Can you buy life insurance while pregnant?

You can buy life insurance while pregnant, but your rates can be higher or your application can be delayed because of pregnancy complications.

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Rebecca ShoenthalEditor & Licensed Life Insurance ExpertRebecca Shoenthal is a licensed life, disability, and health insurance expert and a former editor at Policygenius. Her insights about life insurance and finance have appeared in The Wall Street Journal, Fox Business, The Balance, HerMoney, SBLI, and John Hancock.&Katherine MurbachEditor & Licensed Life Insurance AgentKatherine Murbach is an editor and a former licensed life insurance agent at Policygenius. Previously, she wrote about life and disability insurance for 1752 Financial, and advised over 1,500 clients on their life insurance policies as a sales associate.

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Antonio Ruiz-CamachoAntonio Ruiz-CamachoAssociate Content DirectorAntonio helps lead our life insurance and disability insurance editorial team at Policygenius. Previously, he was a senior director of content at Bankrate and CreditCards.com, as well as a principal writer covering personal finance at CNET.
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Kristi Sullivan, CFP®Kristi Sullivan, CFP®Certified Financial PlannerKristi Sullivan, CFP®, is a certified financial planner and a member of the Financial Review Council at Policygenius. Previously, she was a regional consultant at Fidelity Investments for nine years.

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You can get a life insurance policy while you’re pregnant as long as you’re not experiencing any complications, but you’re more likely to get the best rates by applying before your second trimester.

Finding the right insurer for your situation, however, will be key. You won’t be denied life insurance solely because of a pregnancy, but some insurance companies will postpone your application to try to get the most accurate understanding of your health.

Key Takeaways

  • You can still apply for life insurance at any point in your pregnancy.

  • Your application is less likely to be impacted by your pregnancy if you’re not experiencing any complications, and you don’t have pre-existing conditions that could cause complications.

  • If you’re in the third trimester, some insurers might postpone your coverage until after you’ve given birth. 

  • An independent broker can help you compare guidelines between multiple insurers to help you get a policy as soon as possible.

How does pregnancy affect life insurance rates?

Pregnancy is one factor that can affect your insurance risk. Insurance companies base your life insurance premiums on your estimated lifespan and health risks, using factors such as age, gender, and medical history.

Weight gain and complications like gestational diabetes or preeclampsia are some specific examples of pregnancy-related factors that can affect your life insurance quotes.

Weight gain

Most insurance companies use your pre-pregnancy weight when setting your premiums, but some will use your current weight, which might lead to higher premiums. Other companies may only check that you’re gaining weight at expected levels and increase your premiums if you’ve gained more than expected. 

If you apply postpartum, it’s helpful to have a record of your pre-pregnancy weight. Many insurers will use your pre-pregnancy weight until six months after you’ve given birth.

Complications

Your application may be postponed or accepted at a higher premium if you experience complications or indications of a high-risk pregnancy. These may include:

  • Complications in a previous pregnancy

  • Gestational diabetes from current or previous pregnancy

  • Elevated cholesterol 

  • Multiple pregnancy with triplets or more

  • History of postpartum depression

  • Pre-eclampsia

  • Pregnancy at age 45 or older 

The insurance company will also factor in any pre-existing health conditions that may increase your risk for pregnancy complications, [1] including:

  • Diabetes

  • Cancer history

  • High blood pressure

  • Anemia

  • Epilepsy

Each life insurance company approaches pregnancy-related health conditions differently.

For example, some insurers might disregard pregnancy-related cholesterol increases if your pre-pregnancy levels are within range. Others consider pregnancy over age 35 high-risk. 

Working with an independent broker like Policygenius can help compare quotes from top insurers to find the policy that fits your needs and circumstances.

Do you need to tell the life insurance company that you’re pregnant?

Yes, you’ll need to tell the insurer that you’re pregnant. Most insurance companies will ask about pregnancy at some point in the application process.

This is because pregnancy can have a significant impact on your overall health. If you have a pre-existing condition like high blood pressure or diabetes, pregnancy may heighten your condition. [2]

Intentionally hiding or lying about your pregnancy is considered a type of life insurance fraud. In instances of fraud, your policy could be canceled and your beneficiaries’ claim could be denied after you die.

If you become pregnant when you already have an active policy, you don’t need to let your insurer know.

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When should you apply for life insurance if you’re pregnant?

It’s always better to apply for life insurance sooner rather than later, if you can. The life insurance application process can take up to four to six weeks, but could take longer if your insurer requests more information from your doctor to confirm your health details.

In general, the younger you are, the lower your premiums. However, you can apply for life insurance anytime before, during, or after your pregnancy.

Before pregnancy

If you’re planning on starting a family, the best time to apply for life insurance is before you get pregnant. The average cost of life insurance increases by 4.5% to 9% each year you age. If you know you want to have children, you can lock in affordable premiums now that will last for decades. It also guarantees your family is covered during childbirth.

When disclosing medications on your application, include any fertility treatment or prescriptions. Fertility treatments such as IVF don’t typically impact life insurance rates, but they’ll appear in your medical records.

During pregnancy

The closer you are to childbirth, the more likely it is for your application to be postponed or your premiums increased.

Applications from pregnant people in the first trimester are typically approved, but applications submitted in the third trimester are often delayed until after birth due to the unpredictability of your health during this stage of pregnancy. 

If you do end up with higher premiums due to pregnancy complications, most life insurance companies allow you to retake your medical exam a year or two after your policy becomes active. If your new exam results qualify for a lower price, your premiums will be adjusted. (If they don’t, your premiums won’t go up.)

After pregnancy

If your application is postponed during your pregnancy, the next best time to apply for life insurance is four to eight weeks after you give birth.

By this point, your weight will likely be lower than it was during your pregnancy and any health complications from pregnancy, including elevated blood pressure and cholesterol, should be resolved.

However, postpartum depression and gestational diabetes can elevate your premiums for up to five years even if you’re no longer experiencing symptoms, so your premiums will depend on your personal situation.

How to buy life insurance if you’re pregnant

It can be fairly simple to buy life insurance even if you’re pregnant.

  1. First, fill out your application. You can disclose your pregnancy on your application’s health questionnaire, provide your due date, and list any medications you’ve been prescribed.

  2. Next, you’ll take a medical exam. This is a common part of the life insurance application process. If you’re in your first trimester with no complications, some companies may not require you to take an exam. This means you’ll answer a few additional health questions over the phone or online instead.

  3. Wait for the insurer to review your application. Your agent will let you know when the insurance company extends a final policy offer, which can take up to a couple of weeks.

  4. Accept your offer and pay your first premium. Once you have a decision from the insurance company, you can sign the final paperwork to activate your coverage.

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Life insurance riders to consider if you’re pregnant

Life insurance riders are optional features you can add to your life insurance policy to customize your coverage. Some riders can be useful if you’re buying life insurance in anticipation of a new child, but some riders may be costly or not necessary for your family.

If you’re interested in adding to your coverage, the agent you’re working with will be able to give you specific details for the company that’s best suited for you.

  • Child rider: This add-on pays a small death benefit that can be put toward funeral costs in a worst-case scenario. One rider can cover your children from the time they are 15 days old and can cost as little as $50 per year for $10,000 of coverage.

  • Disability income rider: If you become injured and can’t work, a disability rider will provide a small payout to cover your expenses. You’ll get better coverage with a separate long-term disability policy, but a rider can add some support.

  • Spousal rider: A spousal rider is an inexpensive option if your partner is unable to qualify for an individual life insurance policy. However, it’s usually recommended that both partners purchase an individual policy if they can each qualify instead — this option offers the most comprehensive coverage and is cost-efficient.

Life insurance options if your application is postponed or declined

If your application is postponed due to complications or a high-risk pregnancy, one possible option to consider is group life insurance coverage

  • If you’re able to work, many employers offer group coverage. These policies are typically offered for free or at a low cost as part of a benefits package.

  • Group life insurance policies usually offer less coverage than individual policies do. In addition, you’re usually unable to keep your policy if you leave the company that sponsored it.

If your only coverage option at the time of your pregnancy is group life insurance, consider applying for your own individual policy as soon as your odds of being approved improve.

Other health concerns that can affect your life insurance

Certain pre-existing conditions and other health-related concerns can affect your life insurance options or costs. A Policygenius expert can help you find the right policy for your needs.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get life insurance if I’m pregnant?

You can get life insurance anytime before, during, or after your pregnancy. Your application may be postponed if you have experienced or are experiencing any complications.

How does pregnancy affect life insurance?

If you experience pregnancy-related health complications such as postpartum depression or gestational diabetes, you could pay more for life insurance. If you already have an active life insurance policy and become pregnant, you won’t see any changes on your premiums or coverage.

What is the best time to apply for life insurance if you’re planning to get pregnant?

You’re more likely to get lower rates if you buy life insurance before getting pregnant. If you’re already pregnant, your application is less likely to be postponed if you buy a policy in the first trimester.

References

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Policygenius uses external sources, including government data, industry studies, and reputable news organizations to supplement proprietary marketplace data and internal expertise. Learn more about how we use and vet external sources as part of oureditorial standards.

  1. Cleveland Clinic

    . "

    Pregnancy Complications

    ." Accessed October 06, 2023.

  2. Mayo Clinic

    . "

    High-risk pregnancy: Know what to expect

    ." Accessed October 06, 2023.

Authors

Rebecca Shoenthal is a licensed life, disability, and health insurance expert and a former editor at Policygenius. Her insights about life insurance and finance have appeared in The Wall Street Journal, Fox Business, The Balance, HerMoney, SBLI, and John Hancock.

Katherine Murbach is an editor and a former licensed life insurance agent at Policygenius. Previously, she wrote about life and disability insurance for 1752 Financial, and advised over 1,500 clients on their life insurance policies as a sales associate.

Editor

Antonio helps lead our life insurance and disability insurance editorial team at Policygenius. Previously, he was a senior director of content at Bankrate and CreditCards.com, as well as a principal writer covering personal finance at CNET.

Expert reviewer

Kristi Sullivan, CFP®, is a certified financial planner and a member of the Financial Review Council at Policygenius. Previously, she was a regional consultant at Fidelity Investments for nine years.

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