Are you planning to have a baby in the near future? Are you already pregnant?
Congratulations! This is a big step in your life that is sure to bring more joy than you ever thought possible.
Of course, it will also change your life in many ways. For example, it’s a good idea to consider life insurance at this time. You want to know that your family will be protected should anything happen to you in the future.
Can I Purchase Life Insurance While Pregnant?
Many women think they have to purchase life insurance before becoming pregnant or after they deliver. This is a myth.
In fact, securing life insurance coverage during pregnancy is common. As long as you know what you’re doing, what you want to buy, and when to start the process, you can feel good about your ability to secure the policy you need to obtain the peace of mind you deserve.
Note: you are not required to take a pregnancy test during a life insurance examination. The paramedical will ask if you’re pregnant, and if the answer is “yes” you should be 100 percent truthful. Remember, being pregnant does not have a direct impact on your life insurance rating. Instead, it’s the potential for a complication during pregnancy that could impact how much you pay.
What About Complications?
Before we go any further, we want you to remember one thing: you can always reapply for a policy after you have your child if your premium is too high.
So, back to complications, here are a few that can raise your premium:
- High cholesterol. There is no denying the fact that your cholesterol will increase during your pregnancy. However, if your bad cholesterol reaches a dangerous level, you’re at risk for additional health complications, such as stroke.
- Live enzymes. Most women don’t experience an alarmingly high increase in liver enzymes during pregnancy, but a condition called cholestasis could set it. In this case, it’s common for your premium to be higher.
- Blood pressure. One of the top concerns among pregnant women and their doctors is high blood pressure. Not only can this impact the mother, but it can add stress to the unborn child. Elevated blood pressure is most common during the second half of pregnancy, but it could become an issue at any time.
- Gestational diabetes. If you entered pregnancy without diabetes but experience an increase in blood glucose levels during this time, you will be diagnosed with gestational diabetes.
Additional Complications
Along with the above conditions that have the potential to present during pregnancy, life insurance companies typically look at two other details:
- Previous complications. Were you diagnosed with hypertension, gestational diabetes, or another health disorder during a previous pregnancy? If so, it can impact your premium.
- Life insurance companies are only able to assess your current weight, even if you have gained quite a few pounds as a result of your pregnancy. Don’t be surprised if this increases your premium.
Buy Sooner Rather than Later
While it’s not always possible, it’s a good rule of thumb to purchase life insurance as early in your pregnancy as possible. There are many reasons for this:
- Your weight is lower
- You have yet to have the chance to develop any complications
- Your blood levels (such as liver enzymes) have a better chance of being normal
So, if you have the option to purchase during your first trimester or third trimester, it always makes sense to start the process early.
You Should Consider Term
If you cannot afford a whole life with all the new expenses that are coming, you can get term insurance. Most whole life insurance policies have a conversion period. This means that you can change the policy into a whole life within that time frame.
So lock in your health now, and convert when you have a larger budget.
Conclusion
Buying whole life insurance while pregnant is not nearly as complicated as it sounds. In fact, it’s much the same as buying a policy when you’re not carrying a baby.
This may impact your ability to qualify for the lowest possible premium, but it’s better to have some coverage than none at all.
