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
Good day,
Please I want to ask if the insurance for international covers child birth.
Hi Bisiriyu. Our international student plan includes maternity coverage and child birth for a pregnancy that occurs during the coverage period if you choose the Select level. Pre-existing pregnancies are not covered. Here’s the link for more information: http://www.internationalstudentinsurance.com/student-health-insurance/
Hello, how much will it cover for the maternity? 100% percent?
Hi Daisy. The Select level of our International Student Health plan covers 80% of maternity costs if you use a PPO provider. The Budget level will cover 80% if you use a PPO provider or 60% up to $5,000 outside of the PPO network.
You can apply for the plan here: https://www.internationalstudentinsurance.com/student-health-insurance/apply/
Hello, I am already pregnant (27 weeks) and I have health insurance that is to expensive for me right now. I want to know if when switching my insurance to one of these plan, my pregnancy will be covered or not.
Hi Nanice! A pre-existing pregnancy will not be covered by any of our plans. I recommend keeping your existing plan if they are covering your maternity costs. Switching plans comes with the risk of pre-existing conditions not being covered for a waiting period or at all.
Hi,
I wanted to ask if all testing recommended by the doctor is coverd during preganancy? Or do you have any limits or exclusions?
Hi Kathy, as long as the conception takes place during the coverage period, the Student Secure Budget and Select plans will cover all pre-natal testing. You can view a full list of the benefits here: http://www.internationalstudentinsurance.com/student-health-insurance/benefits.php
Hi! Are midwives covered in this plan?
Hi Sara, for all of our insurance plans, treatments must be medically necessary and performed by a licensed medical doctor. Let me know if you have any further questions.
I click the link above and try to apply budget plan, then adding spouse and son. why it doesn’t provide the blank to fill in those information?
Jun, the Budget and all of the levels of the Student Secure plan no longer allow you to add dependents. Instead, check out the Global Medical plan for maternity coverage: http://www.internationalstudentinsurance.com/major-medical-insurance/
Hi Victoria,
I am a MSc student at a Dutch university. My wife came with me to live during my studies. We both are from Mexico. The master program takes 2 years from september 2014 – july 2016. From July 1, 2015 – April 30, 2016, we will be living in Germany.
I am doing an internship/thesis and will last those 10 months in a company, but the company does not pay me health insurance because I dont get taxes deducted. Afterwards, I will go back to the Netherlands to complete the degree. My wife is pregnant (26 weeks), and the baby will be born in December during my stay.
I would like to see if there is an option to cover her pregnancy, labor, and post natal care in Germany.
Thanks
Hi Carlos. Unfortunately we don’t offer any plans that cover a pre-existing pregnancy. Best of luck!
Hi my husband is on j1visa studying in Chicago. He is a Fulbright scholar and sponsoring organization covers his insurance. I am on j2 visa and interested in insurance that covers maternity. Iam currently not pregnant. Please advise which program best suits my situation. Thank you
Hi Gerlee,
I’m kinda in a similar situation. We are currently living in Canada, but we’ll move to US in January because my husband got a post-doctoral position. He is on J1 and I’m on J2. I’m not pregrant for now, but we are planning. So we also need an insurance that covers maternity and labor. Unfortunately we couldn’t find any appropriate plans so far. Have you been lucky in your search?
Hi Rana. As a full-time scholar, your husband is eligible for the Student Health Advantage plan, which allows him to add a dependent to the plan. This plan covers maternity. Your husband is required to be the primary insured on the plan because he is the full-time scholar. Here’s the link to learn more: http://www.internationalstudentinsurance.com/student-health-advantage/
Gerlee,
As a full-time scholar, your husband is eligible for the Student Health Advantage plan, which allows him to add a dependent to the plan. This plan covers maternity. Your husband is required to be the primary insured on the plan because he is a full-time scholar. Here’s the link to learn more: http://www.internationalstudentinsurance.com/student-health-advantage/
Hi Victoria,
Currently I am in f2 visa . I am pregnant and its 10 weeks now. If I am changing my visa status to f1 during pregnancy, will I get the same insurance benefits of f2 visa?
Thanks,
Jis
Hi Jis. If you already have an insurance plan that covers maternity, I recommend keeping it. It is more difficult to find an insurance plan if you are already pregnant, regardless of your visa type. Good luck!
Hi,
My husband is starting school on f1 ( international student) status in a couple of weeks. He’s 37 years old, and I’m 35 and his dependent (f2) and not pregnant. But we would be looking at starting a family pretty soon so can you please suggest the best and the most affordable plan for us which covers maternity? Please be clear about what exactly would we have to pay each month for both of us? He will be going to school for a masters degree in NJ
Thanks!
Hello,
What if during delivery someone insured could not pay the balance copay amount?
Insurance from united healthcare
Hi Chandra,
Thanks for your comment and I’m sorry to hear of your situation. There are many things that you can do to help lower your medical bills. Here’s a blog on the subject that may be of help to you: http://www.internationalstudentinsurance.com/blog/2016/08/dont-insurance-medical-bills-pay.html.
If student from other country like pakistan studying in netherland and during her study period she got pregnant so is it allowed for student to get pregnant and what help the university will provide or a student should have to spend her own money for prenatal and antenatal period??
Hi Mewish,
Thanks for your comment. While you are able to become pregnant as an international student, the university is not required to provide any type of financial assistance, however, you can confirm with your university. We would recommend having an insurance plan that offers maternity coverage. You will have to pay out of pocket for your expenses most of the time for prenatal, delivery, and postnatal care if you don’t have an insurance plan.
If you are not currently pregnant and you are a full time international student at a college or university in the Netherlands, you can purchase the Student Secure plan – levels Budget, Select, or Elite. They provide maternity coverage as well as newborn care.
Best of luck!
Hello,
I am holding a F2 visa. My husband and I plan to get pregnant in a few months. May I ask what plan should I pick? And what’s the 12-month waiting period? Does that mean you would start to cover the pregnancy after 12 month I bought the plan and not cover if I get pregnant in the the first several months after I bought? Thank you very much.
Hi Rebecca,
Thanks for your comment! For you I would recommend our Global Medical plan – Platinum which covers maternity for F2 visa holders. I have email you more information about the plan.
Have a nice day!
i’m pregnant now, but will go there study ESL, could i join student insurance and covered the maternity fee?
Hi Emily,
Thanks for your comment. Unfortunately, if you are already pregnant, our plans will not cover your maternity expenses. Our Atlas Travel plan offers coverage for complications of pregnancy for the first 26 weeks. I have sent you more information about this to your email.
Please let us know if you have any other questions.
Hi Yessica,
My girlfriend is currently a J1 visa holder as a visiting scholar in the US. She works full-time here but is only getting paid by her employer in China. She is planning to get pregnant in couple of months. Which plan would you suggest to cover the maternity fee in case she is the primary insured without any dependent?
Thanks
Hi Huailong,
Thanks for your comment. As long as your girlfriend is not currently pregnant and maintains a valid J1 visa, she is eligible for coverage under the Student Secure plan. The levels Budget, Select, and Elite will offer maternity coverage for an eligible pregnancy. I have sent you more details about this to your email.
Have a great day!
My wife had participated in fullbright program and she was selected. but during doing the fullbright tests, she got pregnant and we thought she might leave to USA in july. at time she would have delivered the baby in june, but her program decided to make her leave to USA to do intensive courses before she starts her master program. i’m asking if this pregnancy can affect on her scholarship since she will get only J1 visa in this period because of intensive courses?
Hi Jemal,
Unfortunately we can only assist you with questions on health insurance. For the most accurate information you will want to contact her program contact- they should be able to assist. Best of luck to you both!
Hi,
I am a full time student in California so I am under F1 visa right now. I will finish my study in 9months and planning to do OPT after I graduate. I am planning to get married in 4 months. Me and my fiance are planning to have baby right away after we get married. Do you have any insurance for International Student that can apply for OPT visa, that cover for maternity and delivery ? and doesn’t have a 12 months waiting period ?
Thank you in advance.
Hello Maria,
Thanks for your comment. I would recommend our Student Secure plan which offers maternity coverage in the Budget, Select, and Elite levels as long as you are not currently pregnant and as long as you maintain a valid F1 visa (even on your OPT). I have sent you an email with more information about it.
Have a great day!
Am planning to go to study in poland in january and am already pregnant I have 8week could I join students insurance including maternity fees?
Hello Lucienne,
Thanks for your comment. Unfortunately, if you’re currently pregnant, we would not have a plan that could cover your maternity expenses.
We apologize for the inconveniences and wish you the best of luck!
I am currently pregnant and will be on F-1 visa resuminh in august 2021, how can I get cheaper healthcare.
Thank you
Hi,
Thanks for your comment. Unfortunately, if you’re currently pregnant we do not have a plan that can cover your maternity related expenses. We advise that you consult with your international student advisor about any state programs that might be available to you that might help in receiving cheaper healthcare.
Best of luck!
I AM A STUDENT, PRESENTLY IN AMERICA HOUSTON AND I FOUND OUT I AM PREGNANT, I WAS TOLD BY FRIENDS THAT I WILL BE SENT BACK TO MY COUNTRY FOR BEING PREGNANT,WHAT CHANCES DO I HAVE?
Hello Whizzy,
Thanks for your comment. Unfortunately, we’re unable to advise regarding immigration issues. We recommend you contact an immigration attorney for advice.
Have a great day!
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!