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Pregnancy Travel Insurance for New Zealanders - Compare Childbirth Cover, Gestational Limits and Pricing

Compare pregnancy travel insurance from 12+ New Zealand insurers. We review gestational limits, childbirth cover, neonatal care and pricing for holidays in Fiji and Australia, and reveal how only one insurer covers both mother and baby.
Updated 11 March 2026
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Summary
  • Most insurers limit pregnancy cover to 24 weeks - and some cut it off at just 20. Airlines will happily let you fly well into the third trimester, but your travel insurance won't follow you past the middle of the second. That gap between what airlines allow and what insurers cover is where the financial risk sits.
  • This guide is the only published resource in New Zealand that reviews every major travel insurer's pregnancy policy wording side by side, compares gestational limits, identifies which insurers cover childbirth and neonatal care (and which don't), and explains in plain language what you're actually protected against - and where you're exposed.

The single most important finding from our research: Southern Cross Travel Insurance (SCTI) is the only major New Zealand travel insurer that covers both overseas childbirth and neonatal care for pre-term babies born before 24 weeks. Notably:

  • Every other insurer either excludes childbirth entirely or limits it to circumstances so narrow they wouldn't apply in most real-world premature births.
  • When neonatal intensive care in the United States can cost US$40,000–$100,000+ and a single SCTI claim reached $4 million for a USA birth, the difference between SCTI and the rest of the market is significant.

To help you understand pregnancy and travel insurance in detail, our guide covers:
Know This: The key factors to consider when choosing a travel insurance policy during pregnancy are the gestational age limit, whether the insurer covers childbirth and neonatal care (most don't), the scope of coverage for pregnancy complications, and whether you're covered for cancellation if complications develop. We suggest getting a Southern Cross Travel Insurance (SCTI) quote as your starting point.
​Why MoneyHub Founder Christopher Walsh Personally Uses Southern Cross Travel Insurance - And Why It's Worth Your Attention

I've used Southern Cross Travel Insurance for every overseas trip I've taken in recent years - from the USA and Switzerland to Thailand, Spain, Japan and plenty of destinations in between. I don't use it because MoneyHub has a relationship with them. I use it because when I compared every major insurer line by line, SCTI's coverage was consistently stronger where it matters most.

For pregnant travellers, I believe three things set SCTI apart:
  1. SCTI is the only major New Zealand insurer that covers both childbirth and neonatal care for pre-term babies. Every other insurer we reviewed either excludes childbirth entirely or limits it to an extremely narrow exception that wouldn't apply in most real-world premature births. When a single premature birth claim in the USA reached $4 million (per this December 2025 article in Stuff.co.nz), it was SCTI that paid it, including the ongoing neonatal care until mother and baby returned to New Zealand. If you're pregnant and travelling overseas, this is the benefit that matters most.
  2. Pre-existing pregnancy complications don't automatically disqualify you. If you've had pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes, or recurrent miscarriages in previous pregnancies, SCTI offers a straightforward medical assessment process that can extend cover to those conditions. Other insurers either exclude them outright or charge significantly more. If you have a pregnancy history, SCTI should be your first quote - our guide to pre-existing conditions travel insurance explains the process in detail.
  3. Unlimited medical cover is standard - not an upgrade. For pregnant travellers, this is non-negotiable. NICU costs overseas can run into hundreds of thousands of dollars. A capped policy leaves you exposed to exactly the kind of catastrophic cost that pregnancy complications can generate. SCTI's unlimited medical cover, combined with $25,000 luggage protection and competitive pricing, means you're not compromising on protection to save a few dollars on the premium.

My view: I've never had a reason to switch insurers. SCTI is popular with MoneyHub readers who routinely share their positive experiences - including pregnant travellers who've been through the claims process and come back to tell us about it. I suggest getting a SCTI quote.
Christopher Walsh
MoneyHub Founder
Video Guidance: To help explain pregnancy and travel insurance, MoneyHub Founder Christopher Walsh walks through this guide and addresses what you need to know:
Our View - Southern Cross Travel Insurance (SCTI) Delivers the Most Comprehensive Pregnancy Travel Cover Available in New Zealand
  • After reviewing 10+ policies and comparing every insurer's pregnancy wording line by line, we believe Southern Cross Travel Insurance (SCTI) is in a category of its own for pregnant travellers.
  • SCTI is the only major New Zealand insurer that covers overseas childbirth and neonatal care for pre-term babies born before 24 weeks - a benefit no other insurer matches. Combined with unlimited medical cover, $25,000 luggage protection (2.5x the industry standard), and automatic cover for single, multiple, and IVF pregnancies without a medical assessment, SCTI offers pregnant travellers a level of protection that simply doesn't exist elsewhere in the market.
  • As part of a not-for-profit organisation serving New Zealanders since 1961, SCTI reinvests surplus into better coverage rather than shareholder profits - which shows in their generous benefits, competitive pricing and clearly worded policies.
  • When a single premature birth claim in the USA reached $4 million per this December 2025 article in Stuff.co.nz, it was SCTI that paid it. Every other insurer we reviewed would have excluded the baby's care entirely.

Our View: If you're pregnant and planning to travel, SCTI should be your first and most important quote. The difference between SCTI and every other insurer isn't price - it's whether your baby is covered if the worst happens.

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.

How Every New Zealand Travel Insurer Covers Pregnancy - What You Need to Know

The gestational week limit gets the most attention, but we believe it's only part of the risk.
  • What happens if you go into premature labour overseas - is the baby covered?
  • What about cancellation if complications develop after 24 weeks?

We reviewed the policy wording of every major New Zealand travel insurer. Our view is simple - there are three clear tiers of pregnancy cover between insurers, and the differences are significant.

Tier 1: Best Pregnancy Cover - Childbirth and Neonatal Care Included

Our Pick: Southern Cross Travel Insurance (SCTI) - International Comprehensive
  • SCTI is the only major travel insurer that covers both overseas childbirth and neonatal care for pre-term babies (benefits launched in 2021 per this insurance industry article)
  • Their policy automatically covers pregnancy up to 24 weeks (23 weeks, 6 days) for single, multiple, and IVF pregnancies. No medical assessment is needed for uncomplicated pregnancies.
  • If you give birth prematurely before 24 weeks, SCTI covers the childbirth itself and the neonatal care of your baby until you both return to New Zealand - no other insurer we compared offers this.
  • With unlimited medical cover, SCTI is the only policy that properly protects you against the catastrophic costs of overseas premature birth - NICU and preterm-birth costs overseas can be enormous, particularly in the United States, with published research and claims analyses showing costs can run into tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars depending on gestation, complications and length of stay. A December 2025 article in Stuff.co.nz confirmed a SCTI claim of $4 million relating to a premature baby born unexpectedly in the USA.
  • Important: If you've had pregnancy complications in the past three years (pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes, three or more consecutive miscarriages), you'll need to complete a medical assessment. Common symptoms like morning sickness and routine antenatal care are not covered.

Our View: If you're pregnant and planning to travel, we believe SCTI should be your first quote - it offers protection unrivalled by any other travel insurer.

Tier 2: Complications Covered, But No Childbirth or Neonatal Care

Most insurers sit here - they cover unexpected pregnancy complications up to a gestational limit (usually 24 weeks), but do not cover giving birth overseas or the care of a newborn. Within this tier, important differences exist.

Cover­More - International Comprehensive Premium (Underwriter: Zurich)
  • Gestational limit: 24 weeks. No childbirth. No neonatal care. Must complete medical assessment if complications with current/previous pregnancy, multiples, or IVF.
  • Cover-More offers an extended cancellation benefit for serious, unexpected pregnancy complications up to 32 weeks (single) or 28 weeks (multiple) on Comprehensive and Comprehensive+ plans, subject to policy terms, limits and conditions.

Allianz Travel Insurance - Comprehensive (Underwriter: Allianz & Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance)
  • Gestational limit: 24 weeks. Pregnancy is treated as a pre-existing condition if pregnant at the time of purchase (medical assessment required).​

1Cover - Comprehensive (Underwriter: HDI Global Specialty SE)
  • Single pregnancy limit: 25 weeks (24 weeks, 6 days) - the longest medical gestational limit in New Zealand
  • Multiple pregnancies limit: 20 weeks. No childbirth. No neonatal care. IVF requires medical assessment (not auto-covered).
  • Important: 1Cover requires you to have returned home by the gestational limit. Your entire trip must fall within it - not just the incident. If you're still overseas when you hit 25 weeks, pregnancy cover ceases entirely.

TINZ - Comprehensive (Underwriter: HDI Global Specialty SE)
  • Single pregnancy limit: 24 weeks.
  • Multiple pregnancies limit: 19 weeks. No childbirth or neonatal care is covered. IVF is automatically covered. Uncomplicated pregnancies are auto-covered with no assessment needed.

AMI & State Insurance - YourCover International (Underwriter: Zurich)
  • Single pregnancy limit: 24 weeks for serious unexpected complications only. No childbirth. No neonatal care.

Air New Zealand - International (Underwriter: Zurich)
  • Single pregnancy limit: 24 weeks. No childbirth. No neonatal care.
​
AMP - Comprehensive (Underwriter: Allianz)
Mix & Match - Comprehensive (Underwriter: Allianz)
Webjet - Travel Safe Plus International (Underwriter: Cover-More NZ / Zurich)
  • Gestational limit: 24 weeks. No childbirth. No neonatal care. Must complete medical assessment if complications with current/previous pregnancy, multiples, or IVF.​

Tier 3: Most Restrictive - Only 20 Weeks

AA - Comprehensive (Underwriter: Allianz)
  • Gestational limit: 20 weeks (140 days) - four weeks shorter than the 24-week industry standard.
  • No childbirth. No automatic cover for a child born overseas.
  • Despite being underwritten by Allianz, AA offers worse pregnancy terms than Allianz's direct product (20 weeks vs 24 weeks), often at a higher price.

Tower - Comprehensive (Underwriter: Tower Limited, managed by Allianz Partners)
  • Gestational limit: 20 weeks (140 days). No childbirth. No automatic cover for a child born overseas. Despite being underwritten by Allianz, Tower offers worse pregnancy terms than Allianz's direct product (20 weeks vs 24 weeks), often at a higher price.
The Bottom Line
  • Southern Cross Travel Insurance is the only major insurer that covers childbirth and neonatal care with such depth. If you're travelling to a destination where premature birth could cost six figures, we believe this is the only policy that properly protects you and your baby. We suggest getting an SCTI quote as a starting point.
  • Cover­More 32-week cancellation extension is unique and valuable for expensive trips.
  • 1Cover offers the longest medical gestational limit at 25 weeks - a meaningful extra week.
  • We believe Tower and AA at 20 weeks are four weeks behind the industry standard, and both offer worse terms than the insurers that underwrite them.

Our suggestion: Start with Southern Cross Travel Insurance (SCTI) - the pregnancy cover is unrivalled, you can increase the cancellation cover, and policies are priced competitively in every country we price-tested per our travel insurance research. ​

Australia and Fiji Travel Insurance Quote Comparison

​We priced comprehensive travel insurance for a couple aged 35 across the two most popular 'babymoon' destinations for New Zealanders - Australia and Fiji. These two destinations represent opposite ends of the risk spectrum for pregnant travellers - and the pricing reflects it.

Our View - Australia:
  • Australia is the cautious choice. It's close to home, the flight is short, and Australian hospitals are world-class. If something goes wrong, you're in a country with medical facilities comparable to those in New Zealand.
  • For many pregnant travellers, this peace of mind is worth more than a tropical beach. But don't assume the proximity means you don't need insurance - the NZ-Australia reciprocal healthcare agreement covers basic public hospital treatment on land, but it won't cover private care, specialist obstetric treatment, NICU costs for a premature baby, medical evacuation, cancellation, or any other travel insurance benefit. If you give birth prematurely in Australia without adequate cover, the costs still fall on you.

Our View - Fiji:
  • Fiji is the aspirational choice - warm weather, resort relaxation, and a short flight from Auckland. It's the most popular Pacific Island babymoon destination for Kiwi couples.
  • But the medical reality is different - Fiji's hospitals are not equipped for high-risk obstetric emergencies or neonatal intensive care. If you go into premature labour in Fiji, you're being evacuated to New Zealand - a process that costs tens of thousands of dollars and requires immediate coordination between the hospital, the airline or evacuation provider, and your insurer.
  • Without travel insurance, you're arranging and paying for all of that yourself at the most stressful moment of your life.

Know This:
  • The pricing below shows what you'll actually pay. Note that these are standard comprehensive policy prices for a couple - the pregnancy cover is built into the standard premium for most insurers (no additional pregnancy costs for uncomplicated pregnancies within each insurer's gestational limit).
  • The difference you're paying between insurers isn't for different levels of pregnancy cover - it's for the overall policy, of which pregnancy cover is one component. The critical question isn't which policy is cheapest - it's which policy actually covers childbirth and your baby if the worst happens - and only Southern Cross Travel Insurance does.

Price Comparison 1 - Australia - Couple: Two 35-year-olds in Australia for 8 Days

  • ​​Travellers: Two travellers, 35 years old
  • Single trip quote: Comprehensive cover
  • Excess: Varies per insurer

​Our Winner for Benefits, Coverage and Price: Southern Cross Travel Insurance
A) Insurers who are also underwriters - Southern Cross, CoverMore and Allianz
​​Insurance Provider
Underwriter
Price (Single Trip)
Excess
Policy Name
Southern Cross Travel Insurance
​​Southern Cross Travel Insurance
$73.57​
$200
International Comprehensive
Cover­More
Zurich (Cover­More's owner)
$66
$250
International Comprehensive Premium​
Allianz Travel Insurance
Allianz
$55.54
$200
Comprehensive
B) Specialist insurers using external underwriters
​​Insurance Provider
Underwriter
Price (Single Trip)
Excess
​Policy Name
AA
Allianz
$98
$200
​Comprehensive
Air New Zealand
Zurich
$104
$100
​International
AMI & State Insurance
Zurich
$88
$100
International Plan I
AMP
Allianz
$114
$200
​Comprehensive
TINZ
HDI Global Specialty SE
$74.56
$200
Comprehensive
Tower
Allianz
$98
$100
Comprehensive
1Cover
HDI Global Specialty SE
$93.94
$200
Comprehensive
C) Web-based travel insurers using external underwriters
​​Insurance Provider
Underwriter
Price (Single Trip)
Excess
​Policy Name
Mix & Match
Allianz
$110
​$150
Comprehensive
Webjet
​Cover-More NZ / Zurich AUS
$68
$100
​Travel Safe Plus International
Our View - Southern Cross Travel Insurance (SCTI) Delivers the Most Comprehensive Pregnancy Travel Cover Available in New Zealand
  • After reviewing 10+ policies and comparing every insurer's pregnancy wording line by line, we believe Southern Cross Travel Insurance (SCTI) is in a category of its own for pregnant travellers.
  • SCTI is the only major New Zealand insurer that covers overseas childbirth and neonatal care for pre-term babies born before 24 weeks - a benefit no other insurer matches. Combined with unlimited medical cover, $25,000 luggage protection (2.5x the industry standard), and automatic cover for single, multiple, and IVF pregnancies without a medical assessment, SCTI offers pregnant travellers a level of protection that simply doesn't exist elsewhere in the market.
  • As part of a not-for-profit organisation serving New Zealanders since 1961, SCTI reinvests surplus into better coverage rather than shareholder profits - which shows in their generous benefits, competitive pricing and clearly worded policies.
  • When a single premature birth claim in the USA reached $4 million per this December 2025 article in Stuff.co.nz, it was SCTI that paid it. Every other insurer we reviewed would have excluded the baby's care entirely.

Our View: If you're pregnant and planning to travel, SCTI should be your first and most important quote. The difference between SCTI and every other insurer isn't price - it's whether your baby is covered if the worst happens.

Price Comparison 2 - Fiji - Couple: Two 35-year-olds in Fiji for 15 Days

  • ​​Travellers: Two travellers, 35 years old
  • Single trip quote: Comprehensive cover
  • Excess: Varies per insurer

​Our Winner for Benefits, Coverage and Price: Southern Cross Travel Insurance
A) Insurers who are also underwriters - Southern Cross, CoverMore and Allianz
​​Insurance Provider
Underwriter
Price (Single Trip)
Excess
Policy Name
Southern Cross Travel Insurance
​Southern Cross Travel Insurance​
$165.72
$200
International Comprehensive
Cover­More
Zurich (Cover­More's owner)
$202
$250
International Comprehensive Premium​
Allianz Travel Insurance
​Allianz
​$210.80
​$200
​Comprehensive
B) Specialist insurers using external underwriters
​​Insurance Provider
Underwriter
Price (Single Trip)
Excess
​Policy Name
AA
Allianz
$290
$200
​Comprehensive
Air New Zealand
Zurich
$366
$100
​International
AMI & State Insurance
Zurich
​$200
$100
International Plan I
AMP
Allianz
$336
$200
​Comprehensive
TINZ
HDI Global Specialty SE
$112.65
$200
Comprehensive
Tower
Allianz
$236
$100
Comprehensive
1Cover
HDI Global Specialty SE
$138
$200
Comprehensive
C) Web-based travel insurers using external underwriters
​​Insurance Provider
Underwriter
Price (Single Trip)
Excess
​Policy Name
Mix & Match
Allianz
$316
​$150
Comprehensive
Webjet
​Cover-More NZ / Zurich AUS
$252
$100
​Travel Safe Plus International
Our View - Southern Cross Travel Insurance (SCTI) Delivers the Most Comprehensive Pregnancy Travel Cover Available in New Zealand
  • After reviewing 10+ policies and comparing every insurer's pregnancy wording line by line, we believe Southern Cross Travel Insurance (SCTI) is in a category of its own for pregnant travellers.
  • SCTI is the only major New Zealand insurer that covers overseas childbirth and neonatal care for pre-term babies born before 24 weeks - a benefit no other insurer matches. Combined with unlimited medical cover, $25,000 luggage protection (2.5x the industry standard), and automatic cover for single, multiple, and IVF pregnancies without a medical assessment, SCTI offers pregnant travellers a level of protection that simply doesn't exist elsewhere in the market.
  • As part of a not-for-profit organisation serving New Zealanders since 1961, SCTI reinvests surplus into better coverage rather than shareholder profits - which shows in their generous benefits, competitive pricing and clearly worded policies.
  • When a single premature birth claim in the USA reached $4 million per this December 2025 article in Stuff.co.nz, it was SCTI that paid it. Every other insurer we reviewed would have excluded the baby's care entirely.

Our View: If you're pregnant and planning to travel, SCTI should be your first and most important quote. The difference between SCTI and every other insurer isn't price - it's whether your baby is covered if the worst happens.

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 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.

Must-Know Tips for Pregnant Travellers Buying Travel Insurance

Our tips include:
  1. Check the gestational limit before anything else: Most insurers cap pregnancy cover at 24 weeks, some at 20, and one at 25. If your trip extends beyond your insurer's gestational limit, you have no pregnancy cover from that point - even if nothing has gone wrong. Plan your travel dates to return home well within the limit, with a buffer for unexpected delays.
  2. Understand the difference between complications cover and childbirth cover. Almost every insurer covers unexpected pregnancy complications within their gestational limit. Almost none cover childbirth or the care of a newborn baby. The only major insurer that covers both is Southern Cross Travel Insurance. If the risk of premature birth matters to you, this distinction is the single most important factor in choosing your policy.
  3. Buy your policy the day you book your trip. Cancellation cover starts from purchase. If pregnancy complications develop between booking and travelling, you're covered for cancellation costs - but only if the policy was already in place. Waiting until the week before departure gives you zero cancellation protection for the months in between.
  4. Declare everything - especially previous pregnancy complications. If you've had pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes, placental problems, or three or more consecutive miscarriages in previous pregnancies, you must declare these. Most insurers treat undisclosed pregnancy history the same way they treat any undisclosed pre-existing condition - they decline the claim. Even if you consider a previous complication resolved, declare it.
  5. IVF and fertility treatment pregnancies aren't always automatically covered. Some insurers such as Southern Cross Travel Insurance auto-cover IVF pregnancies within the gestational limit. Others require you to disclose IVF and complete a medical assessment. If your pregnancy was conceived through fertility treatment, check your insurer's requirements before assuming you're covered.
  6. Choose your destination with medical facilities in mind. A babymoon in Fiji is relaxing, but Fiji's medical facilities are limited - if something serious happens, you're being evacuated to New Zealand. Australia has excellent hospitals and is close to home. The USA has world-class care, but the costs are catastrophic without insurance. Bali is popular, but medical facilities outside Denpasar are limited. Think about what happens if something goes wrong, not just where you want to relax.
  7. Don't assume your credit card travel insurance covers pregnancy. Most credit card travel insurance policies either exclude pregnancy entirely or set gestational limits lower than those of standalone policies such as that offered by Southern Cross Travel Insurance. Check the policy wording on your card - don't rely on assumptions.
  8. Airlines will let you fly long after your insurance coverage ends. Most insurers stop at 24 weeks. The airline's policy is about whether it's safe to fly and extend this well into 30+ weeks. The insurer's policy is about whether they'll pay if something goes wrong.
  9. If your pregnancy situation changes after buying your policy, tell your insurer. New complications, new diagnoses, changes in treatment, or a switch from single to multiple pregnancy - you need to notify your insurer. Failure to disclose changes can void your pregnancy cover, and potentially your entire policy.
  10. Get at least three quotes. The difference between insurers for pregnant travellers is larger than for almost any other type of travel insurance. An insurer that charges a modest premium for an uncomplicated pregnancy at 30 may charge significantly more - or decline cover - for a pregnancy with complications. Southern Cross Travel Insurance should be your first quote. Then compare with Cover­More (for the cancellation extension) and at least one other provider.

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.

Does travel insurance cover childbirth if I give birth overseas?

Southern Cross Travel Insurance is the only major New Zealand insurer that covers both premature childbirth and neonatal care for babies born before 24 weeks. Every other insurer we reviewed either excludes childbirth entirely or limits it to childbirth caused by an accident.

If you're concerned about the risk of premature birth while overseas, and given NICU costs can run into hundreds of thousands of dollars, we believe Southern Cross Travel Insurance is the only policy that properly covers both you and your baby.

What's the difference between "complications cover" and "childbirth cover"?

Complications cover means the insurer will pay for emergency medical treatment for the mother if something goes wrong with the pregnancy - things like pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes, ectopic pregnancy, or bleeding. Almost every insurer provides this within their gestational limit.

Childbirth cover means the insurer will pay for the delivery itself and, critically, the baby's ongoing care afterwards. These are very different things. If you go into premature labour at 22 weeks in Fiji, the complications cover pays for your emergency treatment.

Childbirth and neonatal cover pays for the delivery and the weeks or months of intensive care your baby may need. Without both, the baby's medical bills fall on you. Only Southern Cross Travel Insurance covers both.

Can I get travel insurance if I'm already pregnant?

Yes - every insurer we reviewed offers pregnancy cover to women who are already pregnant at the time of purchase, subject to their gestational limits.

For most insurers, an uncomplicated pregnancy within the gestational limit is automatically covered without any medical assessment. However, if you've had complications with this or a previous pregnancy, if you're expecting multiples, or if conception was through IVF or fertility treatment, most insurers require you to complete a medical assessment and may charge an additional premium or apply exclusions.

Can I get a refund if I need to cancel my trip because of pregnancy complications?

If you purchased your policy before the complication was diagnosed, and the complication is covered under your policy, you can claim for cancellation costs (if provided as a benefit), including non-refundable flights, accommodation, and booking fees.

Our View: This is one of the biggest reasons to buy your insurance the day you book your trip, not the week before you fly. If complications arise between booking and travel, you're only covered for cancellation if the policy was already in place.

​Do I need to tell my insurer I'm pregnant?

It depends on your circumstances - if your pregnancy is uncomplicated, single, and naturally conceived, most insurers automatically cover you within their gestational limits without you needing to declare it.

But if any of the following apply, you must disclose your pregnancy and typically complete a medical assessment:
  • Complications with your current pregnancy, complications with a previous pregnancy (particularly in the last 2–3 years)
  • You're expecting multiples (twins, triplets)
  • Conception was through IVF or assisted reproductive treatment

Important: Failing to disclose when required can void your pregnancy cover entirely. When in doubt, declare it.

Is routine prenatal care covered while I'm travelling?

No insurer we reviewed covers routine prenatal care, check-ups, scans, or standard antenatal appointments while overseas.

Travel insurance covers unexpected emergencies and complications - not planned or routine care. If you need a scheduled scan or appointment during your trip, you'll pay for it yourself. For this reason, it's important to plan your travel dates around your antenatal schedule.

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.

What if my doctor advises me not to travel?

If a medical professional advises you not to travel and you go anyway, every insurer we reviewed will void your pregnancy cover - and potentially your entire policy. This applies whether the advice comes before or during your trip.

If your doctor or midwife says don't fly, don't fly. If the advice comes after you've booked and you need to cancel, your cancellation cover should protect you - provided you bought the policy before the advice was given. This is another reason to consider buying insurance the day you book, not the day before you travel.

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

For almost every insurer in New Zealand, the answer is no. Most policies explicitly exclude the health or care of a newborn child, regardless of when the baby is born during the pregnancy.

Southern Cross Travel Insurance is the exception - SCTI covers neonatal care for a baby born prematurely before 24 weeks until you and your child return to New Zealand.

Given that neonatal intensive care overseas can cost tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars - and a single NZ claim with SCTI reached $4 million, this is arguably the most important distinction in the entire pregnancy travel insurance market.

If you're travelling past mid-pregnancy, we believe SCTI's neonatal cover is the difference between financial protection and potential financial ruin.
Our View - Southern Cross Travel Insurance (SCTI) Delivers the Most Comprehensive Pregnancy Travel Cover Available in New Zealand
  • After reviewing 10+ policies and comparing every insurer's pregnancy wording line by line, we believe Southern Cross Travel Insurance (SCTI) is in a category of its own for pregnant travellers.
  • SCTI is the only major New Zealand insurer that covers overseas childbirth and neonatal care for pre-term babies born before 24 weeks - a benefit no other insurer matches. Combined with unlimited medical cover, $25,000 luggage protection (2.5x the industry standard), and automatic cover for single, multiple, and IVF pregnancies without a medical assessment, SCTI offers pregnant travellers a level of protection that simply doesn't exist elsewhere in the market.
  • As part of a not-for-profit organisation serving New Zealanders since 1961, SCTI reinvests surplus into better coverage rather than shareholder profits - which shows in their generous benefits, competitive pricing and clearly worded policies.
  • When a single premature birth claim in the USA reached $4 million per this December 2025 article in Stuff.co.nz, it was SCTI that paid it. Every other insurer we reviewed would have excluded the baby's care entirely.

Our View: If you're pregnant and planning to travel, SCTI should be your first and most important quote. The difference between SCTI and every other insurer isn't price - it's whether your baby is covered if the worst happens.
Reminder: Not sure if you need travel insurance, or have specific circumstances to consider? Our dedicated guides can help:
Our top pick: Southern Cross Travel Insurance consistently delivers the strongest coverage across our research - unlimited medical cover, $25,000 luggage protection and an unlimited cancellation option that no other major New Zealand insurer matches. Get a quote in 60 seconds and compare it with others.

Related guides:
​Important: Too many New Zealanders take the risk and travel without it. We compare by country to help you make finding what you need easier: 
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