health insurance for TTC / giving birth abroad

[NewLeafExpat]

hi luverly ladies.

I hope this isn't going against mumsnet rules or anything but I'm looking for honest advice.

I currently have AXA healthcare with maternity benefits and 10month waiting period. TTC has taken longer than expected so no problems with the window period! looking to renew soon and hope that I'll be able to USE the maternity benefits I've paid so bloody much for.

anyway I am not happy with the axa plan. its a right pain I have to call the UK every time I want to do anything and the help/advice is useless. like all insurers they want to get out of anything and I've had one person tell me I'm covered, I got the treatment then my claim denied due to no dental cover. luckily I had it in writing so they are 'apparently' reimbursing but its just such a faff!

so my questions are:

1. who have u used, was it simple, do you recommend?
   
2. has anyone changed provider? like basically I had a 10month waiting period for maternity benefits, if I keep with axa And fall pg straight away on year 2 then I can claim from day one. if I change provider I guess I can't 'roll over' this benefit
   
   so miss the simplicity of the NHS!!
   
   how were your experiences of being pregnant/giving birth abroad?

[Gfplux]

Where are you. In or outside the EU.
Can you pay in to the local social security

[NewLeafExpat]

in south Asia now, possible move to ME so rely solely on insurance

[Boleh]

We are with BUPA, seems a fairly simple process both to get emergency treatment and to reclaim standard small medical costs (GP visits and prescriptions etc) but I've had no experience of their maternity cover I'm afraid or anything substantial like a hospital stay.

[NewLeafExpat]

thanks Boleh, I will try look into Bupa. I think what I want ideally is a company that has a contact base nearer by than the UK.

Has anyone else had a baby abroad and used health insurance to cover the costs or have any experiences to share on the matter? Appreciate ANY replies!

[mrsnec]

Hi,

I'm 28 weeks pregnant and not in the UK. We pay into the local social security here but also looking into going privately.

We looked into private healthcare. There are a few private hospitals here. A lot of expats here that go private go pay as you go rather than through insurance as it works out cheaper it might be worth looking into that but I suppose that would be difficult for you not knowing exactly where you'll end up.

It's suiting me at the moment mixing the two. I've had all my consultant apts at the local general but one appointment at the private hospital and all my bloods done privately.

[ShanghaiDiva]

We were with vanbreda which was good.

[LIZS]

We used CIGNA who didn't have a qualifying period for maternity. (I was 6 months pg when we moved)

[NewLeafExpat]

thanks liz mrsnerc and shanghaidiva i appreciate your replies i'll get researching those companies

[AggressiveBunting]

We used Axa to partly cover my maternity costs in HK and paid the rest ourselves- this is DHs companies insurance so full mat bens not given. they didn't quibble anything to be fair.

[siilk]

When we lived os we used a company called Interglobal. They were excellent. Never quibbled and were brilliant when I got VERY ill. No problem with maternity stuff either.

[ChatEnOeuf]

Cigna here. Covered in full even if it gets complicated...

[TarkaTheOtter]

Yes Cigna too. I don't think there is any waiting period.