Travel Insurance with Pregnancy Cover

According to the World Health Organisation, the safest time for pregnant women to travel is the second trimester (roughly around 13-27 weeks).

However, the decision to travel while pregnant is an important consideration for expectant mothers and their families, as travelling while pregnant can be risky at any stage of pregnancy. (Risks increase if there are underlying health conditions of the mother or baby, if it’s a high-risk pregnancy, if the mother is expecting twins or triplets, and more.)

The Australian Government’s smartraveller.gov.au recommends pregnant women always consult with a medical professional before deciding if travelling while pregnant is a good idea for them.

It's also important for expectant mothers and their travel companions to understand any restrictions placed on pregnant travellers by their airline before booking a trip.

According to smartraveller.gov.au, yes. This is because there are health risks associated with travelling while pregnant and seeking medical care for unexpected pregnancy complications while overseas can be expensive.

The Australia Government recommends expectant mothers speak to their provider to understand what travel insurance cover for pregnancy is available and what it does and doesn’t cover.

Many travel insurance providers don’t automatically cover pregnancy, so it’s important to carefully consider which travel insurance plan is the best travel insurance for your pregnancy and if you need to apply for additional cover while you’re pregnant for cover to apply.

At Cover-More, we offer our customers limited travel insurance cover for pregnancy. Cover is only provided for serious, unexpected pregnancy complications that occur up until the 24^th week (23 weeks, six days) of the pregnancy.

It does not cover childbirth, or costs relating to the health or care of a newborn child irrespective of the stage of pregnancy when the child is born.

If you’re buying a Cover-More travel insurance policy while already pregnant, you will need to complete a medical assessment if:

• you've had complications with this pregnancy or a previous pregnancy;
• you have multiple pregnancy e.g. twins or triplets; or
• you had a medically assisted conception e.g. using assisted fertility treatment including hormone therapies or IVF.

Note: including our pregnancy cover in your travel insurance policy may come at an additional premium.

Got questions about our travel insurance cover for pregnancy? Call us during Australian business hours on 1300 72 88 22 – we’re happy to help.

At Cover-More, we can provide cover for the mother if serious, unexpected pregnancy complications arise before the 24^th week of the pregnancy.

If you’re travelling in the first 23 weeks of your pregnancy and you meet the conditions in the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS), we can provide you with:

• Overseas emergency medical expenses cover for serious and unexpected pregnancy complications
• 24-hour travel assistance services
• Access to an Australian-based doctor via TravelGP* (if appropriate)

If you’re travelling on a domestic or international Comprehensive or Comprehensive+ Plan and have included cancellation cover in your policy for an additional premium, you’ll have access to our Cancellation Extensions.

Our Cancellation Extensions include additional cover for pregnant travellers who encounter serious, unexpected pregnancy complications from the 24^th week of the pregnancy:

• up until the 32^nd week (i.e. up to 31 weeks, 6 days) for a single pregnancy; or
• up until the 28^th week (i.e. up to 27 weeks, 6 days) for a multiple pregnancy.

Note: our travel insurance provides limited cover for expectant mothers, so it important to consider if our travel insurance cover for pregnancy is right for you as costs for childbirth and neonatal care overseas can be expensive.

Need help with our travel insurance with pregnancy cover? You can speak to our friendly team on 1300 72 88 22 during Australian business hours.

When considering our Cover-More travel insurance with pregnancy cover, please keep in mind:

• No cover is provided for standard pregnancy check-ups or scans
• No cover exists where serious, unexpected complications of your pregnancy occur after the completion of the 23rd week of pregnancy
• No cover exists for childbirth or the health of a newborn child, regardless of the stage of pregnancy at which the child is born
• If you do not have a Comprehensive or Comprehensive+ policy with cancellation cover included, no cover exists for overseas emergency medical expenses cover for serious and unexpected pregnancy complications that arise any time after the beginning of the 24^th week of the pregnancy

These pregnancy exclusions apply to all our travel insurance policies, regardless of whether you applied for pregnancy cover and paid an additional premium because you were pregnant at the time of purchase.

To find all the details on what is and isn’t included in our travel insurance cover for pregnancy, please read the PDS. To speak to our team, call 1300 72 88 22.

Ready to get a quote? You can generate one online for free at any time.

If you are pregnant at the time of purchasing your Cover-More travel insurance policy, you’ll need to complete our online medical assessment and advise us if:

• you've had complications with your current pregnancy or a previous pregnancy;
• you’re having a multiple pregnancy e.g. twins or triplets; or
• you’ve had a medically assisted conception with your current pregnancy e.g. using assisted fertility treatment including hormone therapies or IVF

This will help us determine your eligibility for cover and provide you with a quote if your cover is accepted by us.

If you have already bought your Cover-More travel insurance policy and then find out afterwards that you’re pregnant, congratulations!

Here’s what you need to know about your cover:

• If you purchased a Single Trip policy, there’s no need to apply for extra cover as your pregnancy was not an existing medical condition at the time of purchase.
• If you purchased an Annual Multi-Trip policy, you won’t need to apply for extra cover for any trips already booked prior to finding out you’re pregnant. However, if you meet any of the criteria listed in the PDS for when extra cover is required (i.e. complications with this pregnancy or a previous pregnancy; you’re having a multiple pregnancy such as twins or triplets; or your conception was medically assisted such as using IVF), you will need to complete a medical health assessment to ensure you’re covered for any upcoming trips you’re yet to book.
• If your policy includes cancellation cover and you need to cancel your trip because of a complication of pregnancy, you’ll need supporting documentation from your doctor indicating you’re not fit to travel to claim for cancellation.

Still got questions? Call our team on 1300 72 88 22 to discuss any policy changes that may be required.

If something isn’t right while you’re overseas, contact the local emergency services for support first.

Then, as soon as possible – and when it’s safe to do so – give our 24/7 Emergency Assistance team a call.

Childbirth isn’t covered by our policies from a financial perspective, however, if your emergency involves giving birth overseas, our Emergency Assistance team can provide non-financial support. This could include emotional support and assistance, such as putting you in touch with your family back home.

We may also be able to provide you with access to our TravelGP* service, which is where we help our customers access telemedicine support with an Australian-based doctor.

If you are travelling in your third trimester or you unexpectedly go into labour overseas, you’ll need to familiarise yourself with the local laws on citizenship, as rules change from country to country.

If you are an Australian citizen and you give birth overseas, you’ll need to apply for your child’s Australian citizenship and passport before you can return home. For more information visit the Department of Immigration and Border Protection website.

If you need our support during this time – such as organising documents with the local Australian embassy – contact our Emergency Assistance team at any time.

The Australian Government’s smartraveller.gov.au recommends all expectant mothers visit a doctor ahead of travel plans to receive medical advice, a health check, and speak about required vaccinations.

As a pregnant woman, you may be at risk of serious complications if you contract certain diseases or viruses, so your doctor can advise you on the best travel vaccinations based on your travel plans and the health of you and your baby.

For more information on travel vaccinations, visit smartraveller.gov.au’s vaccinations and preventative health page.

Planning a trip requires preparation – and even more so when you're expecting a baby.

Here are five important things to consider following before you head off:

1. Check your chosen airline’s restrictions for flying while pregnant
2. Register your trip with the Australian Government via smartraveller.gov.au, so they can contact you in an emergency.
3. Visit your GP to discuss your travel plans and get any relevant vaccinations. You may even need a medical certificate confirming you’re fit to travel.
4. Research your destination, taking time to consider the foods, cultures, and climates of the places you’re visiting and what you need to avoid while pregnant.
5. Pack comfortable clothes that take your changing shape into account.