A simple guide to travel insurance for pregnant women

Yes, you can!
The best time to travel during pregnancy is in the second trimester, around weeks 12 to 28. By this stage, most expectant mothers have adjusted physically, and discomfort tends to be minimal. However, it’s still important to undergo a prenatal check-up before departure. Some airlines may require a doctor’s certificate issued within the last 7 to 10 days before allowing a pregnant passenger to board.

Whether you're flying or traveling by car, it’s recommended that pregnant women stand up and move around every 30 minutes to 1 hour. This helps promote blood circulation and reduces the risk of blood clots and venous thromboembolism.

Some studies have shown that taking ten flights from Toronto to Frankfurt can expose the fetus to over 1 millisievert (mSv) of radiation — exceeding the recommended limit. Therefore, it’s advisable to limit air travel during pregnancy to no more than four times.

No, you shouldn’t!
Traveling during early pregnancy (the first 12 weeks) is not recommended, as the body is still unstable and symptoms like nausea and vomiting are common. This period also carries a higher risk of bleeding and miscarriage. Similarly, late pregnancy (after 28 weeks) often brings fatigue and increases the risk of premature labor, making it an unsuitable time to travel as well.

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The medical certificate should ideally be written in English and must include the following information:

• Whether the pregnancy is single or multiple

• Current gestational age (weeks of pregnancy)

• Expected due date

• Confirmation that the pregnant woman is in good health and that the fetus is developing normally without any complications

• A clear statement that she is fit to travel by air

It depends. If you already have a personal global health insurance plan with maternity coverage, you're likely covered for maternity-related costs worldwide — including childbirth and newborn care. However, some plans exclude coverage in the United States.

On the other hand, travel insurance tends to come with more restrictions. In general, pregnant women receive the same travel insurance benefits as other travelers: emergency medical expenses, emergency evacuation, personal liability, lost or stolen baggage, and trip cancellation — but these come with specific terms, conditions, and exclusions.

Yes, most travel insurance plans cover emergency medical expenses related to unexpected complications of pregnancy. These might include miscarriage, gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia, placenta previa, and other conditions — but only up to a certain point in the pregnancy, and within the policy limits.

In most cases, no. Since pregnancy and normal childbirth are not considered unforeseen events or illnesses, standard travel insurance typically excludes them from coverage. Almost all insurers treat normal childbirth as an exclusion. If you give birth while abroad, you’ll likely have to pay the related costs yourself.

Yes. Your travel insurance may cover your newborn, up to the policy’s benefit limits, whether the birth was premature or involved complications. However, it’s important to note that premature babies should not fly before their due date, which means you may need to extend your stay — increasing accommodation and living costs.

Tip for pregnant travelers: Choose a policy that includes family coverage. These policies often cover the costs of premature birth, such as meals, extended hotel stays, and essential baby items.

Most travel insurers only cover emergency pregnancy-related expenses up to 20 weeks of gestation, depending on the terms and conditions. This means if you travel after 20 weeks of pregnancy, you likely won’t be able to claim for childbirth or trip cancellation due to pregnancy.

Insurance may cover trip cancellations due to unexpected complications, such as gestational diabetes or preterm labor. However, if your situation falls outside the covered gestational period (e.g., after week 20 or the policy’s cutoff), and you’re denied boarding, most insurers will not compensate you.

The most important thing to remember is that policy terms can vary greatly between insurance providers. While there isn’t a travel insurance plan specifically designed for pregnancy, you can often customize certain policies to include the coverage that matters most to you.

If you truly want a stress-free holiday while pregnant, make sure your policy covers unexpected events — including premature birth, medical costs related to delivery, and any additional expenses due to changes in your return trip caused by early labor.

The safest option is to purchase a global maternity insurance plan, which can cover a wide range of pregnancy-related costs — including prenatal and postnatal care, medically indicated C-sections, normal childbirth, complications, fertility treatments, and newborn care.