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Prenatal (or antenatal) care simply refers to the phase between conception and birth. During this time, you’ll have regular appointments with your midwife, sonographer, and/or obstetrician to check on the physical and mental well-being of both you and your unborn child.
Pregnancy & Maternity
Care for Expats
Pregnancy is an exciting time for you and your family. When living abroad, it’s even more important to make sure you have the cover you need. That’s why all our health plans include expat maternity insurance cover for complications of pregnancy. But only the 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.
Maternity Insurance for Expats
Whether you’re planning a family or you already have children – you’ll want to ensure you and your baby have access to the best possible maternity care throughout your pregnancy. Maternity care for expats is no exception and we’re here to explain how we can help with that. From which appointments and tests are covered, to the cover we provide for childbirth.
What is routine maternity care?
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.
What makes our international maternity insurance cover different?
Maternity insurance for expats can be a minefield, but with a health 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.
Once you’ve had a Gold plan for 12 months, you’re eligible for additional maternity benefits – with generous maximum claim amounts and an easy claims process.
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 complimentary cover for congenital disorders your newborn may be born with up to $100,000* – when they are added to your plan within 30 days.
*depending on the currency of your plan
What is my newborn covered for after birth?
For Gold plan members we’ll pay for your newborns 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 costs of:
- the surgeon
- the anaesthetist
- your theatre fees
- any reasonable hospital accommodation costs while you recover from the surgery
- your new baby’s stay with you in hospital.
What isn’t covered?
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 things we do not cover:
- Your out-patient treatment for medical conditions arising from your pregnancy
- Complications of pregnancy if you have used assisted reproduction to become pregnant, until after your 12-week scan
- Treatment of a newborn following assisted reproduction (e.g. IVF) 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
Frequently asked questions
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 simply like to speak to one of our advisors, 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 | $15,000 |
| Sterling | £10,000 |
| Euros | €11,250 |
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 | $4,800 | $10,000 | $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 | $10,000 | $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
