Travel insurance - pregnant and on waiting list

ClaraSolis

Hi, this might become a bit long/complicated, but I hope someone can help me. 

I am currently 29 weeks pregnant and will be visiting my family in Belgium this week, to see them one last time before baby is due. I took out some travel insurance with Admiral last year, which I think expires in June. This was before I became pregnant. Since then, I have also had some medical tests/am waiting for more tests.

I had some blood tests earlier this year which might indicate that I have 'fatty liver'. However, because of the pregnancy, the GP has not taken this any further yet. I am not on any medication for this, I will probably just have to lose weight once baby is born.

I recently also went to the GP to have my breasts checked, as I want to make sure that I don't have breast cancer (a cousin has it), especially with a baby coming soon. The GP couldn't find anything wrong, but has referred me to the hospital anyway. I received a text message on the 18th of March from the hospital to let me know they have received the referral and have put me on a waiting list for an appointment. I haven't heard back from them since then. 

As for the pregnancy, I am currently on aspirin as a routine prevention for pre-eclampsia (not diagnosed). I do not know if this counts as taking 'prescribed medication'?
I have been in triage a few times this week as they wanted to check up on the baby for reduced movements and track my blood pressure. This is the main reason I want to have insurance, in case something happens with the pregnancy while abroad. The midwife and consultant gave me the green light to travel.

I have been trying to get quotes for travel insurance, but it seems that because I am awaiting an appointment for a breast check, I cannot get any type of travel insurance? Is this correct? 
Does this mean that I should not travel at all? This is my last chance to go see my family before baby is here. I do also have an EHIC, but I don't know if that would provide enough cover while abroad?

DullGreyGuy

ClaraSolis said:

Hi, this might become a bit long/complicated, but I hope someone can help me. 

I am currently 29 weeks pregnant and will be visiting my family in Belgium this week, to see them one last time before baby is due. I took out some travel insurance with Admiral last year, which I think expires in June. This was before I became pregnant. Since then, I have also had some medical tests/am waiting for more tests.

I had some blood tests earlier this year which might indicate that I have 'fatty liver'. However, because of the pregnancy, the GP has not taken this any further yet. I am not on any medication for this, I will probably just have to lose weight once baby is born.

I recently also went to the GP to have my breasts checked, as I want to make sure that I don't have breast cancer (a cousin has it), especially with a baby coming soon. The GP couldn't find anything wrong, but has referred me to the hospital anyway. I received a text message on the 18th of March from the hospital to let me know they have received the referral and have put me on a waiting list for an appointment. I haven't heard back from them since then. 

As for the pregnancy, I am currently on aspirin as a routine prevention for pre-eclampsia (not diagnosed). I do not know if this counts as taking 'prescribed medication'?
I have been in triage a few times this week as they wanted to check up on the baby for reduced movements and track my blood pressure. This is the main reason I want to have insurance, in case something happens with the pregnancy while abroad. The midwife and consultant gave me the green light to travel.

I have been trying to get quotes for travel insurance, but it seems that because I am awaiting an appointment for a breast check, I cannot get any type of travel insurance? Is this correct? 
Does this mean that I should not travel at all? This is my last chance to go see my family before baby is here. I do also have an EHIC, but I don't know if that would provide enough cover while abroad?

Insurers, ironically, dont like risk and so something thats undiagnosed is something that most dont like and many won't insure. It also makes claims handling very difficult but if you dont know what was wrong with them before they went it makes it very hard to say if a condition they had whilst away was linked to it or independent. 

There is at least one broker that claims to be able to place insurance for those awaiting appointments etc a google will identify them, can't say what they are like when it comes to prices or claims but options may exist. You could try just a general travel insurance broker, there arent many of them and most that do exist aim at people booking very expensive holidays but they may be able to do something especially as you have no symptoms or personal history and its simply an abundance of caution that you are speaking to anyone about it. 

Note that routine pregancy isnt covered by travel insurance, it's seen as a choice/self inflicted effectively, however if things go sideways with the pregnancy then it is. 

EHIC generally just means you get treated the same as a local, given Belgium is in the EU they'll have a decent public health system. So for actual treatment there may not be the biggest difference (though some European countries are co-pay in nature). Given your current situation the obvious main differences would be if the baby were to come very premature, without insurance you will be discharged in a day or so but would need to wait until baby was well enough and old enough to make the journey home and you'd have to deal with your own expenses, where you are staying etc yourself.  If there is insurance in place then as long as it's early enough to trigger the pregnancy complications coverage then they'd be providing somewhere to stay, basic living costs and may consider a medical evac at an earlier point than you would be able to take the baby via a commercial route. 

ClaraSolis

Thank you for your reply @DullGreyGuy.

I have tried Googling for travel insurance companies that might insure people awaiting appointments/investigations, but I seem to be unable to find any. They all say that they can't insure you if you're under investigation/awaiting test results. 

I don't know if I would be fine to travel on my existing travel insurance? I don't expect any medical emergencies to happen related to the breast exam I'm awaiting. But I don't know if I will still be covered for pregnancy related events if I don't declare the appointment I'm waiting for? This makes me almost regret going to the GP as now I feel I can't actually go and see my family abroad...

Emmia

ClaraSolis said:

Thank you for your reply @DullGreyGuy.

I have tried Googling for travel insurance companies that might insure people awaiting appointments/investigations, but I seem to be unable to find any. They all say that they can't insure you if you're under investigation/awaiting test results. 

I don't know if I would be fine to travel on my existing travel insurance? I don't expect any medical emergencies to happen related to the breast exam I'm awaiting. But I don't know if I will still be covered for pregnancy related events if I don't declare the appointment I'm waiting for? This makes me almost regret going to the GP as now I feel I can't actually go and see my family abroad...

I'm going to make a wild assumption that as you're traveling abroad to see your family that you weren't born in the UK. Do you have UK citizenship? Is the father a UK citizen?

It will be a little more complicated to return to the UK if you've given birth unexpectedly abroad in terms of documents as well, as the baby will need it's own passport.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/children-nationality-policy-guidance/registration-as-british-citizen-children-accessible

ClaraSolis

Emmia said:

ClaraSolis said:

Thank you for your reply @DullGreyGuy.

I have tried Googling for travel insurance companies that might insure people awaiting appointments/investigations, but I seem to be unable to find any. They all say that they can't insure you if you're under investigation/awaiting test results. 

I don't know if I would be fine to travel on my existing travel insurance? I don't expect any medical emergencies to happen related to the breast exam I'm awaiting. But I don't know if I will still be covered for pregnancy related events if I don't declare the appointment I'm waiting for? This makes me almost regret going to the GP as now I feel I can't actually go and see my family abroad...

I'm going to make a wild assumption that as you're traveling abroad to see your family that you weren't born in the UK. Do you have UK citizenship? Is the father a UK citizen?

It will be a little more complicated to return to the UK if you've given birth unexpectedly abroad in terms of documents as well, as the baby will need it's own passport.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/children-nationality-policy-guidance/registration-as-british-citizen-children-accessible

I have a Belgian passport and indefinite leave to remain, been living in the UK since 2012 with my husband. He is a UK citizen from birth and has a UK passport. We've been married since 2021. So I think the baby would be able to get both UK and Belgian citizenship?

Emmia

ClaraSolis said:

Emmia said:

ClaraSolis said:

Thank you for your reply @DullGreyGuy.

I have tried Googling for travel insurance companies that might insure people awaiting appointments/investigations, but I seem to be unable to find any. They all say that they can't insure you if you're under investigation/awaiting test results. 

I don't know if I would be fine to travel on my existing travel insurance? I don't expect any medical emergencies to happen related to the breast exam I'm awaiting. But I don't know if I will still be covered for pregnancy related events if I don't declare the appointment I'm waiting for? This makes me almost regret going to the GP as now I feel I can't actually go and see my family abroad...

I'm going to make a wild assumption that as you're traveling abroad to see your family that you weren't born in the UK. Do you have UK citizenship? Is the father a UK citizen?

It will be a little more complicated to return to the UK if you've given birth unexpectedly abroad in terms of documents as well, as the baby will need it's own passport.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/children-nationality-policy-guidance/registration-as-british-citizen-children-accessible

I have a Belgian passport and indefinite leave to remain, been living in the UK since 2012 with my husband. He is a UK citizen from birth and has a UK passport. We've been married since 2021. So I think the baby would be able to get both UK and Belgian citizenship?

Yes, but if you give birth early whilst outside the UK, you'll need a passport for the baby to get back into to the UK.

I'm sure the risk is probably small of that happening, but it is a complication that could arise (in addition to your travel insurance issue)

ClaraSolis

I asked the travel insurance I still own about pregnancies, and they said I don't need to declare it. I did not mention the appointment I'm awaiting. 
This is what they said about the pregnancy:

You don't need to let us know if you're travelling while pregnant. Pregnancy and childbirth are not considered to be an illness or injury. To be clear, we will only cover complications of pregnancy and childbirth (as described in our definitions. We will not provide any cover where the carrier denies you boarding. Complications of pregnancy or childbirth Only the following conditions: toxaemia, gestational diabetes, gestational hypertension, pre-eclampsia, ectopic pregnancy, molar pregnancy, post-partum haemorrhage, retained placenta membrane, placental abruption, hyperemesis gravidarum, obstetric cholestasis, placenta praevia, stillbirth, miscarriage, emergency caesarean section, termination for medical reasons, premature birth more than 8 weeks (or 16 weeks if more than one baby) before the due delivery date.
We do cover the customer to travel whilst pregnant up to 40 weeks as long as they are declared fit to do so. What we wont cover if natural childbirth after 32 weeks for a single child pregnancy or after 24 weeks for a multiple baby pregnancy as after this time birth is perfectly normal and expected. If the customer is expecting a single baby and goes into natural labour whilst away after 32 weeks of their pregnancy then they would be liable for any medical costs attached to the birth as we wouldn’t cover this. If you are diagnosed with complications of pregnancy and you are pregnant then you no need to update on file, however if you are not pregnant or post pregnancy the complications still persist then we need to add the complications on the medical declaration.

I will be 30 weeks while travelling so that is fine. I'm not sure what to do about the fatty liver as it is not a diagnosis yet (they just noticed my readings were higher than normal). And obviously don't know what to do about the upcoming appointment (I don't even have a date for it yet). If I go away and need to make a claim for something that is pregnancy related, will they look into my records and see that I am awaiting an appointment and then say I can't make a claim because of it? Or would they not look into that because it's unrelated?

DullGreyGuy

ClaraSolis said:

Thank you for your reply DullGreyGuy.

I have tried Googling for travel insurance companies that might insure people awaiting appointments/investigations, but I seem to be unable to find any. They all say that they can't insure you if you're under investigation/awaiting test results. 

I don't know if I would be fine to travel on my existing travel insurance? I don't expect any medical emergencies to happen related to the breast exam I'm awaiting. But I don't know if I will still be covered for pregnancy related events if I don't declare the appointment I'm waiting for? This makes me almost regret going to the GP as now I feel I can't actually go and see my family abroad...

https://www.avantitravelinsurance.co.uk/travel-insurance-awaiting-surgery
https://www.justtravelcover.com/travel-insurance/pre-existing-medical-conditions/travel-insurance-for-undiagnosed-conditions/
https://www.allcleartravel.co.uk/medical-conditions/undiagnosed-conditions/

The above state they can offer cover, though haven't read the fine print. Some will exclude the undiagnosed condition.

The problem with your current insurance is the legislation CIDRA which states they can void the policy if you recklessly or intentionally didnt declare something. If they say it's careless then it comes down to if they would have covered you had you declared it. It would be safer to make the decision assuming it wouldn't cover you for anything. 

heatherw_01

ClaraSolis said:

Thank you for your reply @DullGreyGuy.

I have tried Googling for travel insurance companies that might insure people awaiting appointments/investigations, but I seem to be unable to find any. They all say that they can't insure you if you're under investigation/awaiting test results. 

I don't know if I would be fine to travel on my existing travel insurance? I don't expect any medical emergencies to happen related to the breast exam I'm awaiting. But I don't know if I will still be covered for pregnancy related events if I don't declare the appointment I'm waiting for? This makes me almost regret going to the GP as now I feel I can't actually go and see my family abroad...

Your insurer won't cover you as you haven't disclosed the recent doctor visits and possible conditions.
You have to disclose this otherwise this will be found out in the event that you need to make a claim, and they won't cover you.

There are some insurers that do cover things like this, as they are designed for medical conditions such as the ones DullGreyGuy posted.