Traveling during pregnancy – can the insurance industry do more?

“It is still important to note that there will always be a limit, which for us is 32 weeks. There is agreement that the risk of going into labor is significantly higher from this point onwards. “For this reason, (in Europe) airlines will no longer accept pregnant travelers from this point onwards and it will be difficult for customers to find an insurer that will cover this.”

As part of its 32-week pregnancy cover, OneBefore offers a cancellation benefit for greater flexibility – giving a pregnant woman the option to cancel her trip for the following reasons:

• Your midwife or doctor doesn’t think it’s safe to travel
• The airline will not transport them
• You will be more than 28 weeks pregnant during your trip (approximately at the end of the second trimester, i.e. 27 weeks).

Should insurance coverage offer more flexibility?

Under UK law, pregnancy is classified as a protected characteristic, meaning you cannot be discriminated against by an insurer because of your pregnancy (as it is not technically a medical condition). However, for insurers, this means they cannot assess a pregnant person’s risk or change their premium based on increased risk.

How does the industry ensure there is not a one-size-fits-all approach to pregnancy travel coverage?

Saunders noted that insurance policies can vary greatly depending on the insurer, country, insurance product, mode of transportation and other variables.

“Different countries and regions have different industry standards and legal requirements that all insurers must take into account in their insurance coverage when developing products for a particular market,” she explained.

Travel insurance typically does not cover trip cancellations or other travel losses due to normal pregnancy. Therefore: “Customers remain obliged to follow their doctor’s instructions regarding travel to their destination and to adhere to their travel provider’s conditions of carriage.”

Saunders said that by carefully reviewing the terms and conditions of the contract to ensure they have the necessary insurance cover regardless of their location or destination, the customer can ensure they are adequately protected during their trip.

Lobel noted: “Most insurers must limit the time at which they offer medical coverage abroad. This is because the likelihood of going into labor after 32 weeks of pregnancy is significantly higher and cover is excluded for those actively seeking a birth outside the UK. Travel insurance, like all insurance, is designed to cover losses caused by unexpected events.”

Dr. Collier pointed out that the wording of policies available in the UK is often unclear about what would be covered in the event of a premature birth and is usually unclear whether repatriation of the newborn is included.

After some consideration, he said: “I think that most pregnant travelers would expect full coverage, including repatriation in the event of premature labor, but my many years of experience supporting families in this situation show that they often have many days or Even having to stay alone for weeks.” You have a baby in the hospital but have no clear indication of what your insurance covers and are worried that the hospital and repatriation costs could end up being your responsibility.

My many years of experience supporting families in this situation show that they often stay in the hospital with a baby for many days or even weeks, but have no clear indication of what their insurance covers