Life insurance can be an excellent option for new parents to help protect their child who is soon to arrive. Fortunately, pregnancy usually does not stop you from getting a policy. However, insurers can factor pregnancy into their risk calculation, so you may need to do extra research to find a policy that helps protect your loved ones and new child while fitting your budget. This article explains how pregnancy can affect life insurance and walks you through how to get life insurance while pregnant.
How Does Pregnancy Affect Life Insurance?
Pregnancy may have life insurance impacts that can vary depending on the trimester. Many insurers will usually not consider your pregnancy as a big factor in the first trimester if you have no other health complications. The second and third trimester are different since the pregnancy can impact your health more. You can still get life insurance, but several factors may be more greatly impacted:
· Rates: Applying during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy can increase your premiums since insurers consider the later stages of pregnancy to be riskier.1
· Application: The insurer may ask you to answer additional questions specific to the pregnancy.2
· Approval chances: Some insurers may approve your coverage in the third trimester but postpone its effective date until after birth.2
A healthy pregnancy can help offset some of these factors, but you may still face additional scrutiny if further along. Plus, some insurers may let you retake your medical exam a year or two after giving birth to qualify for cost-effective rates. Your insurer may adjust your rate if you qualify based on your medical exam results, but they will not increase your premiums if you do not meet the criteria.
How To Get Life Insurance While Pregnant
You may already know how to get life insurance for a parent, but here’s a walkthrough of how to get life insurance while pregnant:2
1. Shop For Quotes
Insurers typically use different formulas to help calculate the same applicant’s risk and will compete with each other for new policyholders. Shopping around can help you take advantage of these factors to find the best rates and terms. You can gather quotes from several insurers and compare premiums, coverage amounts, terms, and more.
2. Apply For The Policy Of Your Choice
After finding the right policy, it’s time to fill out an application. The application usually will ask for basic personal information, such as your name, address, how much coverage you’re applying for, and so on.
You’ll also answer a health questionnaire and some pregnancy-related questions, such as your due date.
3. Take The Medical Exam If Needed
Traditional life insurance policies, such as term, whole, and universal life insurance, generally require a medical exam. You’ll first schedule the exam to happen in your home, at the facility, or, if viable, at your workplace. The examiner will start by gathering detailed personal and family health history. Then, they’ll take vitals, such as height, weight, blood pressure, and pulse. The examiner may also take blood and urine samples to confirm various health factors.
4. Await approval
Approval wait times can take a few weeks if the policy requires a medical exam. Regardless, the insurer will usually contact you when they approve the policy. They’ll present you with all the policy documents to review and allow you to ask any questions.
5. Accept The Policy And Pay Your First Premium
Look over the premiums, coverage, any riders you added, and terms to ensure everything looks correct. Ask questions to clarify any issues you are uncertain about. If everything is good to go, accept the policy by signing any needed documents. Then, pay your first premium to begin coverage.
The Bottom Line
Pregnancy can vary in its impact on life insurance by trimester and other health matters. If you’re in your first trimester, getting approval with reasonable rates may not be difficult as long as there are no health concerns. Applying later may lead to temporarily higher premiums or postponed coverage until after you give birth.
So, it may make the most sense to either get life insurance before pregnancy, early in your first trimester, or after your baby is born. However, you can apply for it anytime — the key is to shop for multiple quotes to compare and find the best rates and terms.
Sources:
1 Bankrate – Life insurance while pregnant. Updated November 15, 2024. https://www.bankrate.com/insurance/life-insurance/pregnancy/. Accessed March 26, 2025.
2 Policygenius – Can you buy life insurance while pregnant? Updated May 21, 2024. https://www.policygenius.com/life-insurance/life-insurance-and-pregnancy/. Accessed March 26, 2025.
Content within this article is provided for general informational purposes and is not provided as tax, legal, health, or financial advice for any person or for any specific situation. Employers, employees, and other individuals should contact their own advisers about their situations. For complete details, including availability and costs of Aflac insurance, please contact your local Aflac agent.
Aflac coverage is underwritten by American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus. In New York, Aflac coverage is underwritten by American Family Life Assurance Company of New York.
Aflac life plans – A68000 series: Term Life Policies: In Arkansas, Idaho, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Pennsylvania & Virginia, Policies: ICC1368200, ICC1368300, ICC1368400. In Delaware, Policies A68200, A68300 & A68400. In New York, Policies NY68200, NY68300 and NY68400. Whole Life Policies: In Arkansas, Idaho, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Pennsylvania & Virginia, Policies: ICC1368100. In Delaware, Policy A68100. In New York, Policy NYR68100. B60000 series: In Arkansas, Idaho, Oklahoma & Virginia, Policies: ICC18B60C10, ICC18B60100, ICC18B60200, ICC18B60300, & ICC18B60400. Not available in Delaware. Q60000 series/Whole: In Arkansas & Delaware, Policy Q60100M. In Idaho, Policy Q60100MID. In Oklahoma, Policy Q60100MOK. Not available in Virginia. Q60000 series/Term: In Delaware, Policies Q60200CM. In Arkansas, Idaho, Oklahoma, Policies ICC18Q60200C, ICC18Q60300C, ICC18Q60400C. Not available in Virginia.
Coverage may not be available in all states, including but not limited to DE, ID, NJ, NM, NY, VA or VT. Benefits/premium rates may vary based on state and plan levels. Optional riders may be available at an additional cost. Policies and riders may also contain a waiting period. Refer to the exact policy and rider forms for benefit details, definitions, limitations, and exclusions.
Aflac WWHQ | 1932 Wynnton Road | Columbus, GA 31999
Aflac New York | 22 Corporate Woods Boulevard, Suite 2 | Albany, NY 12211
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