Yes, you can travel while pregnant with CoverForYou travel insurance, provided you meet the policy's conditions and any travel restrictions imposed by your airline or other transport provider.
Our travel insurance can cover eligible unforeseen pregnancy complications, but it does not cover normal pregnancy, routine maternity care or normal childbirth expenses.
No. Pregnancy itself is not considered a medical condition and does not need to be declared when purchasing your policy.
Under our current medical screening guidance, you also do not need to declare:
Pregnancy itself.
IVF (in vitro fertilisation) treatment solely because you have undergone it.
A previous miscarriage solely because it occurred.
Pregnancy-related conditions that meet the applicable exemption rules.
However, you must still declare any separate pre-existing medical conditions that require medical screening.
If you have a known pregnancy complication or an ongoing medical condition, contact us if you're unsure what needs to be declared.
The policy recognises the following pregnancy complications:
Toxaemia.
Gestational hypertension.
Gestational diabetes.
Pre-eclampsia.
Ectopic pregnancy.
Molar pregnancy.
Post-partum haemorrhage.
Retained placenta membrane.
Placental abruption.
Hyperemesis gravidarum.
Placenta praevia.
Stillbirth.
Miscarriage.
Termination for medical reasons.
Premature birth more than 8 weeks before the expected delivery date, or more than 16 weeks before the expected delivery date for a known multiple pregnancy.
These are the pregnancy complications defined in the current CoverForYou Direct policy wording.
Being diagnosed with a pregnancy complication does not automatically guarantee a claim will be paid. Cover depends on when the complication developed, whether it was already known, and the applicable policy terms.
You may still be able to obtain travel insurance if you have an existing pregnancy complication.
However:
Cancellation claims arising directly or indirectly from a complication already known when you purchased your policy or booked your trip, whichever was later, are not covered under the current guidance.
A fit-to-fly letter is required under our current pregnancy guidance where you travel with a known pregnancy complication.
You must still be medically fit to travel and meet the policy's other conditions.
If you're uncertain whether your complication affects your cover, contact us before travelling.
If you develop an unforeseen pregnancy complication after purchasing your policy and booking your trip, you may be covered if the complication means you are medically unable to travel.
For example, this could include a new diagnosis of:
Pre-eclampsia.
Placenta praevia.
Another pregnancy complication recognised by the policy.
You may need medical evidence confirming that you're unfit to travel.
Cancellation cover is not automatic. Claims are assessed against the insured cancellation reasons, known-circumstances exclusions and other policy conditions.
Eligible emergency medical treatment may be covered if you experience an unforeseen illness, injury or pregnancy complication while travelling.
This can include necessary emergency hospital treatment and associated medical expenses, subject to the policy.
However, our travel insurance does not cover routine or planned maternity care, including:
Routine antenatal appointments.
Routine pregnancy scans.
Normal childbirth expenses.
Medication you knew you would need before travelling.
Treatment that can reasonably wait until you return home.
If you need emergency medical attention abroad, seek appropriate local treatment immediately and contact our Emergency Medical Assistance Service as soon as possible.
Emergency Medical Assistance: +44 (0)330 123 2370
Available: 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Premature birth is recognised as a pregnancy complication only where it meets the policy's definition:
Pregnancy Type | Definition of Premature Birth |
|---|---|
Single pregnancy | More than 8 weeks before the expected delivery date |
Known multiple pregnancy | More than 16 weeks before the expected delivery date |
For a pregnancy with an expected 40-week delivery date, these thresholds broadly correspond to a birth before 32 weeks for a single pregnancy and before 24 weeks for a multiple pregnancy.
However, the policy uses the expected delivery date, rather than a universal gestational-week cut-off, to define a qualifying premature birth.
A birth outside these thresholds does not qualify as a premature birth under this definition.
Normal childbirth is not covered simply because it occurs while you are abroad.
Other unforeseen pregnancy complications may still be considered separately under the policy.
If you give birth while abroad, your baby will automatically be covered under your CoverForYou travel insurance for the remainder of your trip, provided the mother's cover remains valid.
If you give birth prematurely or either you or your baby requires emergency medical treatment, contact our Emergency Medical Assistance Service as soon as possible.
Emergency Medical Assistance: +44 (0)330 123 2370
Available: 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Any claims remain subject to the policy terms, conditions and applicable benefit limits.
Important: All cover is subject to the policy terms, conditions, exclusions, cover limits and any applicable excess.
You may be able to travel later in pregnancy, provided you are medically fit and your transport provider permits it.
However, the policy definition of premature birth means that normal childbirth and births outside the qualifying premature-birth thresholds are not covered as childbirth expenses.
This does not necessarily mean that every other unrelated insured event stops being covered after 32 weeks, or after 24 weeks for a multiple pregnancy.
Other eligible unforeseen medical emergencies or pregnancy complications may still be considered under the policy.
You must also comply with your airline's or other transport provider's pregnancy restrictions.
Your airline may require a fit-to-fly letter, particularly later in pregnancy.
Many airlines request medical confirmation after approximately 28 weeks, although their requirements differ.
Under our current pregnancy guidance, you will also need a fit-to-fly letter if you have a known pregnancy complication and intend to travel.
Before departure:
Check your airline's pregnancy and fit-to-fly requirements.
Speak with your doctor or midwife if you have concerns about your fitness to travel.
Obtain any required medical documentation.
Check that your planned travel dates comply with your transport provider's restrictions.
You must not travel against medical advice or the health requirements imposed by your carrier.
NHS — Travelling During Pregnancy
Pregnancy-related medical conditions may need to be declared if they continue or are expected to continue after the pregnancy.
Under our current medical screening guidance, a pregnancy-related condition that continues or is expected to continue for more than six months after the pregnancy ends must be declared.
For example, if gestational diabetes continues and you subsequently receive a diagnosis of diabetes, you may need to declare the ongoing condition.
If you're unsure whether a condition needs to be declared, contact our Medical Screening Team.
Telephone: 0203 137 8981
A previous miscarriage does not itself need to be declared under our current screening guidance.
However, any separate underlying medical condition requiring screening must still be declared.
If you develop a new illness or complication after purchasing your policy, any resulting claim will be assessed against the policy's medical and cancellation provisions.
If you're pregnant or planning a pregnancy, check the latest health and travel advice for your destination, including any Zika virus warnings.
Check the latest FCDO travel advice
Travel against FCDO advice may affect your insurance.
If a medical practitioner advises that you're unfit to travel, you may be eligible to make a cancellation claim, depending on your circumstances and the policy conditions.
A general preference not to travel, without an insured reason for cancellation, does not automatically create a valid claim.
Important: All cover is subject to the policy terms, conditions, exclusions, cover limits and any applicable excess.
