Pregnant travellers lack awareness
New research from consumer research awareness initiative Travel Insurance Explained has found that many travellers lack knowledge of the rules and regulations regarding pregnant travellers.
The research followed recent news of a British woman who went into labour while on holiday in the UAE and found that without travel insurance the birth and additional expenses would have amounted to £121,100. Travel Insurance Explained found that 82 per cent of the 2,000 travellers questioned didn’t know that pregnant women are not recommended to fly 27 weeks into the pregnancy, despite the fact that 67 per cent of respondents with children aged under five had, either themselves or their partner, flown abroad while pregnant.
Generally, if a baby is born prematurely while the mother is abroad on holiday, then the care of the premature baby, including medical bills, accommodation and other expenses, will be covered under the parents’ travel insurance policy. However, 77 per cent of those surveyed were unaware that it is not recommended for a premature baby to fly until the actual due date.
“Should you give birth abroad, any treatment your baby needs will generally be covered under your travel insurance policy, which is especially important if the baby needs additional specialist medical care,” said Travel Insurance Explained’s Fiona Macrae. “However, what our independent research shows is that very few people realise that a premature baby should not fly until after their due date, which can mean extending your holiday by a couple of months. And although we don’t want to think of the worst happening while on holiday, it’s always advisable to plan. So, if you are travelling while pregnant, look for a policy specific to your needs. For example, a policy that would offer the extra cover to fly another family member out to support you and your partner or one that offers cover for the all-important new-born baby essentials. It can be distressing being away from your familiar surroundings and family when you have your baby, particularly a premature baby, and buying the right travel insurance policy that would provide you with that extra support would give you added piece of mind.”
Travel Insurance Explained top tips for pregnant travellers are: to carefully plan the dates of their holiday; know the estimated date of birth; consult with their doctor about health risks of the country they are planning on travelling to; think about the destination of their babymoon carefully; and to carefully check the travel insurance policy to ensure it provides the extra cover required.