Can you get life insurance when you're pregnant?

Key takeaways

• If you already have life insurance, you don’t need to tell your provider if you get pregnant.

• Solely being pregnant won’t affect your premiums if you take out a life insurance policy, but some pregnancy-related medical conditions could affect the cost.

• Insurers usually ask for your pre-pregnancy weight when calculating life insurance premiums.

• You’ll need to have been smoke-free for 12 months to qualify as a ‘non-smoker’ when you take out life insurance – stopping during pregnancy won’t be enough.

Can you get life insurance when you're pregnant?

Life insurance is a type of insurance policy that provides your loved ones with a cash lump sum in the event of your death. It can provide peace of mind if you are growing your family.

Pregnant women can get life insurance, the same as anyone else. In theory, applying for life insurance when pregnant is no different to applying at any other time.

Although you’ll need to disclose your pregnancy during the application, the insurer can’t charge you higher premiums solely because you are pregnant. However, you’ll need to disclose any pre-existing medical conditions, including any that are related to pregnancy.

What are the benefits of life insurance while pregnant?

Many families re-assess their financial situation when they are expecting a baby. Having the right insurance policies can ensure your family is protected in the event of illness suffered by either parent or if one of them dies.

The benefits of life insurance in pregnancy include:

• Financial security for your growing family

Life insurance provides a financial safety net. It ensures that your family's financial needs are met if the main breadwinner is diagnosed with a terminal illness or passes away.

• Protection for stay-at-home parents

Mothers on maternity leave and stay-at-home parents can also benefit from life insurance. Any payout can cover the cost of hiring help for childcare and other household chores.

• Potential to lock in lower rates at a younger age

Buying life insurance while younger often means cheaper premiums.

Will pregnancy increase my life insurance premiums?

Being pregnant will not mean you need to pay high life insurance premiums.

If you're applying for life insurance that requires a medical exam, normal pregnancy-related changes, such as weight gain, shouldn't affect your premium.

However, all life insurance applicants need to disclose information about their health status. So if you're experiencing health issues related to your pregnancy, like high blood pressure or gestational diabetes, these may be taken into account when setting premiums.

Do I need to inform my provider that I'm pregnant?

If you already have life insurance and become pregnant, there is no obligation to tell your insurer.

However, when applying for life insurance, you must inform your provider if you are pregnant.

Not disclosing your pregnancy could be viewed as ‘non-disclosure’ which could invalidate your policy.

When asked about my weight, is this current?

You’ll gain weight as your pregnancy progresses.

Insurers will ask your weight when you apply for life insurance. Most will ask your pre-pregnancy weight, rather than your weight while expecting a baby.

It’s important to be honest about your normal weight as your weight and BMI, alongside other lifestyle factors, will be used to calculate your premiums.

When asked about smoking, is this while pregnant?

When applying for life insurance during pregnancy, the insurer will ask about your normal smoking habits.

It’s important to answer this question truthfully as smokers are statistically more likely to risk ill health, disease and death at an earlier age, which will mean paying higher increase life insurance premiums.

Insurers won’t categorise you as a non-smoker if you’ve only given up smoking since becoming pregnant. To qualify as a non-smoker you’ll need to have not smoked for the previous 12 months – this includes vapes and other nicotine replacement products too.