The childbirth waiting period: the deadline that decides everything
Almost all insurers apply a waiting period of 8 to 10 months to childbirth: if you give birth before the policy reaches that milestone, the delivery is not covered. It is the longest waiting period in health insurance, and it is designed for exactly this — to prevent people signing up already pregnant just for the delivery.
Gynaecology appointments usually have much shorter waiting periods or none, and prenatal tests (ultrasounds, blood work, amniocentesis) typically carry waiting periods of around 6 months depending on the insurer. Each company has its own schedule of periods: check it before signing, not after.
When to sign up: before trying for a baby
The maths is simple: for the delivery to be covered, the policy must have been in force longer than the waiting period by the time the birth arrives. In practice that means signing up before getting pregnant — ideally as soon as the idea enters your plans, even a year ahead.
If you are switching from another insurer without interruption, some companies waive or reduce your waiting periods — although with childbirth they are stricter than with everything else. It is one of the points we negotiate case by case.
What's covered during pregnancy and delivery
Full prenatal care: gynaecology and obstetrics appointments, ultrasounds, blood work and prenatal tests as prescribed, plus birth preparation classes in many policies. Advanced genetic tests (such as non-invasive prenatal testing) vary widely between insurers — some include them, others offer them at a discount.
For the delivery: a private room with a bed for your companion, the on-call team or your own gynaecologist depending on the plan, epidural and newborn care. Note one important detail: the baby must be added to the policy within the deadline the insurer sets (usually days or a few weeks) to be covered from birth without waiting periods or pre-existing condition exclusions.
What if I'm already pregnant?
You can take out health insurance while pregnant — pregnancy is not an illness and does not prevent enrolment — but the delivery will not be covered because of the waiting period, and the insurer will treat it as a pre-existing condition. It can still be worth it: you would cover the baby's paediatric care, your future appointments and the rest of the medical network from day one.
For the delivery itself, two routes remain: paying for it privately (many clinics offer fixed-price childbirth packages) or the public system, which performs very well in obstetrics. We help you put together the combination that works out best.
How to get it
Tell us where you are — trying for a baby, already pregnant or planning medium-term — and we will tell you which insurer has the waiting periods that fit you, exactly what it includes in prenatal care and delivery, and how much it costs. Free comparison, no obligation.