some policies are more suitable because:
- pregnancy clauses are clearly written,
- the WA limit is explicitly defined,
- emergency assistance is responsive.
What you must keep in mind before choosing:
👉 No travel insurance policy covers childbirth, regardless of destination.
👉 Very few contracts cover pregnancy-related cancellation, only in cases of unpredictable medical complications.
👉 Pregnant travelers must read the full policy wording, not just the marketing summary.
Plan | Pregnancy complications | WA limit | Childbirth | Cancellation | Expert insight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Secure Silver / Gold | ✅ Emergencies | ~28–30 WA | ❌ | ⚠️ Conditional | Best overall balance |
WorldSecure Platinum | ✅ Emergencies | ~28 WA | ❌ | ❌ | Market standard |
Ready Zen / Boost | ⚠️ Limited | ~26–28 WA | ❌ | ❌ | Suitable early pregnancy |
Go Protect / Protect+ | ⚠️ Very strict | ~26–28 WA | ❌ | ❌ | Careful T&C review required |
The purpose of travel insurance is not to follow your pregnancy,
but to prevent a financial disaster in case of a severe, unpredictable complication,
especially in countries with high medical costs (USA, Canada, Japan).
The right choice is based on 5 concrete criteria:
- a clear WA limit
- a precise definition of “unpredictable complication”
- unambiguous pregnancy exclusions
- 24/7 medical assistance
- destination-specific healthcare costs
Compare the best travel insurance plans in 2 clicks.
How much does travel insurance cost when pregnant?
Contrary to popular belief, travel insurance for pregnancy does not cost significantly more than standard travel insurance.
The difference lies in coverage conditions, not price.
In practice, pregnancy does not generate a specific surcharge because it is not covered as such.
Travel insurance remains a standard policy with specific maternity-related exclusions.
Type of trip | Duration | Indicative price | What it actually covers |
|---|---|---|---|
Short trip (Europe / Mediterranean) | 7–14 days | €15–€40 | Medical emergencies unrelated to pregnancy + unpredictable complications |
Long-haul trip (USA, Asia) | 1–3 weeks | €30–€80 | Emergency care + unpredictable complications (within WA limit) |
Long stay | 1–3 months | €80–€200 | Emergency-only logic |
Policy with enhanced cancellation | — | +20% to +40% | Rarely useful for pregnancy |
👉 Paying more does not expand pregnancy coverage if it is excluded by definition.
⚠️ The “high medical limit” myth: choosing €500,000, €1M or €2M coverage does not help if pregnancy is excluded, the WA limit is exceeded, or the complication does not meet contractual definitions.
Sometimes a €30 policy is more suitable than a €90 one if pregnancy clauses are clearer.
What does travel insurance NOT cover during pregnancy?
This is essential to understand before travelling:
even the best travel insurance does not cover everything related to pregnancy.
🚫 1. Normal pregnancy (without complications)
A normal pregnancy is never covered by travel insurance.
- routine prenatal consultations
- follow-up ultrasounds
- gynecologist or midwife visits
- routine tests
- prescriptions linked to non-urgent pregnancy
🚫 2. Childbirth (regardless of cause)
This is a universal exclusion.
- vaginal delivery
- C-section (planned or unplanned)
- hospitalization related to childbirth
- post-partum care
- newborn care
🚫 3. Known or anticipated risks before departure
- high-risk pregnancy declared before travel
- known risk of premature labor
- shortened cervix
- placenta previa
- medical advice not to travel
🚫 4. Complications after the WA limit
- 26 / 28 / 30 / 31 WA depending on policy
- 32 WA and beyond: systematic exclusion
🚫 5. Ancillary pregnancy-related costs
- comfort expenses
- non-urgent care after stabilization
- family return costs
- newborn-related expenses
- exceeding the WA limit
- confusion between pregnancy and complication
- emergency not medically recognized
⚠️ The most common mistake pregnant travelers make
“I’m pregnant, so I’m covered as long as I don’t give birth.”
❌ False.
👉 Coverage applies only to certain unpredictable complications,
👉 only before a strict WA limit,
👉 and never to pregnancy itself.
Travel insurance does not replace maternity care or pregnancy monitoring.
It only exists to limit financial exposure in case of a serious, unpredictable, urgent complication — within a very narrow timeframe.
FAQ
Yes. You can usually purchase travel insurance, but a normal pregnancy remains excluded.
Yes, but you may be close to the WA limit of many policies. Always check carefully.
In most cases, no. Insurance exclusions and airline boarding refusals are common.
No. Childbirth is systematically excluded, even if premature.
No. Coverage limits are low and pregnancy is often excluded.
Only in very specific contracts, and usually only in case of an unpredictable medical complication with documentation.
