Travelling While Pregnant
Cover-More offers cover for pregnancy to protect you up to the 24th week (23 weeks, 6 days). According to the World Health organisation, the safest time for pregnant women to travel is the second trimester. Gestational age is measured in weeks and days and is calculated from the last known date of your menstrual period or calculated from staging ultrasound. It's important for you to know any airline restrictions placed on pregnant travellers before you book your trip. For specific questions, visit our Pregnancy travel insurance FAQs.
Quality travel insurance for pregnancy
If you are pregnant when buying your travel insurance, you’ll need to complete a medical assessment to apply for cover 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.
If you have already bought your travel insurance and then found out you were pregnant there’s no need to do anything. If you need to cancel your trip due to your pregnancy, you’ll need supporting documentation from your doctor indicating you’re not fit to travel to claim for cancellation.
What cover do I get for my pregnancy?
Cover-More Travel Insurance looks after the mother, if serious, unexpected pregnancy complications arise before the 24th 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, 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*
We do not cover childbirth or neonatal care overseas. Overseas births can be complicated and expensive. We recommend travel before the 24th week of pregnancy to reduce the risk of an overseas birth.
If you travel after the 23rd week, Cover-More can provide cover for non-pregnancy related events. You’ll have standard policy elements like luggage cover and any medical conditions not related to your pregnancy.
What is not covered for pregnancy
Please keep in mind that under our travel insurance policies:
- No cover is provided for standard check-ups or scans.
- No cover exists where serious, unexpected complications of your pregnancy occur after 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.
Please read the Product Disclosure Statement so you understand what's included in the plans. We want you to find the best policy to suit your travel needs as an expectant mother.
In an emergency
If something isn’t right while you’re overseas, contact the local emergency services and then as soon as possible, give us a call. If you are giving birth overseas, we can provide non-financial support and put you in touch with your family back home. While childbirth isn’t covered by our policies from a financial perspective, we can still be there for you for emotional support and assistance. Cover-More customers may have access to our TravelGP service where we can put you in touch with an Australian-based doctor via telemedicine.
Babymoons
A babymoon is a great opportunity for the couple to unwind and make important decisions like baby names, whether to find out if it’s a boy or girl, or who to name as guardians. There are a lot of hotels and destinations that have jumped on the babymoon bandwagon. Packages include luxury accommodation, relaxing massages, welcome gift hampers and buffet breakfasts (you are eating for two after all).
You’ll want to make sure that wherever you pick, you have access to:
- A large comfy bed
- Extra pillows
- Good food that has been hygienically prepared
- Massages or day spa
- A nearby hospital or doctors
Make sure you always have the following items with you:
- Prenatal charts/medical notes
- Emergency contact details
- Journal and Camera
- Water bottle
- Comfy clothing and shoes
- Prenatal vitamins and any other medication
- Insurance documents
And if you’re travelling overseas you’ll need:
- Compression stockings
- Doctor’s letter permitting travel
- Thongs or slip-on shoes (easy to take off on the plane or at customs)
- A list of foods to avoid
Cover-More's CEO of Medical Assistance, Meredith Staib, provides her tips for expectant mothers looking to take a babymoon. https://vimeo.com/219328442
Childbirth overseas
If you are travelling in your third trimester OR you unexpectedly go into labour overseas there are a few things to consider. Citizenship rules change from country to country, so it’s a good idea to understand the local laws before travelling.
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 application forms and more information visit the Department of Immigration and Border Protection website. Our assistance team can help put you in touch with the local embassy to organise the documents..
Before your trip
It’s good to be well prepared for an upcoming journey. It’s even more important when you’re pregnant, with more to consider for you and your unborn baby. Consider the following steps before you head off.
- Check the airline restrictions for flying while pregnant
- Register with SmarTraveller – let the Government know where you’re going, so they can contact you in an emergency.
- Visit your GP – discuss your travel plans and get the relevant vaccinations. You may even need a medical certificate confirming you’re fit to travel.
- Research your destination – consider the foods, cultures and climates of the places your visiting. Know what to avoid, particularly while pregnant.
- Pack correctly – pack clothes that take your changing shape into account and keep you comfortable.
Vaccinations for pregnant women
As a pregnant woman, you are at risk of serious complications if you contract malaria or viral hepatitis E. Certain standard vaccinations can also be harmful to your baby when you’re pregnant. We recommend you get in touch with your doctor before you travel to ensure you have the right vaccinations for your trip. Nothing is more important than protecting the health of you and your baby.
Travel tips for pregnancy
Planning a trip requires preparation and even more so if you're expecting a baby. Have a read of our expert tips for travelling while pregnant to help you navigate through the planning process. We've also put together some information about land and sea travel while pregnant by Dr Charlotte Elder - be sure to check it out!
Enjoy the journey
Being pregnant is an incredible journey. You may want to squeeze in one last holiday before your little one arrives. To give you comfort and peace of mind, consider taking out pregnancy travel insurance from Cover-More. Get a quote online so you can get on with enjoying this precious time in your life.