Life insurance during pregnancy: Your options explained

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Expecting a child is one of life’s biggest milestones. Alongside preparing for your baby’s arrival, many parents start thinking about their family’s financial security. One common question that comes up is whether you can take out life insurance when pregnant.

The reassuring news is that pregnancy doesn’t usually stop you from getting life insurance. Many insurers offer cover to people who are expecting, although they may ask a few additional health questions during the application process.

In this guide, we’ll explain how life insurance works during pregnancy, what insurers consider when assessing an application and how to choose the right cover for your growing family.

Can you get life insurance when pregnant?

Yes, you can apply for life insurance while pregnant.

You’ll typically go through the standard process of providing information about your health, lifestyle, and the amount of cover you want.

Why do people take out life insurance during pregnancy?

Pregnancy is often when people start thinking more seriously about financial protection. A new child brings additional responsibilities, and life insurance can help provide reassurance that your loved ones would be financially supported if something unexpected happened.

Some of the common reasons expecting parents consider life insurance are:

Protecting your partner or spouse: Life insurance can provide a lump sum payment that helps your partner manage household costs if you pass away during the policy term.

Supporting your child financially: The payout could help cover childcare, living expenses or education costs as your child grows.

Covering housing costs: Many families use life insurance to help repay a mortgage or rent payments if the worst happens.

Replacing lost income: If your income helps support your household, life insurance can provide financial stability for your family.

Taking out cover during pregnancy means protection can start before your baby arrives, giving many families peace of mind during an important life transition.

Does pregnancy affect life insurance applications?

Pregnancy alone doesn’t usually prevent you from getting life insurance.

Most insurers consider pregnancy a temporary health condition, so they’ll want to understand whether there are any medical risks involved.

Pregnancy-related conditions insurers may consider

Some pregnancy complications may influence the underwriting decision. For example:

• Gestational diabetes
  
• Pre-eclampsia
  
• Pregnancy-related high blood pressure

If complications are present, an insurer may decide to:

• Offer cover with standard terms.
  
• Request additional medical information.
  
• Delay the policy until after the baby is born.

It’s important to remember that many people with uncomplicated pregnancies still receive standard life insurance offers.

Is it better to get life insurance before or after pregnancy?

Some people wonder whether it’s better to apply for life insurance before pregnancy, during pregnancy or after their baby is born. The right time depends on your circumstances.

Getting cover before pregnancy

Applying before pregnancy may make the underwriting process slightly simpler, because insurers won’t need to assess pregnancy-related risks.

However, this isn’t always possible if pregnancy happens sooner than expected.

Getting cover during pregnancy

Many parents apply for life insurance during pregnancy so that protection is already in place before their child arrives.

For straightforward pregnancies, the process can be very similar to applying at any other time.

Getting cover after your baby is born

Some insurers may recommend waiting until after birth if complications arise during pregnancy. Once the pregnancy has ended and health has stabilised, applications may proceed more easily.

Ultimately, the best time to take out life insurance is when you feel it’s important to protect your family financially.

What types of life insurance can you get when pregnant?

Pregnancy doesn’t limit the type of life insurance you can apply for. Most policies available to the general public are also available to people who are expecting.

1. Term life insurance

Term life insurance provides cover for a set period of time, like 10, 20, or 30 years. If you die during the policy term, your beneficiaries receive a payout. If the policy ends while you’re still alive, no payout is made.

This is the most common option for families, as it provides affordable protection during the years when children are financially dependent.

2. Level term insurance

With level term insurance, the payout amount remains the same throughout the entire policy. For example, a £250,000 policy would pay the same amount regardless of when a claim is made during the policy term.

This type of cover is often used for family protection and income replacement.

3. Decreasing term insurance

Decreasing term insurance gradually reduces the payout over time. It’s commonly used to protect repayment mortgages, where the outstanding balance decreases over the years.
Because the payout reduces, premiums are often lower than level term policies.

How much life insurance do expecting parents need?

The amount of cover you need depends on your financial responsibilities and long-term plans for your family.

A good starting point is to think about what financial support your family would need if you were no longer there.

Factors to consider

When calculating your cover amount, you may want to include:

• Your mortgage or housing costs
  
• Outstanding loans or debts
  
• Household living expenses
  
• Childcare costs
  
• Future education expenses
  
• Funeral costs

Some people use a simple rule of thumb of around 10 times their annual income, but a personalised calculation may provide a more accurate estimate.

Want to get a quick life insurance calculation? Check out our Life Insurance Calculator.

Example calculation

A simple insurance calculation if you’re pregnant may look something like this:

Mortgage balance: £200,000
Income replacement: £250,000
Childcare and education costs: £100,000

Total suggested cover: £550,000

Speaking with an adviser can help you determine a suitable amount of life insurance cover based on your personal situation.

How much does life insurance cost during pregnancy?

Life insurance costs during pregnancy depend on several factors, including:

• Your age.
  
• Your overall health.
  
• Smoking status.
  
• The amount of cover you choose.
  
• The length of the policy.

In many cases, pregnancy itself does not automatically increase life insurance premiums. If your pregnancy is considered low risk, insurers may offer the same pricing you would receive outside of pregnancy.

However, if pregnancy-related complications are present, an insurer may adjust the policy terms or wait until after the pregnancy to offer cover.

Many life insurance policies can start from just a few pounds per month, depending on your circumstances.

When should expecting parents consider life insurance?

Pregnancy is one of the most common times people decide to arrange life insurance, but there are several other life events that may prompt the decision.

You might consider life insurance when:

• You discover you’re expecting a child.
  
• You buy a family home.
  
• You take on a mortgage.
  
• Your household starts relying on your income.
  
• You want to provide financial protection for your child.

Taking out life insurance earlier in life can also mean lower premiums, as policies are generally cheaper for younger and healthier applicants.

Speak to a life insurance specialist at LV= today

If you’re expecting a child, arranging life insurance can help provide financial protection for your growing family.

Our policies are arranged through LifeSearch, one of the UK’s leading protection advisers and one you can trust.

Their advisers can help you understand your life insurance options, find cover that suits your circumstances and compare policies from trusted providers.

Request a callback to speak with an adviser and explore your options. Or, if you want to learn more, why not check out our guides?

Getting life insurance when pregnant: FAQs

Find everything you need to know about applying for a life insurance policy when pregnant and the answers to all your questions below.

Can you take out life insurance while pregnant?

Yes, many insurers allow people to apply for life insurance while pregnant. If the pregnancy is straightforward and considered low risk, the application process is often similar to standard life insurance applications.

Will pregnancy increase my life insurance premium?

Pregnancy itself usually does not increase life insurance premiums. However, if there are pregnancy-related complications or medical conditions, insurers may adjust the terms of the policy or delay the application until after birth.

Can life insurance be postponed during pregnancy?

In some situations, insurers may postpone an application if there are significant pregnancy-related risks. This doesn’t mean you can’t get cover later, many people simply reapply after the pregnancy once their health has stabilised.

Do insurers ask about pregnancy when applying for life insurance?

Yes. Most life insurance applications include health questions, and insurers may ask whether you are pregnant and whether there have been any complications during the pregnancy.

Should expecting parents get life insurance?

Many parents choose to take out life insurance to ensure their partner and child would have financial support if they passed away. The payout could help cover mortgage payments, childcare costs and everyday living expenses.

What happens if I already have life insurance and become pregnant?

If you already have a life insurance policy in place, becoming pregnant usually doesn’t affect your existing cover. As long as your premiums continue to be paid, the policy should remain active according to its terms.