Can You Get Life Insurance While Pregnant?
Yes, you can. Insurers will consider pregnancy during the underwriting process and may take into account other aspects of an applicant’s current or past health and any pregnancy-related complications.
Each underwriting outcome will vary based on many factors, including whether or not the pregnancy has been/will be complicated.
| Your situation | What may happen | Useful next step |
|---|---|---|
| Uncomplicated pregnancy with routine follow-up | Your application may proceed through the insurer’s regular health and financial review. | Applications should be completed when there is a need for coverage. All questions about pregnancy must be answered accurately. |
| Routine test or specialist report is pending | The insurer may decide to wait before making its decision, or may request your test results. | Find out what record is missing and see if the rest of the file can proceed. |
| Gestational diabetes, hypertension, pre-eclampsia or another complication | This can depend on control, treatment, severity of the condition, other findings and gestational age. | Disclose your diagnosis and compare the underwriting results instead of assuming that you’ll definitely be charged a higher premium. |
| Recent hospitalization or unresolved symptoms | More records or postponement may be likely | Ask what medical stability or follow-up the insurer would need for reconsideration. |
| Existing policy already in force | During pregnancy, an in-force policy is normally not repriced just because of changes in health after it is in force. | Beneficiary designations and overall amount of insurance should be revisited periodically. Keep premiums current. |
| Increase or new policy after birth | New evidence of insurability may be required | If asked, use completed postpartum follow-up and current records. |
Can You Apply for Life Insurance at Any Stage of Your Pregnancy?
Yes, people can apply at any stage of pregnancy. However, it’s impossible to say in advance whether an application would be approved and what it would cost. Insurers will consider the medical evidence they have when you apply and may accept applications at normal rates or charge more, accept them on different terms, defer a decision or decline applications.
If you’re pregnant, the first trimester is not necessarily the best time to apply and it’s not necessarily going to be extremely expensive in the third trimester. If you need protection right away, ask for an underwritten answer. On the other hand, if a significant medical test is days away, ask whether waiting for the result before applying would give the insurer a clearer picture before submitting a formal application.
What Information May The Insurer Request?
Underwriting is not prenatal care. Do not delay recommended care or testing in an effort to improve the insurer’s underwriting decision. Provide the insurer with accurate information. Ask your health-care provider if you have medical questions. If you’re pregnant and applying for coverage, insurers may ask questions about your pregnancy, including:
- Due date, gestational age and number of fetuses
- Prenatal-care history
- Current and pre-pregnancy weight, height, blood pressure and laboratory results
- Past pregnancies and complications, including gestational diabetes or hypertensive disorders
- Current symptoms, diagnoses, medications, hospital visits and specialist follow-up
- General medical and family history
- Occupation
- Travel
- Tobacco and alcohol use
- Financial information required for the policy
Read More: See How Life Insurance Underwriting Works During an Application
Calculating Life Insurance Coverage When Pregnant
Your life insurance should provide for the financial future of your loved ones and their long-term well-being. Here are some things to keep in mind when deciding on a coverage amount and type of life insurance policy:
- Health conditions: Pre-existing health conditions and those developed during pregnancy may affect the rate, terms, or timing of an application.
- Coverage needs: Apart from lost income, consider increasing your coverage for future educational needs, childcare, and shared expenses for household maintenance.
Policy type: Term life insurance provides coverage anywhere from 5 to 30 years depending on your needs. While temporary, it’s more affordable and can at least cover you until your child reaches adulthood. Whole life insurance is more expensive, but it offers lifelong coverage and may have a cash value you can borrow against. Universal life insurance has lifelong coverage too but its premiums and benefits are adjustable, offering greater financial flexibility.
Read More: Review Life Insurance Needs for New and Expecting Parents
Which Life Insurance Type Should You Compare?
| Option | Where it may fit | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Term life | Term can fit a defined period, such as the mortgage years or until a child is independent. | Review the renewal schedule, conversion right, term length and affordability after renewal. |
| Permanent life | A lifelong need, such as estate liquidity or support for a dependent who will need it long term. | Guarantees, cash value, surrender effect, fees and the long-term premium commitment. |
| Workplace group life | A base layer while eligible for the plan | Amount, tax treatment, termination, reduction and conversion options |
Term or permanent life insurance? The type of life insurance you should have depends on how long you’ll need coverage and what premium you’ll be able to maintain over time. Being pregnant doesn’t change that.
Read More: Estimate How Much Life Insurance You Need
How Pregnancy Complications Can Affect Underwriting
The final decision regarding pregnancy complications would depend on the overall picture, which includes, but is not limited to, the diagnosis itself, treatment, how well controlled it is, medical records, and other health-related aspects.
What should you do when applying for life insurance when you’re pregnant or dealing with pregnancy complications?
- Make sure that the insurer’s decision, whether to rate, modify, postpone, or decline, is clear. Keep in mind, a postponement and a decline are separate decisions.
- If rated, compare with other offers based on properly disclosed applications. Consider the cost of waiting uninsured.
- Don’t count on supplementary insurance to solve pregnancy-related underwriting issues. Benefits are paid when certain conditions are met. For example, child term rider pays the death benefit when the insured child passes away; critical-illness coverage pays for listed diagnoses that meet the contract definition; hospital-income coverage pays only for an eligible hospital stay. They’re helpful products but are not broad insurance against pregnancy-related complications.