Travel Insurance That Covers Pregnancy-Related Medical Expenses Abroad

Keep your eye out for the best travel insurance in Singapore that offer coverage for pregnancy-related illnesses.

Best Travel Insurance: TIQ Travel Insurance | MSIG TravelEasy | Allianz Travel Insurance | Ergo TravelProtect | Singlife Travel Insurance | Sompo Travel Insurance | Tokio Marine Travel Insurance | Allied World Travel Insurance | Starr Travel Insurance | FWD Travel Insurance | AIG Travel Guard

We all know that travelling abroad comes with a risk, so purchasing travel insurance for ourselves will give us peace of mind. But if you’re pregnant, it’s another ballgame altogether. Not only should you prioritise your own health, but it’s also important to ensure that your baby is safe.

Thankfully, most providers offer travel insurance that is equipped with coverage for any medical expenses abroad for pregnancy-related illnesses and treatments, though not extensive. You can also consider international maternity insurance which is another type of insurance altogether!

In this guide, we'll dive into the top travel insurance choices in Singapore that provide protection for you and your baby-to-be, so you can have a worry-free and safe journey during your pregnancy. We’ve also included some travelling tips for pregnant mums to take note of!

Table of contents:

• Best travel insurance for pregnancy
• Pregnancy-related coverage under travel insurance
  • Best travel insurance for pregnancy coverage: Singlife and AIG
• Tips for travelling while pregnant
• FAQs

Best travel insurance for pregnancy

Product	Pregnancy-related coverage?	Medical expenses	COVID-19 medical expenses	Travel cancellations	Baggage delay	Premiums	Apply
Starr TraveLead Gold Plan - Worldwide (Annual) Apply Now	No	Up to S$1,000,000	Up to S$100,000	Up to S$15,000	Up to S$1,200 S$100/6h	From S$38	Apply Now
MSIG Premier Plan Apply Now	Yes	Up to S$1,000,000	Up to S$250,000	Up to S$15,000	Up to S$1,500 S$250/6h	From S$25.20	Apply Now
Allianz Travel Insurance Platinum Plan - Asean (Annual) Apply Now	Yes	Up to S$1,000,000	Opt for COVID-19 add-on Same coverage with medical expenses	Up to S$15,000	Up to S$1,400	From S$50	Apply Now
FWD First Apply Now	No	Up to S$1,000,000	Available as a rider Up to S$200,000	Up to S$15,000	Up to S$900 S$150/6h	From S$31	Apply Now
Tiq Travel Luxury Apply Now	Yes	Up to S$1,000,000	Opt for COVID-19 add-on Up to S$500,000	Up to S$10,000	Up to S$200 S$100/6h	From S$32.40	Apply Now
Singlife Travel Prestige Apply Now	Yes	Up to unlimited coverage	Up to S$200,000	Up to S$20,000 Up to S$5,000 for any reason	Up to S$2,000 S$200/6h	From S$37.32	Apply Now
AIG Travel Guard® Direct - Supreme Apply Now	Yes	Up to S$2,500,000	Up to S$250,000	Up to S$15,000	Up to S$1,400	From S$50	Apply Now

*Based on a 5-day trip to Thailand

Travel insurance pregnancy-related coverage for pregnant women

Product	Coverage	Period of coverage	Apply
Starr TraveLead Gold Plan - Worldwide (Annual) Apply Now	NA	NA	Apply Now
MSIG Premier Plan Apply Now	Up to S$3,000 for pregnancy-related illness	During the overseas journey First trimester of pregnancy is not covered	Apply Now
Allianz Travel Insurance Platinum Plan - Asean (Annual) Apply Now	Sudden unforeseen medical complications or emergencies	Within the first 20 weeks/140 days of your pregnancy	Apply Now
FWD First Apply Now	NA	NA	Apply Now
Tiq Travel Luxury Apply Now	Abnormal pregnancy or vial complications of pregnancy-related medical expenses Covered for pregnancy or childbirth related conditions	Pregnancy after 6th month is not covered	Apply Now
Singlife Travel Prestige Apply Now	Up to S$8,000 emergency pregnancy-related medical expenses Covered for pregnancy or childbirth related conditions	Expected date of delivery is more than 12 weeks (or 16 weeks in the case of a multiple pregnancy) before your planned return date	Apply Now
AIG Travel Guard® Direct - Supreme Apply Now	Up to S$8,000 for overseas treatment of pregnancy-related illness	Within 90 days of a pregnancy-related illness First trimester of pregnancy is not covered	Apply Now

Best travel insurance for pregnancy coverage: Singlife and AIG

Both Singlife and AIG emerge the top as providing the best pregnancy coverage. They both have dedicated coverage of up to S$8,000 for emergency pregnancy-related medical expenses.

Singlife offers up to S$8,000 for any pregnancy-related overseas emergency medical expenses if you opt for the Prestige plan. For the Plus and Lite plans, you’ll be covered up to S$5,000 and S$1,000, respectively.

This is for pregnant women whose expected date of delivery is more than 12 weeks (or 16 weeks in the case of a multiple pregnancy) before their planned return date.

On the other hand, AIG offers S$5,000 in coverage for the Enhanced plan and S$8,000 in coverage for the Supreme plan. If you purchase the Standard plan, there is no pregnancy coverage offered. Do note that AIG excludes coverage for:

• medical expenses during the first trimester of the pregnancy
• ectopic pregnancy, childbirth, including premature childbirth or stillbirth
• abortion or miscarriage, except if related to injury and not attributed to any natural causes and/or illness relating to pregnancy or childbirth
• tests or treatment with regards to fertility, contraception, sterilisation, birth defects or congenital illnesses
• any depressive, psychological or psychiatric illness, including post-natal depression

Tips for travelling while pregnant

Book an isle seat

There’s a high chance that you might need to frequently use the toilet to relive yourself during your pregnancy. Instad of squeezing through the narrow rows, save yourself the embarrassment by paying a little extra so you can pick an isle seat for yourself. That way, you won’t feel bad disturbing your sleeping neighbour every half an hour or so.

You can also consider opingt for a seat that gives you more legroom to make you more comfortable and at ease on your flight.

Pack your essentials

Be it your prenatal vitamins, prescription medications, nausea pills, snacks, a first-aid kit, or a neck pillow, it always pays to be over-prepared than underprepared, especially when you’re pregnant. 

Make a thorough list to ensure that you have everything with you to calm your nerves when you’re abroad, and to help make this trip a very relaxing and enjoyable one.

Be sure to bring along your medical certificates and documents if needed!

Schedule in lots of rest time

You might want to maximise your time abroad by cramming every activity into your packed schedule, but travelling with this mentality while you’re pregnant may not be a good idea.

Don’t overestimate your body into thinking that you can do the same amount of activities in the limited period of time that you have before you were carrying a child. Besides, you need a lot of rest!

Be sure to schedule in frequent naps, or even days doing absolutely nothing! This helps you to get sufficient rest to cope with pregnancy-related fatigue.

Choose your destination wisely

Pick a destination that has good medical facilities in cases of any pregnancy-related emergencies. Make sure the clinics and hospitals are also in close vacinity of your accommodation to access them quickly if required.

It’s also better to choose a destination that don’t require long hours on the plane. By doing so, you'll reduce the need to sit for extended periods, which can increase the risk of issues like swelling, blood clots, and other pregnancy-related complications. 

Bring along healthy snacks

Feeling peckish or nauseous? This is when your snacks will come in handy to get a little bit of nutrition in when it’s not time for your meals yet.

Instead of chips or chocolate, bring along some nuts, fruits, and crackers that give you the energy and nutritional value. These are also easy to pack into your carry-on for easy access! If you’re prone to vomiting, bring along some sour plums or sour candy with you too!

Drink lots of water

It's important to stay well-hydrated while traveling to avoid potential complications. Make sure to consume an ample amount of water during your trip, and aim to get in at least 8 to 10 glasses of water per day. You can also snack on water-rich foods like watermelon, cucumbers, and oranges to increase your water intake.

Be cautious about excessive consumption of caffeine too, as they can contribute to dehydration.

FAQs

Are there any add-ons for travel insurance for pregnancy?

Most travel insurance plans do not offer add-ons for pregnancy coverage, as they would have already included it in their plan, if applicable.

However, there is an option to purchase international maternity insurance (usually available as an add-on on top of your maternity insurance plan or health insurance policy). It provides more extensive coverage like complications of pregnancy, which may be crucial when you’re overseas.

Is maternity insurance the same as travel insurance for pregnancy?

No, it is not. Maternity insurance typically involves a one-time premium payment and serves to complement your standard medical insurance. Its primary purpose is to provide financial support, either through a lump sum payout or daily hospital allowances, in cases where you encounter pregnancy-related complications or if your newborn is diagnosed with congenital illnesses.

However, travel insurance is mainly for all travellers to be covered for medical expenses overseas, baggage loss, flight delay, flight cancellations and more when they’re abroad. Though certain insurers offer coverage for pregnancy-related illnesses or emergency medical services, the coverage is usually not extensive.

For greater peace of mind, you can opt for an international maternity insurance policy for better coverage when you’re travelling overseas.

Can I travel while I’m pregnant?

In most cases, you are most likely safe and able to travel while you’re pregnant unless you’re close to your due date. However, this may differ in certain cases if you have pre-existing medical conditions or have high-risk pregnancies. It is best to consult your gynaecologist before you travel.

It’s useful to note that certain airlines may require written documentation from your gynaecologist to confirm that you are healthy and safe to travel. The documentation would also certify that you don’t have any pregnancy complications and have your due date stated.

Am I eligible for travel insurance if I'm pregnant?

Yes, you are. As long as your gynaecologist gives you the green light to travel, you will be able to purchase travel insurance.