Pregnancy and travel insurance: we answer your questions!

Am I eligible for travel insurance?

Most insurers agree to cover pregnant women provided the pregnancy is going smoothly. If you’re pregnant when you take out a travel insurance policy and your pregnancy is proceeding normally, you can be covered. However, coverage is generally limited to the first 31 or 32 weeks of pregnancy, meaning that your pregnancy and any related complications will no longer be covered starting in the 32nd or 33rd week.

Is there a risk in travelling while pregnant?

Pregnancy isn’t an illness, and nothing prevents you from roaming the world while you wait for the baby’s arrival. But some precautions should be taken. Make an appointment with your doctor, and take into account the advice you receive. The doctor can determine whether it’s risky for you to travel and point out any contraindications regarding your chosen destination. For example, pregnant women should avoid certain vaccinations and are at greater risk of developing infections, suffering from blood clots or reacting to changes in atmospheric pressure. It’s a good idea to keep active, to pay careful attention to the quality of the water and food you consume and to avoid altitudes above 3,650 metres. In case of illness, some treatments prescribed for mothers may present risks to their babies. To learn more, consult this Government of Canada website.

Can I cancel my trip due to the Zika virus?

Zika is a virus transmitted by some mosquitoes. This virus can survive in the body for a couple of months. Though it’s harmless to most people, it can cause substantial damage to the fetus’s brain development. This is why women who are pregnant or who plan to become pregnant within two months of their trip should avoid going to destinations affected by the virus. Most hot countries are confronted with Zika, making it necessary to check before reserving your trip. If a notice has been issued for your chosen destination before the purchase date of your insurance policy, you won’t be covered if you decide to cancel, because this is a known and predictable factor. However, if a Zika risk develops at your destination between your time of purchase and your departure date, you may be reimbursed provided you have bought trip cancellation insurance.

I purchased my trip early in my pregnancy, but some fears have arisen, and I’m thinking of cancelling the whole thing. Will my travel costs be reimbursed?

Insurers do not regard fear of travel as a valid reason for cancellation.

• If you were in perfect health when you purchased your trip and a sudden medical condition prevents you from taking your trip abroad, your travel costs will be covered by your cancellation insurance since this is an unpredictable factor. You’ll need to contact your insurer as soon as possible.
• If your state of health required care at the time you bought your travel insurance, the insurer will assess your condition and set the terms of the policy accordingly.

If I give birth when at my destination, will my delivery and the care provided to my child be covered?

Insurers cover only the first 31 or 32 weeks of pregnancy, meaning you won’t be covered if you decide to travel between the 32nd or 33rd week and the 40th week of pregnancy. Also, even if your pregnancy is proceeding normally when you buy the travel insurance and you give birth prior to the 31 week while abroad, your delivery will be covered, but some insurers will not cover your newborn.

I’m travelling with my newborn. Is he or she covered?

Some travel insurance policies exclude newborns for a number of days after birth (usually the first 30 days). It’s better to check before you leave. If your child is eligible, he or she will be covered by the family travel insurance policy and will be subject to the same rules regarding pre-existing illnesses.