If you’re pregnant and planning a trip abroad, pregnancy travel insurance will no doubt be at the top of your checklist. But before you’ve even booked your holiday, many women will be concerned about whether they can fly, so let’s start there.
Can I fly while pregnant?
Flying while pregnant is a decision for mum and doctor; if your doctor or obstetrician gives you the green light to fly then you can.
According to the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, the safest time for pregnant women to fly is before 37 weeks if carrying one baby, or 32 weeks if carrying twins.
After this stage, there’s a chance you could go into labour, so it’s best to avoid going too far from home.
If you’re still hoping to travel, it's important to speak to your doctor or midwife and check it’s safe. They may advise against it if you have had any complications with your pregnancy.
If you’re over 28 weeks pregnant, the airline may ask to see a letter from your midwife or doctor. Some airlines have their own restrictions in place so it’s best to check their websites before you book.
Covid-19 - what our travel insurance covers
Our travel insurance now covers you for certain events related to Coronavirus (COVID-19), provided you have proof of a positive Covid-19 test and your cover is active at the time of the event.
What we cover
We provide cover for some costs related to Covid-19: please see Section 1 'emergency medical costs and repatriation' and Section 2 'cancelling or cutting short your trip' in your policy book for full details on what's covered.
We'll cover you if:
- you were diagnosed with Covid-19 before your trip was due to start
- a close relative died or became seriously ill as a result of Covid-19 before your trip was due to start
- you weren't allowed to board your pre-booked outbound travel due to symptoms of Covid-19
- an insured person or a close relative died during the trip because of Covid-19
- you couldn't take part in an excursion due to you self-isolating after getting Covid-19
What we don’t cover
You won't be covered if:
- you had reason to believe your trip may be cancelled, postponed or cut short when you booked it, purchased your policy or started your trip
- any government or public authority imposes travel restrictions or quarantine on a community, location, or vessel because of Covid-19 (this includes, but is not limited to, local lockdowns, entry requirements, being denied entry and airspace closures)
- you have to quarantine after arriving in the UK or abroad
- the Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) change their advice to avoid ‘all travel’ or ‘all but essential travel’ to your destination because of Covid-19
For more information about how Coronavirus (COVID-19) affects your travel cover, see our FAQ page. And remember to check the policy booklet carefully before you buy to make sure our cover meets your needs.
What does Pregnancy Travel Insurance cover?
Admiral Travel Insurance covers emergency medical treatment costs and repatriation as standard. Our Platinum level of cover is up to £20 million, while other levels of cover are available too.
We only cover complications of pregnancy and childbirth outside the UK (as described in the ‘Definitions’ section of our policy wording).
That means you aren't covered for routine medical care such as check-ups, pre-natal care, normal childbirth and post-natal care. We only cover premature birth more than eight weeks (or 16 weeks if you have twins, triplets or other multiple pregnancies) before the due date.
There’s also no cover if:
- the transport carrier denies you boarding
- you choose to travel against medical advice
Three levels of Pregnancy Travel Insurance
Read the full list of benefits in the policy summary booklet.
Not all insurers will cover pregnancy after a certain stage when it’s more likely you could have a normal birth, which isn’t considered a medical emergency.
What stage this is, and the medical care that’s covered, varies from insurer to insurer so check this thoroughly before taking out your travel insurance.
Is pregnancy a medical condition for travel insurance?
Whether you need to declare your pregnancy depends on your insurer's guidelines. For Admiral Travel Insurance, pregnancy isn't considered a pre-existing condition, so there's no need to tell us before you travel.
You also don't need to declare any complications you have with your pregnancy when buying your policy. But you will need to declare it if the complication continues post pregnancy: for example, gestational diabetes becoming normal ongoing diabetes.
What happens if I go into labour abroad?
At the early signs of labour, you should try to stay calm and go to the nearest hospital as soon as possible. If it’s a medical emergency, please call us immediately so we can help - +44 (0)292 010 7777.
If you’re planning to have your baby abroad, you’ll need to speak to your doctor in the UK first. You’ll also need to apply for a Maternity S2 to cover the costs of your care because most policies don’t cover planned overseas births.
Be aware lots of airlines won’t allow new-borns on flights until they’re two-weeks-old, or even longer for premature babies. Have a plan in place if you need to stay away longer than expected and ask the airline when you’ll be able to fly home.
What if I have a pre-existing condition?
A pre-existing condition is a short or long term illness or injury you have or have had before you buy travel insurance. This includes having symptoms, tests, diagnosis or medical treatment for a condition.
You can declare your pre-existing conditions during the quote process to see if we can offer cover. If you’re unsure what needs to be declared or if you're unable to find your condition on the medical conditions list, please contact us on 0333 234 9913.
Your pre-existing conditions won’t be covered unless you’ve:
- Declared them all on your policy
- Received written confirmation that we’ll cover your medical condition
- Paid any additional premium in full
Policy terms and conditions apply. Please note, if you’ve had a positive diagnosis of Covid-19 and been prescribed medication, received treatment, or had a consultation with a doctor or hospital specialist for any medical condition in the past two years, this needs to be declared on your policy.
If you don’t tell us about your pre-existing conditions or give us incorrect information, your policy may be invalid, and we may refuse all or part of any claim you submit.
For a quote with us, click the green button above.
The MoneyHelper directory
If you require cover for more serious medical conditions, MoneyHelper may be able to help you find specialist travel insurance through their medical directory.
If you wish to get in touch with them you can call them on 0800 138 7777 or find them online. (Monday to Friday 8:00-18:00, closed on Saturday, Sunday and bank holidays.)
Things to check before travelling while pregnant
Safe travelAsk your doctor if it’s safe to travel before you book your holiday and again as close to the day you’re travelling as possible |
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VaccinationsAsk your doctor if you need any anti-malarial medication or vaccinations for your destination. |
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Advised against destinationsThe NHS strongly advises pregnant women to avoid visiting any countries with Zika virus. The government website lists has A-Z of countries affected by Zika. |
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Healthcare facilitiesYou many want to investigate what the hospitals and healthcare facilities are like in your chosen resort. |
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GHIC and EHICIf you’re travelling in Europe it’s always worth carrying a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) if it’s still in date or otherwise the new Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC). It’s important to remember these aren't a replacement for travel insurance as some countries in the EU don’t accept the GHIC or EHIC. For more information see our European Travel Insurance page. |
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Travel companyIf you booked your trip through an agency or you’re going on an organised cruise, check with the company that you’re able to travel while pregnant. They often have tighter restrictions in place than airlines. If you’re going on a cruise, you’ll need to add Admiral Cruise Insurance upgrade to your policy to be fully covered while you’re on board |
Your questions answered
Do you need special travel insurance when pregnant?
Admiral single trip and annual travel insurances cover pregnancy and you won’t pay more for your cover as it’s not considered a pre-existing medical condition. You’ll get the standard cover for things like:
- Lost luggage
- Travel disruption
- Lost or stolen belongings
But we’ll also cover the costs of any emergency medical treatment you receive as the result of complications during your pregnancy.
Do I have to declare I’m pregnant on travel insurance?
Pregnancy is not considered a pre-existing medical condition so you don’t need to let us know before you fly. You should let us know about any conditions relating to your pregnancy to make sure you’re properly covered.
Can I fly after 32 weeks?
This is up to you and your doctor to decide – if it’s safe for you to do so and your doctor says it’s OK then you can fly. In terms of insurance, with Admiral you’re covered up to 40 weeks, but we strongly advise you get medical permission to fly in later stages of pregnancy.
There's no cover for the costs of natural labour and childbirth. We only cover premature birth more than eight weeks (or 16 weeks if you have twins, triplets or other multiple pregnancies) before the due date.
I’ve just found out I’m pregnant and I don’t wish to travel. Am I covered?
No, you won’t be able to claim for cancellation if you became pregnant after you took out your policy or booked your trip (whichever is later).
We don’t cover you if a doctor advised you not to travel (where there are no complications of pregnancy or childbirth), unless you couldn’t change your trip and can provide written confirmation of this from your travel provider.
Does being pregnant affect my insurance?
For Admiral Travel Insurance, pregnancy isn’t considered a pre-existing condition, so there's no need to tell us before you travel.
You also don’t need to declare any complications you have with your pregnancy when buying your policy. But you will need to declare it if the complication continues post pregnancy: for example, gestational diabetes becomes normal ongoing diabetes.
We will only cover complications of pregnancy and childbirth outside the UK(as described in the ‘Definitions’ section of our policy wording) so you aren't covered for routine medical care such as check-ups, pre-natal care, normal childbirth and post-natal care.
We only cover premature birth more than eight weeks (or 16 weeks if you have twins, triplets or other multiple pregnancies) before the due date.
There’s also no cover if the carrier denies you boarding, or if you choose to travel against medical advice.
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