If you’re pregnant and planning a trip abroad, pregnancy travel insurance will no doubt be at the top of your checklist. But before you’ve even booked your holiday, many women will be concerned about whether they can fly, so let’s start there.
Can I fly while pregnant?
Flying while pregnant is a decision for mum and doctor; if your doctor or obstetrician gives you the green light to fly then you can.
According to the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, the safest time for pregnant women to fly is before 37 weeks if carrying one baby, or 32 weeks if carrying twins.
After this stage, there’s a chance you could go into labour, so it’s best to avoid going too far from home.
If you’re still hoping to travel, it's important to speak to your doctor or midwife and check it’s safe. They may advise against it if you have had any complications with your pregnancy.
If you’re over 28 weeks pregnant, the airline may ask to see a letter from your midwife or doctor. Some airlines have their own restrictions in place so it’s best to check their websites before you book.
Covid-19 - what our travel insurance covers
Our travel insurance now covers you for certain events related to Coronavirus (COVID-19), provided you have proof of a positive Covid-19 test and your cover is active at the time of the event.
What we cover
- Emergency medical and repatriation costs if you become ill with COVID-19 while abroad and must self-isolate
- Trip cancellation if you are diagnosed with COVID-19 within 14 days of your trip departure
- Cutting short your trip because you're denied boarding on your pre-booked outbound travel due to symptoms of COVID-19
- Trip cancellation because of the hospitalisation or death of a close relative due to Covid-19 within the 14 days prior to your trip departure
- You can't continue with a pre-booked because you contracted Covid-19 while on your trip
- Cutting short your trip due to your death or the death of a close relative from Covid-19
What we don’t cover
- If you had reason to believe your trip may be cancelled, postponed or cut short when you booked it, purchased your policy or started your trip.
- Cancelling, cutting short your trip or being unable to continue with a trip or pre-booked excursion because you're required to self-isolate due to the potential exposure to Covid-19 except for reasons specified
- If you travel against Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) advice. You will need to check the travel advice for all countries you visit or will transit through
- Cancelling or cutting short your trip due to the FCDO changing its advice regarding your destination or countries you will transit through due to COVID-19
- Costs incurred as a result of a local outbreak of COVID-19 that meant you couldn't stay in your pre-booked accommodation or vessel
- Due to travel restrictions or quarantine imposed by any government or public authority, including local lockdowns, being denied entry and compulsory entry requirements
For more information about how Coronavirus (COVID-19) affects your travel cover, see our FAQ page. And remember to check the policy booklet carefully before you buy to make sure our cover meets your needs.
What does Pregnancy Travel Insurance cover?
Admiral Pregnancy Travel Insurance covers emergency medical treatment costs and repatriation as standard, up to £20million depending on the level of cover chosen.
We’ll only cover complications of pregnancy and childbirth abroad (as described in the ‘Definitions’ section of our policy wording). This includes treatment needed due to complications resulting from a pregnancy such as an emergency caesarean up until 40 weeks.
There’s no cover for routine medical care such as check-ups, pre-natal care, the costs of natural labour and childbirth after 32 weeks (or 24 weeks in the case of twins or multiples) or post-natal care. There’s also no cover if the carrier denies you boarding.
Three levels of Pregnancy Travel Insurance
Read the full list of benefits in the policy summary booklet.
Not all insurers will cover pregnancy after a certain stage when it’s more likely you could have a normal birth, which isn’t considered a medical emergency.
What stage this is, and the medical care that’s covered, varies from insurer to insurer so check this thoroughly before taking out your travel insurance.
Is pregnancy a medical condition for travel insurance?
Whether you need to declare your pregnancy depends on your insurer’s guidelines. For Admiral Travel Insurance, pregnancy isn’t considered a pre-existing medical condition, so there's no need to tell us before you travel.
However, make sure you tell us about any medical conditions you have because of your pregnancy, such as:
- Gestational diabetes
- High blood pressure
If you don't tell us, you might not be covered should you need medical assistance.
What happens if I go into labour abroad?
At the early signs of labour, you should try to stay calm and go to the nearest hospital as soon as possible. If it’s a medical emergency, please call us immediately so we can help - +44 (0)292 010 7777.
If you’re planning to have your baby abroad, you’ll need to speak to your doctor in the UK first. You’ll also need to apply for a Maternity S2 to cover the costs of your care because most policies don’t cover planned overseas births.
Be aware lots of airlines won’t allow new-borns on flights until they’re two-weeks-old, or even longer for premature babies. Have a plan in place if you need to stay away longer than expected and ask the airline when you’ll be able to fly home.
What if I have a pre-existing medical condition?
A pre-existing medical condition is a short or long term illness or injury you have or have had before you buy travel insurance. This includes having symptoms, tests, diagnosis or medical treatment for a condition.
You can declare your pre-existing medical conditions during the quote process to see if we can offer cover. If you’re unsure what needs to be declared or if you're unable to find your condition on the medical conditions list, please contact us on 0333 234 9913.
Your pre-existing medical conditions won’t be covered unless you’ve:
- Declared them all on your policy
- Received written confirmation that we’ll cover your medical condition
- Paid any additional premium in full
Policy terms and conditions apply. Please note, if you’ve had a positive diagnosis of Covid-19 and been prescribed medication, received treatment, or had a consultation with a doctor or hospital specialist for any medical condition in the past two years, this needs to be declared on your policy.
If you don’t tell us about your pre-existing medical conditions or give us incorrect information, your policy may be invalid, and we may refuse all or part of any claim you submit.
For a quote with us, click the green button above.
The MoneyHelper directory
If you require cover for more serious medical conditions, MoneyHelper may be able to help you find specialist travel insurance through their medical directory.
If you wish to get in touch with them you can call them on 0800 138 7777 or find them online. (Monday to Friday 8:00-18:00, closed on Saturday, Sunday and bank holidays.)
Things to check before travelling while pregnant
Safe travelAsk your doctor if it’s safe to travel before you book your holiday and again as close to the day you’re travelling as possible |
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VaccinationsAsk your doctor if you need any anti-malarial medication or vaccinations for your destination. |
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Advised against destinationsThe NHS strongly advises pregnant women to avoid visiting any countries with Zika virus. The government website lists has A-Z of countries affected by Zika. |
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Healthcare facilitiesYou many want to investigate what the hospitals and healthcare facilities are like in your chosen resort. |
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GHIC and EHICIf you’re travelling in Europe it’s always worth carrying a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) if it’s still in date or otherwise the new Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC). It’s important to remember these aren't a replacement for travel insurance as some countries in the EU don’t accept the GHIC or EHIC. For more information see our European Travel Insurance page. |
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Travel companyIf you booked your trip through an agency or you’re going on an organised cruise, check with the company that you’re able to travel while pregnant. They often have tighter restrictions in place than airlines. If you’re going on a cruise, you’ll need to add Admiral Cruise Insurance upgrade to your policy to be fully covered while you’re on board |
Your questions answered
Do you need special travel insurance when pregnant?
Admiral single trip and annual travel insurances cover pregnancy and you won’t pay more for your cover as it’s not considered a pre-existing medical condition. You’ll get the standard cover for things like:
- Lost luggage
- Travel disruption
- Lost or stolen belongings
But we’ll also cover the costs of any emergency medical treatment you receive as the result of complications during your pregnancy.
Do I have to declare I’m pregnant on travel insurance?
Pregnancy is not considered a pre-existing medical condition so you don’t need to let us know before you fly. You should let us know about any conditions relating to your pregnancy to make sure you’re properly covered.
Can I fly after 32 weeks?
This is up to you and your doctor to decide – if it’s safe for you to do so and your doctor says it’s OK then you can fly. In terms of insurance, with Admiral you’re covered up to 40 weeks, but we strongly advise you get medical permission to fly in later stages of pregnancy. There's no cover for the costs of natural labour and childbirth after 32 weeks, or 24 weeks in the case of twins or multiples
I’ve just found out I’m pregnant and I don’t wish to travel. Am I covered?
No, you'll only be able to claim for cancellation due to pregnancy if your doctor advises against travel due to specific medical complications.
Take a look at our Travel Insurance and Pregnancy page for more information.
Does being pregnant affect my insurance?
Pregnancy isn’t considered a pre-existing medical condition, so there’s no need to tell us before you travel.
However, make sure you tell us about any medical conditions you have because of your pregnancy, such as gestational diabetes or high blood pressure. If you don’t, you might not be covered should you need medical assistance.
We will only cover complications of pregnancy and childbirth abroad (as described in the ‘Definitions’ section of our policy wording) so you aren't covered for routine medical care such as check-ups, pre-natal care, normal childbirth and post-natal care. There is also no cover if the carrier denies you boarding.
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