international maternity insurance cover

[myloveandi]

i live in the UK but will like to give birth in the USA or canada. not pregnant yet but heard childbirth without insurance is too costly. how can i get a good international maternity coverage?

are you from the US? Canada?

BUPA international but it will be pricy to add US/Canada cover.

not from either US or canada. do u have experience with BUPA? heard some awful stories about insurance companies.

Why do you want to travel to the US? You will have to go there ahead of the birth as the airline won't fly you beyond a certain number of weeks

Have you thought about having a private birth in the UK?

thanks. want to know my options before time but more comfortable with the states.

useful thread here

You often have to have your policy for a full 12 mths before they will cover you for maternity care

I've got BUPA International and I have been pleased so far, but you only get £3000 for a normal vaginal delivery, CS counts as a normal surgical procedure so unlimited. £3000 won't buy a lot of private care in London these days, btw.

thanks a mil. how much does a US delivery cost?

Can you use google or do you think we have all the answers?
usatoday In 2005, the average hospital charge for an uncomplicated vaginal birth was $7,000, compared with $16,000 for a complicated C-section

That won't include any prenatal care

I think you can get a higher level of BUPA International, I have a feeling mine is the middle band.

It's just over £3,000 for a consultant led birth and 24 hours stay at The Portland at the moment and around £3,000 for full care will an Independent Midwife. Obviously not sure how these prices corolate with the USA, however as The Blonde has pointed out you will probably have to have your cover for 12 months before concieving so you are looking at least 2 years worth of cover. It may be worth working out how expensive that is going to be and whether it would be more cost effective to put your premium and a high intrest (ha ha with the intrest rate cuts, I know!) account and save that way. Also there is little postnatal care within the USA (from what I am aware) so you may miss out on some valuable support if needed there.

you also need to check your cover provides for your child in the event that they need special care after birth eg if they are a bit early etc

the US birth statistics are not great in terms of perinatal/maternal death etc, is it because of safety you want to give birth there? Just interested... If you want an ultra 'safe', medicalised birth with guaranteed epidural I can recommend Belgium where I had DS, or France..

i suggest op watch 'the business of being born' before parting with any cash.

Um, why do you want to give birth in the US or Canada?

thanks a lot for all the wonderul contributions. Ilovemydog, have my family in the USA... so i will be sure of tender care after delivery. curlywurly..., thanks. thought they will cover childbirth as far as i have my delivery after the 12 months so was thinking of ttc around april/may if i start my insurance jan. if i have to be insured for like 2 yrs, i think it is better to save the money and pay out of purse and also be able to try for a baby as soon as possible.

I had international insurance cover because living abroad (not US/Canada). IIRC I had to be insured for full year before I could get pregnant, which does mean you end up paying 2 years premiums. Each insurance company is different so you will need to check the details.

Also, check out your cover for post birth. What if your baby needs special care for period of time (worst case for a couple of months.) Will you be covered?

In our situation, had my DC needed special care we would have got a short period under insurance privately and then would have transferred to local hospitals where we would have paid minimal charges/no charge and care would still have been good. Think situation in US would be different.

Also, unless you have US citizenship, you may have challenges delivering in the US. I think nder normal circumstances children born there get right to citizenship and imagine US regulate this with visas etc to prevent people flying in to get the passport! You will probably know a lot more than me about this - just a thought and worth checking.

Agree with LadyPenelope, it may not be an issue if you have family there but last year I wasn't able to travel to the USA for work because I was pregnant - had no intention of delivering there but was told that if I was visibly pregnant I might have trouble getting through immigration.