Maternity Insurance: Pregnancy while Living Abroad

International Pregnancy and Maternity Insurance

Pregnancy and maternity care differs worldwide and depends on the international medical insurance you choose. Purchasing coverage early ensures access to quality medical care and helps avoid unforeseen expenses.

Recommended Maternity Health Insurance Plans for Expatriates

Waiting Periods

Most international maternity insurance plans have a 10–12 month waiting period for benefits and require applicants not to be pregnant when applying. Planning ahead reduces stress and unexpected costs.

Pregnancy Complications

Even low-risk pregnancies can face complications. Choosing a plan that covers medical issues during pregnancy or childbirth provides peace of mind.

Newborn Care

Not all plans include newborn care. Coverage may be limited to a set number of days after delivery and could include congenital conditions, lab work, vaccinations, and check-ups.

Congenital Conditions

Congenital conditions such as Down’s Syndrome, Spina Bifida, or heart murmurs may be covered under newborn benefits. Check the duration and scope of coverage in your plan.

Insurance Exclusions

International health insurance plans come with limitations. Some exclude elective C-sections unless medically necessary, while infertility treatments like IVF are usually not covered. Always review exclusions carefully.

How to Choose the Right Maternity Insurance Plan

Before buying, decide how much coverage you need and ensure the policy provides the benefits that matter most to you.

Here are some tips to help expats choose the right maternity plan:

What’s Covered? Make sure the plan includes pregnancy complications, childbirth, newborn care, and congenital conditions.
Know the Details. Read the fine print to understand exactly what’s covered and what’s not.
Customization. Look for a plan that lets you tailor coverage to your needs and lifestyle.

The Top Insurance Companies for Pregnancy Abroad

Some of the best international health insurance providers for pregnancy coverage include VUMI, Allianz Care, AXA, and Cigna Global.

These insurers offer comprehensive maternity benefits such as worldwide coverage, routine maternity care, pregnancy and childbirth complications, medically necessary C-sections, and newborn care.

Each of these global insurance companies is trusted by expats worldwide and recognized for their reliability, extensive coverage options, and tailored maternity insurance plans for mothers and babies living abroad.

VUMI Expat Maternity Insurance

VUMI offers a Global Flex Ultra plan and a Global Flex Total plan. This grants expats the choice to have routine maternity coverage for USD $15,000 or USD $20,000.

Allianz Care Expat Maternity Insurance

Allianz Care lets you choose between their inpatient plans: Care Pro, Care Plus, and Care, and their outpatient plans: Active Family, Active Pro, Active Plus, and Active. Our data in the following chart is for a combined Care Plus and Active Pro plan.

This combination provides pregnant women with USD $6,750 or USD $13,500 in routine maternity care. Allianz also offers plans with coverage for infertility treatment and breastfeeding consultation.

AXA Expat Maternity Insurance

AXA Global offers a Prestige plan and a Prestige Plus plan with routine maternity coverage of USD $16,000 and USD $19,200, respectively. Contact us to learn about all the maternity benefits offered by AXA international health plans.

Cigna Global Expat Maternity Insurance

Cigna Global has stellar Gold and Platinum insurance plans with inpatient routine maternity coverage up to USD $7,000 and USD $14,000, respectively. Cigna also offers coverage for congenital conditions, newborn care, and more.

The following chart compares some of the maternity benefits offered by these top pregnancy insurance providers for international expats. There may be multiple values in each field to display the various plans offered by that insurer.

Best Maternity Insurance Providers for Expats Living Abroad

Coverage

VUMI

Allianz

AXA

Cigna

Annual Limit	USD 4,500,000 or USD $5,000,000	USD $4,000,000	USD $3,200,000 or USD $8,000,000	USD $2,000,000 or Unlimited
Geographical Area Covered	Worldwide (Option to exclude US)	Worldwide (Option to exclude US)	Worldwide (Option to exclude US)	Worldwide (Option to exclude US)
Waiting Period	12 months	10 or 18 months	18 months	24 months
Inpatient Hospitalization	Covered	Covered	Covered	Covered
Routine Maternity Care	USD $15,000 or USD $20,000	USD $6,750 or USD $13,500	USD $16,000 or USD $19,200	IP: USD $7,000 or USD $14,000 Plus… OP: USD $3,500 or USD $7,000
Pregnancy Complications	Up to annual limit	Up to annual limit	Up to annual limit	USD $14,000 or USD $28,000
Childbirth Complications	Up to annual limit	USD $13,500 or USD $20,250	Up to annual limit	Up to complications or pregnancy
Elective C-Section	Covered	Up to routine maternity care	Covered	Up to routine maternity care
Emergency / Medically Necessary C-Section	Up to annual limit	Up to complications of childbirth	Up to annual limit	Up to complications of pregnancy
Newborn Care	USD $125,000 or USD $150,000	Covered	Covered	USD $75,000 or USD $156,000

To learn more about each of these providers and their various maternity policies, contact Pacific Prime today.

See more of the many top international insurance companies for expats here.

Maternity Insurance Benefits for Expats Abroad

When choosing international health insurance for pregnancy, understanding what’s included in maternity coverage is essential. Most global insurers provide a standard maternity package with prenatal and postnatal care, hospital delivery costs, and medically prescribed C-sections.

Most maternity insurance benefits typically include:

Prenatal and postnatal treatments and examinations
Medically prescribed caesarian sections
Normal deliveries
Deliveries with complications (which complications are covered may vary)
Deliveries following fertility treatments
Hospital and/or home delivery costs
Childbirth and newborn care (up to a certain limit)

For expats who want broader protection, many insurers allow you to add extra maternity coverage to your plan. These comprehensive benefits may include:

Extended care for newborn children
Fertility treatments and assisted reproductive procedures
Coverage for congenital birth defects
Treatment for unexpected newborn complications
Breastfeeding support services

Top international insurance companies allow expats to add customized maternity coverage to their health plans. As your insurance broker, we work directly with providers to negotiate the best options and make sure you find a policy that satisfies both your needs and budget.

Because pregnancy and newborn complications can lead to high hospital bills, securing comprehensive maternity insurance ensures both mother and baby are protected if NICU or ICU hospitalization is required for an extended period.

Here is a list of the comprehensive maternity benefits international expats may choose to add to their health plans:

Extended care of newborn children
Fertility treatments
Congenital birth defects
Medical treatment for unexpected newborn complications
Breastfeeding services

April International provides an extensive maternity benefits option in their plans that cover neonatal disabilities such as preterm birth that requires an extended NICU stay.

Secure Maternity Coverage Today

The easiest way to get maternity and pregnancy coverage abroad is to work with a trusted insurance broker like Pacific Prime. Brokers focus on helping clients find the right plan for their needs and budget, comparing policies across multiple international insurers.

At Pacific Prime, we’ve helped thousands of expats purchase maternity coverage. Whether your current health plan excludes maternity or other services, we can help you add a plan that covers these essential benefits.

As an award-winning global insurance broker, Pacific Prime has assisted over one million expats in securing comprehensive health insurance worldwide. Contact us today to find out how we can help you get the maternity coverage you need.

Compare Expat Pregnancy Insurance Policies and Quotes

Finding the right maternity insurance for expats is easier with our quote comparison tool. This unique resource lets global expats compare multiple international insurance providers and plans side by side, with estimated quotes tailored to your needs.

You can save your favorite quotes and plans on this tool for later reference, and our experts can answer any questions you have about the plans available in your country. Get the clarity you need to choose the best coverage for your pregnancy abroad.

Start by Comparing Insurance Plans Online

Compare Between 50,000 International Health Insurance Plan Options.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get maternity insurance if I’m already pregnant?

If you are already pregnant, most insurers will not issue you a maternity insurance policy. Most international maternity insurance plans require that you are not pregnant at the time of application. Coverage usually begins after a waiting period.

How long is the waiting period for maternity coverage on expat plans?

Waiting periods, also called moratoriums, are typically 10 to 12 months, or up to 24 months before maternity benefits become active, so it’s important to plan ahead and secure maternity insurance well in advance.

Are pregnancy complications covered under expat maternity insurance?

Many comprehensive expat maternity plans cover pregnancy and childbirth complications, though the exact conditions vary by provider. It’s best to consult with a trusted insurance broker to make an informed decision.

What newborn care is included with maternity coverage?

Newborn care often includes hospitalization, health checks, vaccinations, and congenital condition coverage for a limited number of days after birth.

Does expat pregnancy insurance cover infertility?

Pregnancy insurance for expats may cover infertility testing and treatment in a comprehensive plan. You can find insurance providers who offer maternity add-ons for such benefits as infertility, breastfeeding, congenital conditions, and more.