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Pregnancy and Travel Insurance - The Definitive Guide for New Zealanders Heading Overseas

Our guide explains pregnancy-specific policy coverage, gestational age limits, complications, premature birth coverage, and compares top New Zealand travel insurers to help you make an informed decision about what policy to buy.
Updated 10 June 2023

Summary
  • This guide aims to demystify the intersection between pregnancy and travel insurance, helping expectant New Zealanders understand the ins and outs of travel insurance policies and ensuring they can make informed decisions when preparing for overseas travel.
  • As per a June 2023 article in the NZ Herald, while midwives and airlines are perfectly happy allowing air travel up until the 28th week or the third trimester of pregnancy without prior approval, "most insurers tend to draw the line for travel cover at 24 weeks". Our research confirms it can be as low as 20 weeks.
  • As confirmed in the same article, the travel insurance industry standard is to cover medical expenses related to pregnancy for the first "23 weeks and six days; anything after that (such as complications or expenses from childbirth overseas) won't be covered". Some insurers limit this further to 20 weeks, treating "pregnancy or childbirth (except for unforeseen medical complications or emergencies within the first 20 weeks/140 days of a pregnancy)" as a general exclusion.
  • Travel insurance provides a safety net for pregnant travellers, but it's vital to understand what's covered and what's not. There is a lot of risk to both traveller and insurer when pregnant and overseas, so don't hesitate to ask your insurer questions to make sure you understand what's covered. It's also essential to read the policy wording carefully.  
  • We believe what matters to pregnant travellers are factors such as the gestational age limit, complications coverage, and premature birth coverage.

To help you understand pregnancy and travel insurance in detail, our guide covers the following:
Know This First: What should I consider when choosing a travel insurance policy during pregnancy?
The key factors to consider are:
  • The gestational age limit set by the insurance provider.
  • The scope of coverage for pregnancy complications.
  • The policy's approach to premature birth.

It's also worth considering coverage for cancellation due to unexpected pregnancy complications. This way, you're protected before and during your journey from unexpected medical and travel costs.

Video Guidance: To help explain pregnancy and travel insurance, MoneyHub Founder Christopher Walsh walks through this guide and addresses what you need to know:

Limits on Travel When Pregnant - Airlines vs Travel Insurers

Beyond the 28th week of your pregnancy, most airlines stipulate that you must have a written document or certification from a certified midwife or medical professional in your possession. This certification should affirm the following:
  • The projected date of your delivery
  • Whether you're expecting one or more babies
  • An assurance that your pregnancy is progressing normally, with no existing complications

This certification must be accessible upon request and kept in your carry-on luggage at the airport and during your flight. You'll also need medical clearance if any complications are associated with your pregnancy.

Contrary to airline policies, our research indicates that travel insurance providers typically limit coverage up to only the end of the 24th week of pregnancy (and for some insurers, less than that). This implies that although airlines may permit you to travel (as indicated in the table below), you may not be covered by your travel insurance.
Please be aware that many airlines have decreased week limits for longer flights, and that this information is subject to change without notice.

Understanding Why Travel Insurance Typically Excludes Coverage for Pregnancy Beyond the 20th - 24th Week

Generally, the reason is not necessarily linked to the perceived dangers of pregnant travellers being out of New Zealanders; instead, the rationale behind this exclusion has more to do with the potential expenses incurred overseas for medical care.

While airlines restrict travellers to limit the risk of going into labour during flights, insurers want to minimise the high costs associated with neonatal care in foreign countries, which can be significant.

As per a June 2023 article in the NZ Herald, in the United States, the average cost of admitting a mother and her child to a neonatal intensive care unit between the 28th and 32nd weeks of pregnancy ranges from US$40,000 to US$100,000. These are costs that insurers would prefer not to underwrite, so outright exclude anyone further along than 24-weeks from cover.

Understanding Pregnancy Coverage in Travel Insurance

  • Travel insurance policies usually cover pregnant travellers, but the extent of coverage and the conditions applied can vary widely between insurance providers. 
  • General policy coverage for pregnant travellers often includes medical expenses related to unexpected pregnancy complications, emergency medical evacuation, and sometimes even childbirth if it occurs prematurely. However, most policies have gestational limits beyond which they do not provide coverage. 
  • Furthermore, routine prenatal care, childbirth within a certain period before the estimated due date, or costs associated with a normal pregnancy (like morning sickness) are usually excluded. Other risks that arise include complications and early child birth, of which cover levels can vary:
  • Complications During Pregnancy: Most travel insurance policies cover unexpected complications during pregnancy, such as gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, or ectopic pregnancy. However, insurers may have specific definitions and limitations around what they consider a 'complication', so reviewing your policy thoroughly is important.
  • Childbirth Overseas: While most travel insurance policies exclude normal childbirth, many provide coverage if childbirth happens prematurely. This is usually defined as childbirth happening a certain number of weeks (typically 8 to 10) before the estimated due date. The coverage often includes medical expenses for the mother and newborn following a premature birth, up to the policy limits.
  • Cancellations, Delays, and Curtailment: Unexpected pregnancy complications can mean a trip is cancelled or curtailed; travel insurance policies usually only offer cover if if the complication is diagnosed after the policy was purchased and is unrelated to a pre-existing condition. In any case, a medical certificate or documentation from a doctor will be needed to validate the claim.

How to Choose the Best Travel Insurance for Pregnancy

Pregnant travellers typically focus on critical considerations such as the gestational limit covered by the policy, the extent of coverage for pregnancy complications, and the policy's stance on premature birth. While most insurers cater to covering pregnancy complications, obtaining coverage for childbirth proves to be challenging, as many insurance providers do not typically include this in their standard policies.

Understand what you're (usually) covered for:

Regarding the gestational age limit for travel insurance coverage, most policies limit coverage to around 23-24 weeks of pregnancy. However, some may go as low as 20 weeks or as high as 26 weeks, as outlined below.

Then, under most comprehensive policies, there will be:
  1. Coverage for pregnancy complications and premature birth, covering unexpected complications that arise during pregnancy and the medical costs for the mother and newborn following a premature birth.
  2. Coverage for trip cancellation due to unexpected pregnancy complications diagnosed after purchasing the insurance policy.
  3. No cover for routine prenatal care and regular childbirth (as most policies exclude these from coverage).

Important: Pregnant travellers with pre-existing conditions, such as gestational diabetes or high blood pressure, may need to pay higher premiums or face additional coverage limitations.

The cost of a policy will spend on your current health status, the planned destination and duration of travel, and specific activities during the trip.

Understanding gestational limits:

These are the gestational limits provided by various travel insurance companies for coverage during single pregnancies:
To assist you in understanding your potential coverage, we've outlined the pregnancy policies of the most popular travel insurers below. However, since policies can change without notice, we strongly recommend clicking through to the insurer's site and thoroughly reviewing their terms in detail for the most accurate, up-to-date information:
  • 1Cover Travel Insurance - Pregnancy cover terms outlined here (up to and inclusive of the 24th week of gestation)
  • AA Travel Insurance - Pregnancy cover: Only for medical treatment for unforseen complications within the first 20 weeks.
  • AMI Travel Insurance - Pregnancy cover: Cover is only provided for serious, unexpected pregnancy complications that occur up until the 24th week of pregnancy (up to 23 weeks, 6 days), childbirth is not covered, and costs relating to the health or care of a newborn child are not covered, irrespective of the stage of pregnancy when the child is born.
  • Chubb Travel Insurance - Pregnancy cover: Only for unexpected medical complications or emergencies arising therefrom, as well as trip cancellation and amendment, cover up to the end of the 23rd week
  • Cover-More Travel Insurance - Pregnancy cover: Pregnancy cover terms outlined here (up to and inclusive of the 24th week of gestation)
  • nib Travel Insurance - Pregnancy cover: No cover if a claim arises out of pregnancy or related complications after 26 weeks of pregnancy with a single baby or after 19 weeks of pregnancy with a multiple pregnancy. No cover is provided for childbirth or the health of a newborn child, irrespective of the stage of pregnancy at which the child is born.
  • State Travel Insurance - Pregnancy cover: Cover is only provided for serious, unexpected pregnancy complications that occur up until the 24th week of pregnancy (up to 23 weeks, 6 days), childbirth is not covered, and costs relating to the health or care of a newborn child are not covered, irrespective of the stage of pregnancy when the child is born.
  • Southern Cross Travel Insurance - Pregnancy cover: International Comprehensive policy covers you for costs or losses relating to your pregnancy up to and including the 24th week, as outlined here.
  • TINZ Travel Insurance - Pregnancy cover terms outlined here, cover up to the end of the 24th week
  • Tower Travel Insurance - Pregnancy cover: No cover for pregnancy or childbirth (except for unforeseen medical complications or emergencies within the first 20 weeks/140 days of your pregnancy). There is no cover for a child born overseas unless, after birth, cover is applied for and Tower agrees in writing to include the child in this cover
  • World Care Travel Insurance - Pregnancy cover: No cover for pregnancy or childbirth (except for unforeseen medical complications or emergencies within the first 20 weeks/140 days of your pregnancy). There is no cover for a child born overseas unless, after birth, cover is applied for and Tower agrees in writing to include the child in this cover
  • World Nomads Travel Insurance - Pregnancy cover terms outlined here, cover up to the end of the 26th week
  • Zoom Travel Insurance - Pregnancy cover: Zoom automatically cover mums-to-be up to 24 weeks in gestation for single pregnancies and 19 weeks for multiple, but there are limits as outlined in the policy.

Important: Don't be tempted to go with a cheap policy without reading what it covers - always balance the cost of the policy with the potential costs of unforeseen events such as travelling. At the same time, pregnancy puts you at a higher risk of needing medical treatment.

Specific Pregnancy Cover by Popular Insurers:

AA, Tower and Worldcare:
  1. Gestational Limit for Coverage: Covers up to the first 20 weeks (or 140 days) of pregnancy.
  2. Scope of Coverage: The policy will cover unforeseen medical complications or emergencies occurring within the first 20 weeks of pregnancy.
  3. Exclusions:
    • The policy does not cover pregnancy or childbirth, except for unforeseen medical complications or emergencies within the first 20 weeks.
    • There is no automatic cover for a child born overseas.
  4. Coverage for Newborns: No automatic coverage for a child born overseas. However, coverage may be granted if it's applied for after the birth and if the insurer agrees in writing to include the child in the cover.
AMI, Cover-More and State:
  1. Gestational Limit for Coverage: Provides coverage up to the 24th week of pregnancy (i.e., up to 23 weeks, 6 days).
  2. Scope of Coverage: The policy only covers serious, unexpected pregnancy complications occurring within the aforementioned gestational limit.
  3. Coverage for Newborns: No coverage for the health or care of a newborn child, regardless of when the child is born during the pregnancy.
Chubb:
  1. Gestational Limit for Coverage: Coverage is provided up to the end of the 23rd week of pregnancy. After this period, any costs under their Overseas Medical Emergency Expenses Cover are excluded.
  2. Scope of Coverage: The policy will cover medical emergencies relating to the pregnancy that occur up until the end of the 23rd week, provided these are not related to any pre-existing medical condition or any past medical conditions relating to a previous pregnancy
  3. Coverage for Newborns: There is no coverage for newborns, whether premature or otherwise. The newborn is not considered a covered person under the policy if the child was born during the trip.
NIB and World Nomads:
  1. Gestational Limit for Coverage: Coverage up to the 26th week of pregnancy.
  2. Scope of Coverage: The policy covers any event that arises from your pregnancy, provided that the event causing the claim is a covered event under this policy and is a pregnancy-related illness.
  3. Coverage for Newborns: NIB and World Nomads do not provide coverage for the health or care of a newborn child, regardless of when the child is born during the pregnancy.
Southern Cross:
  1. Gestational Limit for Coverage: Southern Cross provides coverage up until the 24th week of pregnancy (i.e., up to 23 weeks, 6 days). The gestational age is measured in weeks and days, calculated from the first day of your last menstrual period or calculated from staging ultrasound.
  2. Scope of Coverage: The policy automatically covers a single pregnancy, a multiple pregnancy (such as twins or triplets), and a pregnancy through fertility treatment, as long as there were no complications with the pregnancy before the policy was bought. The coverage includes medical expenses related to pregnancy, including overseas childbirth up until the 24th week, and neonatal care of the newborn child up until the date and time you return to New Zealand.
  3. Coverage for Newborns: Southern Cross does provide neonatal care for the newborn child up until the date and time you return to New Zealand, as long as the child was born within the covered gestational period.

Understanding Pregnancy-Related Coverage in Your Travel Insurance Policy: Four Potential Scenarios

Navigating the ups and downs of pregnancy can be challenging enough without the added complexities of travel. That's why comprehensive travel insurance policies often include specific pregnancy-related provisions.

The policy details provided provide clear guidelines on what kind of pregnancy-related scenarios are covered. These guidelines are essential for any pregnant individual planning a trip, so they can understand what costs or losses can be covered.

Below, we explore four scenarios that could potentially arise and how the policy might respond, using the Southern Cross Travel Insurance Policy as an example. These scenarios illustrate how the policy provides coverage, from unexpected overseas childbirth to dealing with pre-existing pregnancy complications.

To illustrate these scenarios, MoneyHub's founder, Christopher Walsh, provides a detailed analysis of the policy's response to the issues faced in the video below:
Scenario 1: "Cover for Overseas Childbirth"
  • Mia and Mark are on holiday in Europe. Unexpectedly, Mia goes into labour during the 23rd week of her pregnancy.
  • The premature baby is born and requires immediate neonatal care in the local hospital. In this situation, the policy would cover the costs of childbirth overseas as well as the neonatal care of the newborn until the couple returns to New Zealand.

Scenario 2: "Cover for Cancelling or Changing Your Journey"
  • Helen and Mike plan a trip to Canada for Helen's 20th week of pregnancy. Just before the trip, her doctor determines that she has a serious medical complication related to the pregnancy that makes it unsafe for her to travel.
  • In this scenario, the policy would cover the costs of cancelling or changing the journey due to the medical complication, provided the advice came from her obstetrician or a vocationally registered medical practitioner (obstetrics).

Scenario 3: "Cover for Returning Home to Support a Pregnant Relevant Person"
  • Tom is on a business trip overseas. Back home, his wife Anna, who is 22 weeks pregnant, is admitted to the hospital due to complications with her pregnancy.
  • According to the policy, Tom can make a claim under "Cutting your journey short" to return home and support his wife in this situation.

Scenario 4: "Coverage for Pre-existing Pregnancy Complications"
  • Angie had a history of pre-eclampsia in her previous pregnancies, which is considered a pre-existing medical condition according to the policy.
  • She is now pregnant and planning an overseas trip. If she undergoes a medical assessment, discloses this pre-existing condition, and pays any extra premium, she could be covered for any costs or losses related to a recurrence of pre-eclampsia during her trip, provided the insurer agrees to cover this in writing.

Know This: Travel insurance policies can be complex and highly specific, particularly in specialised coverage areas such as pregnancy. It's crucial to read the policy details thoroughly before purchasing, as the coverage can significantly differ based on various factors, including the stage of pregnancy, any pre-existing conditions, and the nature of the travel planned. 

It's also important to note that insurance policies can change frequently, meaning what might have been covered in the past might not necessarily be covered in the future. 

Clarifying any uncertainties directly with the insurance provider is always recommended. These scenarios are simply examples, and the specifics of your policy will vary.

Frequently Asked Questions

In the video below, MoneyHub's founder Christopher Walsh demystifies travel insurance policies for pregnant travellers, addressing frequently asked questions and common concerns.

What is the cut-off week for travel insurance coverage for pregnancy?

Most insurers set a cut-off week, usually around 23-24 weeks. Beyond this gestational age, insurers may not provide coverage due to the increased risk of childbirth and complications.

Does travel insurance cover childbirth?

Regular childbirth is typically not covered by standard travel insurance policies. However, many policies provide coverage for premature birth, usually defined as childbirth occurring a certain number of weeks before the due date.

Can I get a refund for my trip if I can't travel because of my pregnancy?

If you have to cancel your trip due to an unexpected pregnancy complication diagnosed after you purchased your policy, you may be able to claim cancellation costs. Always check with your insurer for specific terms and cover around this as complications before a trip, unfortunately, are somewhat common. 

Do I need to inform my insurance provider that I'm pregnant before I travel?

Yes, informing your insurance provider about your pregnancy is crucial before you travel. Some providers may have specific requirements or exclusions for pregnant travellers.

What documentation will I need to make a claim related to my pregnancy?

You'll likely need a medical report or certificate from a doctor detailing the nature of the complication or condition that led to your claim. It's best to check with your insurer for any specific documentation they may require.

How does travel insurance treat multiple pregnancies?

Insurance policies may vary in how they treat multiple pregnancies. Some policies may have earlier cut-off weeks for coverage (e.g. 19 weeks instead of 24 weeks etc.), while others may not provide coverage for multiple pregnancies. Always check with your insurer for details.

What about cover if there have been pregnancy complications in the past?

If you've had complications with a pregnancy in the past, this needs to be disclosed upfront. Most insurers will let you apply for coverage for these complications. You must complete a medical assessment, disclose all your diagnosed pre-existing medical conditions, pay any extra premium, and have the insurer confirm your coverage in writing.

Is prenatal care covered by travel insurance?

Routine prenatal care, such as check-ups and scans, are typically not covered by travel insurance. Coverage is usually limited to unexpected complications arising from pregnancy.

Are medical costs for the baby covered if I give birth overseas?

Most insurers do not provide coverage for the care of a newborn child, irrespective of the stage of pregnancy at which the child is born. However, some policies may cover medical expenses for the newborn following a premature birth up to the policy limits.

Can I be covered if my doctor advises against travel but I decide to proceed?

If you travel against medical advice, your travel insurance may become void. Discussing such scenarios with your insurance provider to understand the implications is best. Always read your chosen insurer's policy wording carefully to understand what is and isn't covered.