Does travel insurance cover pregnancy?

Certain cover is available if you are pregnant

We cover for your unexpected serious complications of pregnancy and childbirth that occur:

Up to the end of the 23rd week of pregnancy if you are pregnant with a single child; or
Up to the end of the 19th week of pregnancy if you are pregnant with twins or multiple children.

However, if you have a pregnancy condition, which we describe in the next section, you may need to do a medical screening.

What is a Pregnancy Condition?

By way of basic overview, we do not cover any claims under the policy benefits arising from any of your pregnancy conditions that existed during:

the period of 3 years prior to your policy issue date; or
the period between the time of your policy issue date and the date of departure for your trip (other than for a claim under Benefit 5: Trip Cancellation Expenses, relating to the cancellation or rescheduling of your trip between the time of your policy issue date and the date of departure for your trip.

unless we agree to list the relevant Pregnancy Condition as covered on your certificate of insurance.

If any changes to health occur including new pregnancy, after we have listed any Pregnancy Condition as covered and before the date of departure for your trip, the cover for those listed conditions is automatically excluded from that time unless you undertake an additional medical screening and we agree to list them as covered.

A Pregnancy Condition means you are pregnant and any of the following circumstances apply to you:

You are experiencing complications with this pregnancy that fall within the definition of Complications of pregnancy and childbirth (see below), or
You experienced complications with any previous pregnancy that fall within the definition of Complications of pregnancy and childbirth (see below), or
You are having multiple children (e.g. twins, triplets or more), or
Your conception was medically assisted (e.g. hormone therapy or IVF).

Complications of Pregnancy and Childbirth

Any condition you have been diagnosed with or treated for in the past or any secondary diagnosis, occurring prior to, during the course of, concurrent with, or as a result of the pregnancy, which may adversely affect the pregnancy outcome including but not limited to the following:

Toxemia (toxins in the blood)
Gestational diabetes (diabetes arising because of pregnancy)
Gestational hypertension (high blood pressure arising because of pregnancy)
Pre-eclampsia (where you develop high blood pressure, carry abnormal fluid and have protein in your urine during the second half of pregnancy)
Ectopic pregnancy (a pregnancy that develops outside of the uterus)
Molar pregnancy or hydatidiform mole (a pregnancy in which a tumour develops from the placental tissue)
Post-partum haemorrhage (excessive bleeding following childbirth)
Retained placenta membrane (part or all the placenta is left behind in the uterus after delivery)
Placental abruption (part or all the placenta separates from the wall of the uterus)
Hyperemesis gravidarum (excessive vomiting because of pregnancy)
Placenta previa (when the placenta is in the lower part of the uterus and covers part or all the cervix)
Stillbirth
Miscarriage
Emergency caesarean section
A termination needed for medical reasons

Exclusions to our medical condition cover

Non-listed Medical Condition Exclusion

We will not cover any claims arising from any of your Medical Conditions or Pregnancy Condition that existed during the period:

of 3 years prior to your policy issue date; and
between the time of your policy issue date and the date of departure for your trip, other than for a claim under Benefit 5: Trip Cancellation Expenses, relating to the cancellation or rescheduling of your trip between the time of your policy issue date and the date of departure for your trip,

which are:

not listed as a covered condition in your Certificate of Insurance,
listed as an excluded condition in your Certificate of Insurance, or
listed as a covered condition in your Certificate of Insurance but changes in health have occurred after this time and before the earlier of the time your trip starts, unless:
1. you complete a new Medical Screening after the changes in health occur, and
2. we agree otherwise before the earlier of the date of departure for your trip or the time of the claim. This does not apply to a claim under Cover Benefit 5: Trip Cancellation Expenses relating to the cancellation or rescheduling of your trip which occurs between the issue date of your policy and the date of departure for your trip.

Medical Conditions that are never covered

In addition to the Medical Conditions or Pregnancy Conditions that we can't cover above, you should also be aware of other exclusions that may impact the policy you purchase.

In particular, we can’t offer cover for, and it’s not possible to complete a medical screening for, any of the following:

Routine medical, dental, chiropractor, physiotherapist or prenatal check-ups and visits, even if your medical condition is approved for cover by us following a medical screening,
Cosmetic treatments, or for any complications or other claims arising from such procedures or treatments, even if your medical condition is approved for cover by us following a medical screening,
Medical treatment undertaken against the advice of any medical practitioner,
Travel undertaken to seek medical advice, treatment, review or clinical trials,
Planned medical procedures or other non-emergency medical treatments or for any complications or other claims arising from such procedures or treatments, even if your medical condition is approved for cover by us following a medical screening,
Undiagnosed conditions where you were aware of, or a reasonable person in your circumstances reasonably should have been aware of:
1. the change, signs or symptoms (including but not limited to: pain or discomfort anywhere on your body, persistent cough, chest pain, shortness of breath or unexplained bleeding), or
2. the change and had not sought medical opinion, or
3. was advised by your medical practitioner that the cause cannot be defined and/or it is still under investigation.

If any of the above apply to you, and you require cover for your trip, you may wish to contact the Insurance Council of Australia to assist you in finding a specialist travel insurer who may be able to cover your condition.

Check out our Medical Conditions page for more information about:

What we consider to be an existing medical condition,
Medical screening for your existing medical and pregnancy conditions, and
Information about the General Exclusions that may apply*.

Cover is subject to the policy terms, conditions, limits and exclusions in the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS).

Please note: any advice is general advice only and has not taken into account your individual objectives, financial situation or needs. Consider the PDS prior to deciding whether this policy is right for you.