International Maternity Insurance

• Will I be having my baby in the U.S. or abroad?
• How much international maternity insurance coverage is provided? What is the dollar amount? Is it sufficient for where I am planning to give birth?
• When does international pregnancy insurance coverage begin? Most Plans have 12-month waiting period to get pregnant or for delivery.
• For covered newborns, enrollment applications for insurance coverage must be sent to the insurance company no later than 31 days after the birth date of the baby. This allows the baby to be covered from birth. Please contact Good Neighbor Insurance prior to the birth of your child for the application.

Automatic Acceptance:

• Does my newborn get automatic insurance coverage if the application is submitted on time? Or is there a possibility of my newborn being declined for coverage? Or receiving a “rider/waiver” for any medical conditions evident at birth? (Rider: An attachment to an insurance policy that alters the policy’s coverage or terms. In other words, a medical issue that will not be covered.)
  • GeoBlue Navigator and GeoBlue Xplorer plans allow newborns to be automatically accepted for coverage with submission of enrollment form within 30 days from the date of birth. This is with or without maternity coverage. Adopted children enrolled within 30 days of adoption are automatically accepted also. No exclusions on pre-existing or congenital conditions.
  • PA Group WEA Signature plans automatically accept newborns where mom has maternity coverage if enrolled within 31 days of birth.
  • IMG GMMI Platinum and GMI Platinum plans automatically accept newborns where mom has maternity coverage if enrolled within 31 days of birth. There is a 24 month waiting period for coverage for pre-existing conditions. Coverage is limited to $5,000 per year with lifetime maximum of $50,000. IMG Platinum waiting period for maternity is 10 months (unless woman applies alone). Then waiting is extended to 24 months until conception. Congenital conditions are excluded from coverage after the first 31 days of life.

If you have additional questions about these international maternity insurance plans, please contact Good Neighbor Insurance toll-free at 480-813-9100 or by email.

Which plan is best? – Where will you be having the baby?

When shopping for maternity plans and benefits, the GeoBlue plans are the best if you are from the USA and expect to deliver in the U.S.. The best plan for Non-U.S. citizens may be Cigna’s Gold or Platinum plans. Silver does not include maternity benefits. Or maybe the PA Group Global Health plan. All are listed above.

Realize that the better the coverage, the higher the premiums that you will pay. You may want to figure out the value of the benefits/savings versus up-front costs and estimate which plan might be best for you.

Can I add maternity insurance benefits later?

Most of these options have restrictions on switching plans or increasing benefits for maternity care at a later date. You will need to reapply if you want to do this and new waiting periods will be in effect. GeoBlue will allow you to add the maternity benefits at each renewal. (So after the first year or remove it, etc.)

We would be happy to walk you through the various options and considerations if shopping for international maternity insurance benefits. There may also be benefits that bring family to you if there is a good hospital nearby. Or if you save enough on the difference between policy amounts. It may also be the case if there is an indemnity benefit for using a hospital outside the USA for delivery. 

Start the process of information gathering early

We’d be happy to help you evaluate overall cost/benefits to any health insurance plan plus and minus maternity benefits. This will help you make the best choice for your family. Call us at 480-813-9100 or email us your thoughts and questions and we’ll walk you through it. It’s not unusual to begin this information gathering process up to a year before you are leaving. This allows you time to think, discuss and budget.