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International Pregnancy and Maternity Insurance
Pregnancy and maternity care varies worldwide and is dependent on which international medical insurance you choose. Purchasing International Health Insurance with maternity coverage early ensures access to quality medical care and avoids unforeseen insurance expenses.
Waiting Periods: Most international insurance plans that cover pregnancy have a 10-12 month waiting period for maternity benefits and require applicants not to be pregnant when applying. Planning ahead can reduce stress related to expenses.
Pregnancy Complications: Even low-risk pregnancies can have complications. These are medical conditions during pregnancy or childbirth. Find a plan that covers these complications for peace of mind.
Newborn Care: Newborn care is not standard with all plans and is limited to a specific number of days after delivery. It may include congenital conditions, lab work, health checks, vaccinations, and some doctor’s visits.
Congenital Conditions: Parents hope for a healthy baby, but congenital conditions like Down’s Syndrome, Spina Bifida, Cystic Fibrosis, and heart murmurs can occur. Understand what conditions are covered under your plan's newborn care and for how many days.
Insurance Exclusions: All international insurance plans have limitations and exclusions. Some plans don’t cover elective cesarean sections, only those recommended by a doctor. Infertility treatments and procedures like IVF are usually not covered. Understanding these clauses will help avoid surprises.
Decide beforehand how much coverage you want and seek out insurance policies that provide all of the benefits you can’t live without.
Here are some important tips to help you choose the best plan:
- What's Covered?: Make sure the plan covers things like pregnancy complications, childbirth, newborn care, and more.
- Know the Details: Read the fine print! Understand what the insurance does and doesn't cover.
- Customization: Can you add or change benefits? Look for a plan that lets you adjust things to fit your life better.
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The Top Insurance Companies for Pregnancy Abroad
The expat insurance providers with the best international insurance for pregnancy are VUMI, Allianz Care, AXA, and Cigna Global. All of these providers include worldwide coverage, routine maternity care, pregnancy and childbirth complications, insured c-sections, and newborn care.
Each of these providers is phenomenal, trustworthy, and beyond competent when it comes to securing maternity coverage for mothers and babies who are living around the globe.
VUMI Expat Maternity Insurance
VUMI offers a Global Flex Ultra plan and a Global Flex Total plan. This grants expats the choice to have routine maternity coverage for USD $15,000 or USD $20,000.
Allianz Care Expat Maternity Insurance
Allianz Care lets you choose between their inpatient plans: Care Pro, Care Plus, and Care, and their outpatient plans: Active Family, Active Pro, Active Plus, and Active. Our data in the following chart is for a combined Care Plus and Active Pro plan.
This combination provides pregnant women with USD $6,750 or USD $13,500 in routine maternity care. Allianz also offers plans with coverage for infertility treatment and breastfeeding consultation.
AXA Expat Maternity Insurance
AXA Global offers a Prestige plan and a Prestige Plus plan with routine maternity coverage of USD $16,000 and USD $19,200, respectively. Contact us to learn about all the maternity benefits offered by AXA international health plans.
Cigna Global Expat Maternity Insurance
Cigna Global has stellar Gold and Platinum insurance plans with inpatient routine maternity coverage up to USD $7,000 and USD $14,000, respectively. Cigna also offers coverage for congenital conditions, newborn care, and more.
The following chart compares some of the maternity benefits offered by these top pregnancy insurance providers for international expats. There may be multiple values in each field to display the various plans offered by that insurer.
Best Maternity Insurance Providers for Expats Living Abroad |
Coverage | VUMI | Allianz | AXA | Cigna |
Annual Limit | USD 4,500,000 or USD $5,000,000 | USD $4,000,000 | USD $3,200,000 or USD $8,000,000 | USD $2,000,000 or Unlimited |
Geographical Area Covered | Worldwide (Option to exclude US) | Worldwide (Option to exclude US) | Worldwide (Option to exclude US) | Worldwide (Option to exclude US) |
Waiting Period | 12 months | 10 or 18 months | 18 months | 24 months |
Inpatient Hospitalization | Covered | Covered | Covered | Covered |
Routine Maternity Care | USD $15,000 or USD $20,000 | USD $6,750 or USD $13,500 | USD $16,000 or USD $19,200 | IP: USD $7,000 or USD $14,000 Plus... OP: USD $3,500 or USD $7,000 |
Pregnancy Complications | Up to annual limit | Up to annual limit | Up to annual limit | USD $14,000 or USD $28,000 |
Childbirth Complications | Up to annual limit | USD $13,500 or USD $20,250 | Up to annual limit | Up to complications or pregnancy |
Elective C-Section | Covered | Up to routine maternity care | Covered | Up to routine maternity care |
Emergency / Medically Necessary C-Section | Up to annual limit | Up to complications of childbirth | Up to annual limit | Up to complications of pregnancy |
Newborn Care | USD $125,000 or USD $150,000 | Covered | Covered | USD $75,000 or USD $156,000 |
To learn more about each of these providers and their various maternity policies, contact Pacific Prime today.
See more of the many top international insurance companies for expats here.
Maternity Insurance Benefits
Pre and post-natal treatments and examinations, medically prescribed cesarean sections, normal deliveries, and hospital costs are often included as the automatic pregnancy package in health plans.
Here is a list of the basic maternity coverage offered in most plans:
- Prenatal and postnatal treatments and examinations
- Medically prescribed caesarian sections
- Normal deliveries
- Deliveries with complications (which complications are covered may vary)
- Deliveries following fertility treatments
- Hospital and/or home delivery costs
- Childbirth and newborn care (up to a certain limit)
Among the comprehensive expat maternity benefits that can be added to health insurance plans are extended care of newborn children, fertility treatments, congenital birth defects, and more. Expat women living internationally can find insurers that let them customize their comprehensive benefits.
The best international insurance companies often let you add on the maternity coverage you need. As your insurance broker, it will be our job to negotiate with the providers on your behalf and adjust your plan until you find a policy that satisfies you and fits your budget.
Since pregnancy and newborn complications can be incredibly expensive, it is wise to secure comprehensive coverage for the mother and baby in the event they are hospitalized in the NICU or ICU for an extended period of time.
Here is a list of the comprehensive maternity benefits international expats may choose to add to their health plans:
- Extended care of newborn children
- Fertility treatments
- Congenital birth defects
- Medical treatment for unexpected newborn complications
- Breastfeeding services
April International provides an extensive maternity benefits option in their plans that cover neonatal disabilities such as preterm birth that requires an extended NICU stay.
Purchasing Maternity Insurance
The best way to purchase a insurance plan that coverages maternity and pregnancy abroad is to contact a broker like Pacific Prime.
Insurance brokers main priority is helping their clients find the best plans for their individual needs and budget, brokers help expats shop around between insurance companies and insurance policies.
At Pacific Prime, we’ve helped thousands purchase maternity coverage. That means we can help you get an additional plan that covers maternity benefits if your current health plan excludes maternity or other services.
Pacific Prime is an award-winning global insurance broker, and we have helped over one million expats secure health insurance around the world. Reach out to us today to learn more about how we can serve you in your insurance endeavors!
Read here to learn more about what an insurance broker does and how you can pick one.
Compare Expat Pregnancy Insurance Policies and Quotes
As you search for the best maternity insurance plan for your needs, use our insurance quote comparison tool. It is a unique resource that allows global expats to compare a number of insurance providers and their plans side by side with estimated quotes.
You can save your favorite quotes and plans on this tool for later reference, and our experts can answer any questions you have about the plans available in your country.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Affordable Care Act apply to expat maternity insurance?
The Affordable Care Act in the US that requires maternity coverage to be included in the essential health benefits package does not apply to international health insurance. This means that even though you can get coverage in the US if you’re already pregnant, it’s not required if you live abroad.
Can I choose my own OB-GYN when living abroad?
Most international pregnancy plans do allow the patient to pick their obstetrician or midwife. Some plans may require you to choose a physician who is considered in-network with the insurance provider, and some plans will be even more flexible.
Is maternity coverage required for health plans outside of the USA?
Maternity insurance is not required as a benefit in all health insurance plans offered to expats or digital nomads living outside of the USA. It is essential for women who plan to or suspect they may become pregnant while living internationally to make sure their plan has pregnancy coverage.
Does expat pregnancy insurance cover infertility?
Pregnancy insurance for expats may cover infertility testing and treatment in a comprehensive plan. You can find insurance providers who offer maternity add-ons for such benefits as infertility, breastfeeding, congenital conditions, and more.
Is pregnancy insurance guaranteed for expat dependents?
In some countries, employers may provide health insurance (including maternity) for dependents. In some countries, however, employers do not cover dependents.
What is the average waiting period for pregnancy insurance abroad?
The average waiting period for pregnancy insurance for expats and digital nomads living abroad is 10-12 months. Waiting periods, also called moratoriums, can be as long as 24 months. Expats planning to get pregnant while living internationally should secure maternity insurance well in advance.
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