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What is international maternity insurance?
International maternity insurance provides coverage for maternity care costs for pregnant women whilst they are living abroad. Maternity care is a medical term to describe the treatment and care you receive before pregnancy, during pregnancy, and after childbirth. Most hospitals (and health insurance providers) think about routine pregnancy care in three stages:
Prenatal checks
Antenatal or prenatal care simply refers to the phase between conception and birth. During this time, you’ll have regular checkups with your midwife, sonographer, and/or obstetrician to monitor the physical and mental well-being of both you and your unborn child.
Childbirth
Childbirth (or labour) is of course one of the most crucial stages of pregnancy. The last thing you want to worry about when you’re in labour is the cost of care for you and your newborn child – regardless of if you opt for a vaginal birth or caesarean section.
Post-natal care
Post-natal care refers to the care you and your newborn receive after birth. Children are at their most vulnerable just after they’re born. Your midwife and birthing doctor will be on hand to perform routine treatments, examinations and basic newborn healthcare (e.g. vitamin shots, blood tests).
Why is private maternity care important for expats?
Having access to private healthcare during pregnancy is really important for expats because it grants you and your baby access to a high standard of maternity care that may not be available through public healthcare systems. There are a number of reasons as to why private pregnancy insurance is so important for expats:
- Choose the doctor and hospital of your choice
- Gain access to English-speaking healthcare providers
- Save money on high costs of pregnancy care
- Feel part of a support network through services such as prenatal classes, lactation support and postpartum support
Having a baby is a life-changing event, so not only is it essential that you are satisfied with the level of care that you receive, but it can also greatly reduce any stress or anxiety that you may feel whilst being away from your home country. That’s why all our health plans include international maternity insurance coverage for complications of pregnancy.
Our Gold plan gives you cover for routine maternity care and childbirth giving you peace of mind knowing that both you and your bump are covered from the start of your pregnancy right through to labour and beyond.
What maternity insurance cover do I get with William Russell?
All of our plans cover maternity complications. However, our Gold plan covers standard maternity care coverage, C-section deliveries, childbirth, and the health of the newborn during your hospital stay. Once you’ve had our Gold plan for 12 months, you’re eligible for maternity coverage benefits – with generous maximum claim amounts and an easy claims process. Here’s more details about what is covered in our Gold plan:
Cover for your newborn baby
Once your baby is born, you’ll want to make sure they have the best possible start to life. Our Gold plan gives you maternity cover throughout your pregnancy, but it also offers cover for congenital disorders your newborn may be born with up to US$100,000* – when they are added to your plan within 30 days of the baby’s birth.
*depending on the currency of your plan
What is my newborn covered for after birth?
For Gold plan members we’ll pay for your newborn’s stay in hospital after the birth, and also the following routine healthcare:
- Physical examination
- Vitamin K injection
- Hepatitis B vaccine
- BCG vaccine
- Hearing test
- Blood tests for PKU, congenital hypothyroidism and G6PD
Complications of pregnancy
We hope that your pregnancy runs smoothly and that you and your baby are healthy all the way through. If there is a medical condition that arises because of your pregnancy – either during or afterwards – we’ll normally cover in-patient or day-patient admissions in full on all of our health plans (your normal cover limits would apply).
With a Gold plan, we also cover the cost of an emergency caesarean section when the decision to have a caesarean section is unplanned and is made by your obstetrician less than 24 hours of the birth because either your life or the life of your child is in danger. In these circumstances, we’ll cover the medical costs of:
- The surgeon
- The anaesthetist
- Your operating theatre fees
- Any reasonable hospital accommodation costs while you recover from the surgery
- Your new baby’s stay with you in hospital
Are there any exclusions for maternity cover?
It’s important that you know what isn’t covered by this maternity benefit. If you have any questions about coverage, please call one of our policy advisors for help. Here are some medical expenses we do not cover:
- Your out-patient treatment for medical conditions arising from your pregnancy
- Complications of pregnancy if you have used assisted reproduction (e.g., IVF) to become pregnant, until after your 12-week scan
- Treatment of your newborn following assisted reproduction in the event of a premature birth (occurring within 36 weeks of conception)
- Any surgery performed on your unborn child
- Any genetic testing or engineering, apart from routine tests
- Terminating your pregnancy or any treatment or tests that you need because of complications related to your termination
- Pregnancy care within the 12-month waiting period
Bronze
Silver
Gold
of newborns
surgical procedure
How to make a claim on your international maternity insurance
We’ve made it as easy as possible for you to claim for your maternity care, and you can call one of our policy advisors at any time for help and advice. As soon as you know you’re pregnant, let us know as soon as you can. To claim, simply tell us by following these steps.
Step 1
Download our maternity claim form below. Note, to see other documents and claims forms, please visit the documents page.
Step 2
Complete Section A of the form and ask your doctor to complete and sign Section B.
Step 3
Send the form along with your invoices and receipts to claims@william-russell.com. Keep the original paperwork somewhere safe for at least 12 months in case we need to see it.
Step 4
Once we have assessed your claim, we’ll be in touch to confirm the amounts we have reimbursed.
How will I be treated by William Russell if I need to access maternity care?
Maternity insurance for expats can be a minefield, but with an international health insurance plan from William Russell, you’re valued as a member, not a potential claimant or a policy number. From your first contact with our team, you’ll deal with a named advisor, each one an expert in pregnancy and expat maternity care. You’ll also have access to top hospitals and English speaking doctors locally.
Is there anything else I need to know?
Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about the international maternity insurance cover on our health plans. If you can’t find what you’re looking for here, or would like to speak to our award-winning customer service team, please call us on +44 1276 486 477.
What are the benefit limits for routine maternity care?
The maximum amount you can claim for routine maternity care for you and your newborn (available only on Gold plans) depends on which currency your cover is in.
| Currency | Maternity benefit limit |
|---|---|
| US dollars | US$18,500 |
| Sterling | £12,200 |
| Euros | €13,875 |
The cover is per pregnancy, so if you are expecting multiple births, your maternity care limit will still apply, regardless of the number of children born.
What are the benefit limits for complications of pregnancy?
The complications of pregnancy benefit limit varies depending on which plan you choose. This benefit has a 12-month waiting period and as with routine maternity cover, the maximum amount you can claim depends on which currency your cover is in.
| Currency | Bronze | SilverLite | Silver | Gold |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US dollars | US$4,800 | US$10,000 | US$15,000 | Full cover |
| Sterling | £3,200 | £6,600 | £10,000 | Full cover |
| Euros | €3,600 | €7,500 | €11,250 | Full cover |
The cover is per pregnancy, so if you are expecting multiple births, your maternity care limit will still apply, regardless of the number of children born.
What are the benefit limits for congenital or hereditary conditions for newborns?
This benefit applies to the treatment that your newborn receives for a congenital condition or hereditary condition (whether diagnosed as a chronic condition or not). It covers in-patient or day-patient care received within the 90-day period following birth, and is only available for Silver and Gold members.
| Currency | Silver | Gold |
|---|---|---|
| US dollars | US$10,000 | US$100,000 |
| Sterling | £6,600 | £66,600 |
| Euros | €7,500 | €75,000 |
Please note, this cover is also only available for newborns who are added to your plan (at the same plan level) within 30 days of birth, where the premium is paid. These limits apply to each pregnancy, regardless of the number of children born.
Does the Gold plan cover c-sections?
Planned caesarean delivery
If you’re having a planned caesarean delivery (when you have decided in advance to have a C-section), whether for medical reasons or personal reasons, you’re covered provided we have more than 24 hours in advance of the birth (within your routine maternity care limits).
Emergency caesarean delivery
We hope that your pregnancy runs smoothly and that you and your baby are healthy throughout. Should you run into complications though, you are covered if you need an emergency caesarean delivery when your obstetrician decides it’s in you or your baby’s bests interests.
In these circumstances, we’ll pay for:
- the cost of the surgeon,
- the anaesthetists and
- your theatre fees
We’ll also cover reasonable hospital accommodation costs while you recover from surgery – this includes your new baby’s stay with you in the hospital.
What’s typically excluded in your plans?
The maternity insurance care that comes as part of our health plans is designed to cover all routine pregnancy care but here are the things we do not cover:
- Pregnancy testing
- Pre-natal classes
- Doulas
- 3D or 4D fetal scans
- Scan photographs
- maternity care before a 12-month waiting period
- Non-medical costs, such as nappies, clothing or registering your baby
- Elective circumcision
- Treatment for your new baby if your pregnancy was the result of assisted reproduction treatment and your baby is born within 36 weeks of conception
Must I be a member for a certain amount of time to to receive pregnancy cover?
Yes, you must be a member for 12 months before you’re eligible for the pregnancy benefits.
What if my due date isn’t within my plan?
Take a moment to check that your due date falls within your period of cover. If not, and you must renew your plan before your due date to ensure you continue to receive your maternity cover. Please also ensure you pay your renewal premium on time so that there is no break in your cover. If you have any questions about this, please call one of our advisors for help.
How much does maternity care cost overseas?
Even the most uncomplicated of pregnancies can still result in significant costs or expenses. Complications such as a caesarean section can see costs of maternity soar. Costs of maternity care vary from country to country; below are a few examples of how high maternity costs can be, based on claims we have received:
- Lebanon – US$9,133 for routine maternity
- United Kingdom – US$6,012 for normal delivery
- Hong Kong – US$11,300 for elective C-section
- Philippines – US$10,000 for routine maternity
- China – US$12,000 for routine maternity
- Thailand – US$9,500 for routine maternity
Does international health insurance cover pregnancy?
Here at William Russell, all our plans cover maternity complications. However, our Gold plan includes standard maternity care coverage, C-section deliveries, childbirth, and the health of the newborn during your hospital stay. Find out more about the benefits of our cover.
Can I get international maternity insurance if I am already pregnant?
If you’re pregnant, you can still purchase a plan but it wouldn’t cover routine maternity care or pregnancy complications. There’s a 12-month waiting period before you can use the pregnancy benefits when you purchase a plan. However, for newborn cover, there is no waiting period.
Do I have coverage for maternity care in the USA?
No. Due to the substantial differences in tariffs, we do not cover any type of medical care or hospitalisation (including maternity) within the United States, Washington D.C., or the U.S. territories and islands as part of our general terms and conditions
Which insurance policy is best for maternity?
Our Gold plan is the best choice for maternity cover. The Gold plan from William Russell covers your entire pregnancy, childbirth, and the health of your newborn during their initial hospital stay.
Is pregnancy covered by travel insurance?
A travel insurance policy may cover some (or all) treatment that you need if you suffer from complications of pregnancy. Most policies, however, won’t cover routine childbirth or a newborn’s health and well-being. Travel policies usually cover you for short-term trips abroad; our health policies are aimed at people living abroad or spending at least 6 months of the year abroad. Our Gold plan, which is the most suitable plan for couples planning a family, gives you cover for routine maternity care and complications of pregnancy once you’ve been insured for 12 months.
Do you offer maternity insurance for non-US citizens?
Yes, we provide insurance to people of all nationalities. However, we don’t provide coverage for maternity in the United States or its territories.
