Telling insurance you are pregnant on holiday

[EMS23]

I am going on holiday soon, to Lanzarote when I will be 21 - 22 weeks pregnant. I've had a relatively trouble free pregnancy so far and my DH does not see the point in telling our travel insurer that I am pregnant. In his view "it doesn't make any difference so what's the point".

I think we should inform them and would just do it myself but I work full time in a job where I can't use the phone (but can access MN!!) during the day and he is at home at the moment so have asked him to call them.

Does anyone have any experience of this so I can "persuade" him we need to let them know?

Yes, you need to do it. Not all travel insurance covers pregnancy (or covers it well) and many insurance policies have "get outs" where if you don't inform the company of something that you knew about before leaving that you might need to claim for, they won't cover you for that claim.

Okay, hopefully you won't need anything, but if you did, could you cover all the potential costs without your insurance?

Have you checked what they cover for pregnancy?

Do you have an EHIC card too? As Lanzorote is Spanish I assume they work there.

We checked with our insurer I'd be covered. If, as you say, your pg is straightforward, it'll be fine. How would DH feel if (god forbid) something happened while you were away and you were't covered? I've seen bills for straightforward deliveries in the UK by foreign nationals and they cost a fortune!

yes, got an EHIC card and have pointed out all of what you said to DH but he's a man, what can I say?!
Whilst we might be able to afford some basic medical costs why should we and god forbid something really bad happens, then what? Pay out till our savings are gone?
I'm of the school that if you cover your arse and inform them of everything then you cover yourself, even if you never needed to.

Only solution is getting the paperwork out and doing it myself during a lunch break isn't it?!

You must tell them.
I went on a mini cruise when I was 20 weeks pregnant and had to tell the insurance company in order to receive appropriate insurance cover. The cruise company advised me to do this when I booked.

I also had to take evidence of my dates with me to show when I boarded the ship! It was nice to know that they were aware of me and which cabin I was in should there have been any problems....

yes EMS sounds like you'll have to deal with this yourself! If it helps, it should only entail a very quick phone call.

I called to buy my insurance, thinking I needed to let them know. In my case they confirmed what I'd be covered for, but said it wouldn't have mattered if I hadn't informed them.

However I think you should definitely call, partly to inform them and partly to ensure they definitely cover you for pregnancy related stuff, as tonnes I looked at don't.

Same as jennimoo here - the Amex insurance I had said that they needed to be informed of any existing medical conditions - the policy booklet said that pregnancy wasn't a medical condition though, and when I rang them just to be sure they said that it didn't affect the policy.

Past a certain number of weeks (28ish I think) they do point out that birthing costs are not covered.

I'd give them a ring in your lunch break just to be sure.

Mine didn't need to be told either (we went to Mexico when I was 25 weeks with ds1), but it's better that way than they did need to know and you didn't ring them.

Have a great trip!

Thanks for your replies and advice. I told him last night that he must do it, made up a few horror stories to scare him with!
If it's not done by Friday, will be doing it myself on Monday!

I have a friend who travelled to Canada recently with a low risk pregnancy. She was 26 weeks. Whilst she was there her waters broke and she has been hospitalised and will have to stay until her baby arrives. This could be up to 3 months (all being well). If she hadn't told insurance, she would be forking out for the hospital fees for her stay, and special care needed for her baby, return flights, hotel fees for her dh not to mention loss of earnings. Just don't see why you wouldn't tell them?

ALso, just a warning on insurance. They can legally refuse to pay out on any claim if you didn't tell them something that was relevant - even if its not related to the claim.

eg. if you fall over and break your arm, they could use the fact of your not telling them you have asthma to void the policy. It sucks and they're trying to change the law, but at the moment, you really have to make sure you tell them absolutely everything!

BlameItOnTheBogey - I entirely agree with you - why wouldn't you tell them?! My DH does not see it that way but much as I love him, he's a lazy man and probably just can't be arsed with calling a call centre and being put on hold etc..
I hope your friend is ok and gets through it all safe and sound.

Will be informing insurance on Monday at the latest, I promise!

Same as a coulpe of others on here, I called to get single trip insurance with Debenhams and they weren't at all interested I was pregnant. How rude, everyone should be fascinated!