World First remind expectant mums with foreign travel plans they need travel insurance cover for their pregnancy

18 March 2011 09:19

Profile of a pregnant woman

Many pregnant women take the opportunity for one last nappy free holiday before their baby is born. To avoid disappointment travel insurance specialist World First Travel Insurance advises mums-to-be not to leave it too late.

By the time you are 27 weeks pregnant, travelling gets a lot more complicated with many travel insurers reluctant to give cover. But pregnancy travel insurance is well worth getting if you weigh it up against the costs you might incur if you have to cancel your trip because of your pregnancy or need visit a foreign hospital for medical treatment during your holiday.

Martin Rothwell, Managing Partner of World First Travel Insurance says, "As travel insurance specialists we offer expert guidance to ensure World First policies provide great cover for mums-to-be during the full term of their pregnancy and for a range of circumstances that can arise from pregnancy."

World First Travel Insurance offers the following advice: As pregnant women are considered relatively high risk, generally most insurers will offer cover providing you return from your trip at least eight weeks before your due date. However, some insurers have an even lower threshold and won’t insure for pregnancy related incidents beyond 26 or 27 weeks. World First travel insurance will cover you to travel at all stages of pregnancy so long as there have been no complications with the current or any previous pregnancy and you are allowed to board your flight. If you are used to travelling frequently and already have an annual travel insurance policy, you should check the terms of the policy and call your insurer to advise them of your change in circumstances.

Most airlines are happy to carry pregnant women up to 26 or 27 weeks of pregnancy. After that, when the risk of going into labour increases, they may require a letter from your doctor stating you are fit to travel and confirming your due date. But each airline has its own set of rules and a cut off point, so it's important to tell your booking agent that you are pregnant and how far along you are. And remember that you will need to make sure your trip ends within the permitted timescales. If you are booking with an agent they will be able to make sure your chosen airline will allow you to fly. If you are booking online, check the airline's website, as most mention pregnancy.

Travel insurance policies generally exclude all claims under the policy if you are denied boarding for any reason including pregnancy and most other pre-existing medical conditions. Martin warns, "The most frequent problem we encounter is women planning or travelling after the deadline provided by the airline; they can find themselves being turned away at the airport and stranded. If that is outside of the EHIC reciprocal area it could prove to be financially catastrophic as the cost of confinement in a private hospital in Turkey for example is going to be little short of £10000."

When you go on a package holiday a charter flight is usually included in the price. It's not always obvious which airline is being used. Discuss your pregnancy with your holiday company so they can advise you about the airline and the regulations it has in place. Regardless of the guidance obtained, it is always worth obtaining a letter confirming you are fit to fly from your Doctor of Mid Wife and if you are travelling in the later stages, take your baby bag on holiday with you just in case junior decides to join you whilst on holiday.