Insurance after becoming pregnant

Posted by yankee (727 days ago)

I read from this forum that most insurances kick up 10 months after pregnancy. So if you are going the private OBGYN route is there any point in taking the maternity insurance when you are about 2 months pregnant? I know it won't cover delivery. But can it cover ante natal visits with private OBGYNs?

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by TC (727 days ago)

Generally it will exclude ALL pregnancy-related costs, but you'll need to check the benefits as those provided by each insurer can be different.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by Christian_Moore (725 days ago)

Dear Yankee

While it's true that no insurer will cover you for any maternity related issues now that you are pregnant, you can still protect the baby against any congenital birth defects assuming you have been on the right plan for at least 6 months prior to the birth.

If you need information, don't hesitate to contact me at Christian@kwiksure.com

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by frankly (337 days ago)

Christian,

That's not true. You can get cover for maternity related issues if you are already pregnant and in good health. You won't get cover for normal costs but you can get cover for complications which is what insurance is all about anyway. What you state is not true.

The big trap for expats is the husband heading overseas and the wife getting pregant just before he leaves or if he shoots home for a holiday before the wife follows over. Often expat insurance won't kick in until you are physically an expat. A gap in the policy for fertile expats.

(I am based in Jakarta)

Posted by Andrew / Insurance (336 days ago)

frankly,

I have looked through a few of the international medical policies available and they all state that complications of pregnancy are subject to a waiting period aswell.

If you can provide me with details of which plan does not, then I would be very interested.

Andrew

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by frankly (335 days ago)

Andrew,

We ended up with an Axa backed policy. We had to negotiate the policy so wasn't a bog standard. Certain clauses were written in and taken out.

If you can negotiate with them I'm sure you can negotiate with others.

Regards

(I am based in Jakarta)

Posted by Christian_Moore (334 days ago)

Frankly

I know of no standard individual policy that will cover for complicatiosn of pregancy for woman already pregnant when the plan starts.

Certain group policies may cover for this depending on the number of people on the plan.

You stated "You won't get cover for normal costs but you can get cover for complications which is what insurance is all about anyway"

This is not what insurance is about, all pregancies involve some element of risk and as soon as you put yourself in that position, this is deemed a pre-existing condition and is not covered.

I know of no insurance company that will negotiate this

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by Andrew / Insurance (333 days ago)

Normally no insurance company will negotiate on their policy cover, unless it is a large company.

Pregnancy is not considered as a pre-existing condition. It is not an illness or injury. If that was the case then nobody would be covered for any later pregnancies.

A pre-existing condition is a "medical condition or injury" that was diagnosed or treated prior to the start of the medical insurance policy.

Although if any type of illness, injury, pregnancy, medical condition etc exists at the inception of the policy, it will not be covered. The insurance company may then apply a waiting period before that illness etc could be covered again.

Andrew

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by Christian_Moore (333 days ago)

Andrew

I should have said it's a temporary condition

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by Andrew / Insurance (333 days ago)

No problem Christian, just thought I would clear up any possible misunderstanding, before it arose.

(I am based in Hong Kong)