I wanted to touch on this topic due to the controversy created around the Million Dollar Baby. I’m not privy to the medical information on this case, so I will not speak directly to the case. This article will take the mystery out of Travel and Pregnancy.
The wording in the contract for pregnancy is as follows:
“No coverage is provided for any Emergency related to (i) a pregnancy or delivery including infant care, after the 32nd week of pregnancy, or (ii) the deliberate inducement of a miscarriage.”
The other wording that you must take into account is what I spoke of in my Blog last week. Pre-Existing Conditions. If you are having a high risk pregnancy, or your medical history suggests a higher risk for an early delivery or complications, the pre-existing condition wording trumps the Pregnancy wording.
Your Doctor approving your travel does not always mean that your pre-existing condition will be covered. The reason behind this is most Doctors are not clear on the wordings in your Employee Benefit Contract.
Most contracts will outline the following definition in their contract:
“Stable will mean that, during the three month period before the departure date, the Person Insured has not:
- Received Medical Care for the medical condition or been under evaluation for new symptoms or conditions uncovered in a medical examination;
- Experienced a worsening or increased frequency of symptoms or examination finding related to the medical condition (diagnosed or undiagnosed), if the Person Insured has been seen by a Physician or other health care professional;
- Been prescribed medication or been recommended a change in Medical Care related to the medical condition by a Physician or other healthcare professional, including changes in medication that are made as part of an ongoing Medical Care but not, including a reduction in medication (prescribed or non-prescribed) due to an improvement in the medical condition;
- Been admitted to or received Medical Care at a hospital for the medical condition; or
- Been advised of future non-routine tests, investigations, surgery or new Medical Care planned for a pre-existing medical condition or future medical appointment planned with respect to an undiagnosed medical condition.”
I would like to thank Empire Life for working with me on the Out-of-Country Blog. Although most of the Insurance Companies operate under the same guidelines, I recommend that you check with your Insurance Company and get the responses in writing.
Please contact me with any questions or further clarification required.
Live a Life Worth Insuring
