Life Insurance for Pregnant Women

Life insurance for pregnant women can raise a lot of questions. Many expectant mothers might wonder whether they are eligible to qualify for life insurance during their pregnancy or how pregnancy could impact their premium costs. 

If you have questions about buying life insurance when you're pregnant, here's some information.

Qualifying for Life Insurance While Pregnant

You might be wondering whether it's possible to pass the life insurance medical exam while pregnant. That's understandable, since pregnancy causes a number of changes to the body. Life insurance eligibility can be impacted by cholesterol, blood pressure, gestational diabetes and weight — all things that may be impacted by pregnancy, but tend to go back to normal after pregnancy.

The good news is that there are insurers who may approve life insurance for women during a healthy pregnancy. Just make sure you are honest with your insurer about your pregnancy. It's important to be transparent to help you find suitable coverage for your needs.

Pregnancy & Premium Costs

You might also wonder whether you'll be stuck with high premiums if you apply for insurance during your pregnancy. As always, premiums will differ between individuals and insurers. But some insurers will compare your pregnancy-level weight, cholesterol and blood pressure to your prepregnancy levels to help determine your eligibility and premium cost.

However, if you are experiencing any health complications during your pregnancy, such as gestational diabetes or preeclampsia, this might impact your premium or ability to qualify. In that case, waiting until after the baby is born to reapply might help you find a policy that fits your needs and price range.

Deciding Who Will Be Your Beneficiary

If you are purchasing life insurance while pregnant, you might wonder if you can or should make your unborn baby the beneficiary of your policy.

You are not always required to give your insurer your beneficiary's Social Security number.

However, there are a number of reasons why you might consider making someone other than your child the beneficiary. For example:

• If something were to happen to you while your child is still a minor, your child will need a financial guardian named by you to handle the money on their behalf.
• If your child is your beneficiary and no such guardian is named in your estate plan, someone will likely have to petition the court to act as your child's guardian. This can complicate and delay your child's access to the life insurance death benefit.

There may be other options, such as creating a trust, but speak with a financial professional to determine what may be the best option for you.

Some parents might think about buying life insurance only after welcoming a new addition to their family. But you don't necessarily have to put off purchasing life insurance while you are pregnant. Speaking with a financial representative can help you determine a suitable approach to meet your financial needs.