When you’re studying internationally, choosing the right insurance plan can be daunting. You want to make sure you’re covered in case you need to seek medical attention. If you are a woman studying internationally or if your wife is traveling with you while you study internationally, maternity coverage may or may not be on your mind. Pregnancies can occur, planned or not, and health care for it can be expensive. Maternity benefits are an important part of a comprehensive international student insurance plan.
Check out our Student Secure insurance that could cover maternity
A typical pregnancy includes prenatal care, delivery, and postnatal care with a doctor to ensure a healthy baby and mother. Prenatal care includes visits and check-ups with the doctor before the baby is born. It includes ultrasounds and other tests to make sure the baby is developing in a healthy way. If your pregnancy is considered high-risk because of your age or health conditions, you may require more frequent visits and special care. You may also need to see a doctor who works with high-risk pregnancies. Without insurance, prenatal care alone typically costs around $2,000 or more in the USA.
The delivery of a baby includes a hospital stay which can vary in length depending on the type of birth and complications, and is the most expensive portion of the pregnancy. Delivery can range in cost from around $3,000 for uncomplicated vaginal births, around $5,000 for cesarean, to over $7,000 for complicated births. Postnatal care lasts six to eight weeks after the birth and ensures the physical and emotional health of the mother and baby.
Most insurance plans will not cover a pregnancy if you are pregnant before your plan starts – so think ahead!
All of these expenses add up fast and if your insurance plan does not include maternity coverage you might find yourself in a tight spot. Additionally, most insurance plans will not cover a pregnancy if you become pregnant before your policy becomes effective – so think ahead! Our Major Medical plan – the Global Medical – has an optional maternity rider that you can add to your policy for an additional annual premium. This plan, however, does have a 12-month waiting period before you can receive full maternity benefits.
Maternity coverage is one of many important considerations when choosing your insurance plan. For more information, please visit our Insurance Explained section or contact our friendly customer service representatives.
Category: Insurance Explained, International Student Health Insurance, International Students in the USA, Student Insurance
Tags: coverage for maternity as an international student, coverage for maternity in the US, coverage for pregnancy in the US, international students, maternity, maternity coverage for international students, maternity coverage in the US, maternity insurance for international students, pregnancy coverage in the US, pregnancy insurance for international students
Hello,
I am from Nigeria and considering undertaking a master’s degree in Estonia. I also want to get pregnant midway, as I am married and hoping to have a kid soon. What insurance plan do you recommend?
Hello Lucy,
Thanks for your comment. You are eligible for the Student Secure plan as long as you’re a full time student in Estonia. We recommend the Select or Elite levels, since those offer up to $10,000 and $25,000 USD (respectively) for maternity as long as the pregnancy occurs after the effective date of coverage. Please keep in mind that outside of the USA the coverage works mostly on a reimbursement basis.
Best of luck!