Some experiences are significant enough to split your life into Before and After. Pregnancy definitely ranks as one of them.

In my case, pregnancy also made me think about things like buying life insurance, since that meant I’d have a financial dependent to care for. And that made me wonder, “Can I get life insurance while pregnant?”

The short answer is yes. But of course, nothing about having a baby is simple. And getting life insurance when pregnant comes with its own list of things to think about.Importantly, most life insurance is medically underwritten. That means underwriters (the people who figure out whether you can get coverage and how much it’ll cost) look at your health situation when assessing your risk levels. Pregnancy affects your weight, health, mood, alcohol consumption—many factors that underwriters consider when they assess your risk.

Going through a detailed physical exam when your body and emotions are in constant flux can be a little intimidating!

It may feel weird to complete an application asking you all about your current health, when you can barely see your feet, never mind a scale. Preparing to have a baby is complicated enough, without any added confusion around how to complete a life insurance application. That’s why we’re here to help clarify some common questions about how insurance providers handle life insurance applications when you’re expecting.

How Does Life Insurance Work?

Life insurance is an agreement between you (the insured party) and the insurer. This agreement states that if you pass away while your policy is active, the insurer will pay a certain amount of money (your coverage or “face amount”) to the person or people you’ve chosen (your beneficiaries).

Your beneficiaries can generally use this money however they want, such as to help cover living expenses, pay for burial costs, pay off debt or whatever else. Most people get life insurance in order to help out family members or other loved ones who depend on them financially, in the event they pass away.

Can You Get Life Insurance If You Are Pregnant?

The short answer is yes. The underwriting team evaluating your application will take your pregnancy into account when reviewing your health situation.

Especially if you’re having a healthy, uncomplicated pregnancy, you might be able to get the same kind of rates as you would if you weren’t pregnant while applying for life insurance.

Life Insurance and Pregnancy: How Much Does Weight Gain Matter?

Weight isn’t the only indicator of health, but being overweight or obese is statistically linked to increased risk of certain health conditions. That’s why insurance companies factor weight into rating an insurance application. Even a difference of 10 pounds can affect a life insurance policy’s cost.

During pregnancy, medical professionals usually recommend that people with a normal pre-pregnancy BMI gain 25‒35 pounds. This can make it a little confusing to complete the weight entry on your application. Should you use your pre-pregnancy weight, or your current weight?

If you take a medical exam as part of your life insurance application, the exam provider will record your weight. On your application, you should list your current weight, and it may also be helpful to provide your pre-pregnancy weight, if you have the information available. Life insurance underwriters often check other medical records as well, so they may see pre-pregnancy health information, including your weight, in these records.

Underwriters may be interested in the weight comparison as one indication of how the pregnancy is going. Excessive pregnancy weight gain could increase your risk of developing other health complications, like gestational diabetes or preeclampsia. As a result, gaining more than the recommended amount during pregnancy may lead to a higher premium.

Similarly, if you normally enjoy a glass of wine a few times a week (or use marijuana, or any other substances), you should clarify your typical habits versus what you’ve given up during pregnancy. Medications matter here, too. A lot of meds, including antidepressants, aren’t safe during pregnancy. So note your usual (non-pregnancy) regimen and any changes or substitutions while you’re expecting.

If the underwriter is able to offer you coverage at a higher rate than preferred, they’ll still make that offer and the decision of whether to purchase the policy is up to you. If, however, you don’t qualify for life insurance because of your current health status, you can reapply after you’ve delivered the baby and returned to normal health.

What About Complications?

Being healthy beforehand doesn’t guarantee a picture-perfect pregnancy. Preeclampsia, a high blood pressure complication, affects 5‒10% of pregnancies, and gestational diabetes affects 5‒9%. Other physical or mental health conditions, such as hyperemesis gravidarum or prenatal depression, can also appear without prior risk factors.

During my second pregnancy, for example, I developed glucose intolerance, a less severe form of gestational diabetes, despite having a spotless health record before.

Underwriters often take a wait-and-see approach regarding the usually temporary complications that can arise during pregnancy. They may postpone your application until after the baby is born. In many cases, gestational diabetes resolves on its own, with blood glucose and A1c levels returning to normal limits after the birth. If there are no other complicating factors due to the gestational diabetes, the application can then be considered for ratings other than “pre-diabetic” or “diabetic.”

In other words, because your pregnancy condition might be temporary, your application might be put on hold. As long as your condition clears up after pregnancy, you may be eligible for the same rates as another healthy person.

The same applies to many other conditions: If a complication resolves shortly after pregnancy and your doctor doesn’t identify any long-term health ramifications, it likely won’t affect your life insurance rates. If issues persist, the underwriter will evaluate the risk based on the lab results, treatment plan and prognosis information from your physician.

How Does the Insurer Even Know I’m Pregnant?

While the life insurance medical exam might not administer a pregnancy test, you will likely be asked if you’re pregnant at some point in the application or exam. If so, it’s important that you answer honestly. Misrepresenting yourself during the insurance application process could count as insurance fraud and be grounds to invalidate your policy down the line if there were a life insurance investigation.

I Had the Baby. Now What?

Eventually, of course, pregnancy ends and you’re (hopefully) finding your rhythm amidst the ups and downs of newborn life. If underwriters put your application on hold during your pregnancy, the first few months postpartum can be an especially important check-in time.

Generally, if you’re pregnant when you apply for life insurance, your application will incorporate a postpartum assessment. On occasion, the insurance company might notify you that it’ll need to put your application on hold until after the baby’s born.

Underwriters compare weight before, during and after pregnancy. You’re not expected to “bounce back” to your old self immediately. Underwriters follow guidelines based on your starting weight and whether you had a single baby or multiples to assess postpartum weight changes. Whether extra pounds will mean extra premium costs depends on factors such as weight-related health complications and how your postpartum recovery is going.

Generally, the postpartum “look back” window is around three months. Of course, everyone adjusts to new parenthood on their own timeline, and many people are not back to their “normal” by the three-month mark. It’s up to you to consider whether you feel more peace of mind crossing insurance off the list before you get pregnant, or delaying your application until you feel back to your regular self.

Struggling With Mental Health While Pregnant (or After)?

Pregnancy and a new baby’s birth are typically joyful occasions, but they can come with a lot of complicated emotions. Sleep deprivation and the relentless demands of a new baby are highly stressful. Postpartum mood disorders, like depression and anxiety, affect as many as 1 in 8 women, and it’s possible that even more cases go unreported.

It’s important to take mental health seriously. Postpartum depression is common and treatable, so if you need help, reach out! Talk to your doctor or partner, or call (800) 944-4773 to reach a Postpartum Support International volunteer.

Recovering from childbirth is hard. Think of the airplane instruction to put your own oxygen mask on first. Getting the help you need is top priority, more important than worrying about your life insurance application.

Underwriters generally check for the following criteria when assessing postpartum depression and anxiety:

• The depression or anxiety is considered clinically mild

• You’re seeing good results from sessions with a counselor and/or a mild antidepressant

• You don’t have mental disorders on your five-year health history

• You don’t have a history of hospitalizations, attempted suicide or suicidal ideation

• You haven’t lost more than a week of school or work due to mental health

In certain cases, an insurance provider might end up declining your application or offering coverage at a higher-than-preferred rate.

When to Apply for Life Insurance During Pregnancy

If you apply online through a company like Fabric by Gerber Life, there’s a chance you could be approved for coverage immediately. But if your application is sent through the underwriting process, that could take a few weeks or possibly more.

As a general rule, rates will go up if you develop health conditions, so it may be beneficial to apply sooner than later in case you hit complications in your pregnancy.

A great time to apply? Before you get pregnant

If you already know that kids are in the cards, it may be a good idea to apply for life insurance before you actually get pregnant. The cost of life insurance increases as you age anyway, so you may be able to get better rates simply by applying because you’re young.

The majority of births in the developed world are safe for both mother and baby. That said, if childbirth is something you worry about, getting covered beforehand means your family would be covered just in case.

Applying at various points during pregnancy

You'll likely be able to apply at any point during pregnancy, although underwriters will pay attention to how much weight you’ve gained so far and whether you’ve experienced any complications.

Your application could be postponed if you are experiencing complications or have a history of pregnancy complications. And of course, the further you are into your pregnancy, the more time you have to develop said complications. As a result, even within your pregnancy you might want to apply as early as possible.

Waiting to apply until after pregnancy

If you choose to wait until after pregnancy to apply for life insurance, you might want to check with your doctor to see if any outstanding health complications have resolved. That said, remember that you’re a parent now! The sooner you can get a policy, the sooner you can help protect your family.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will being pregnant affect my premiums?

Possibly, but not always. Underwriters can account for things like pregnancy weight gain. If you’re having a healthy, uncomplicated pregnancy, you may qualify for the same rate for life insurance as you would if you weren’t pregnant.

Should I name my baby as my beneficiary?

Minors can’t inherit property directly, so a life insurance death benefit would have to go into a trust. This can add legal fees and complexity during an already difficult time if you pass away.

Alternative options include naming an adult beneficiary (e.g., a spouse) whom you trust to care for your children. You can also create a trust fund for your child to set your own terms for where the money should go and who should oversee it while your kid is still a minor. Reach out to an attorney who can assist you with more information that fits your own situation.

Should I choose term or whole life insurance if I’m starting a family?

What type of insurance is right for you depends on your individual situation and goals. Broadly speaking, term life insurance tends to offer less expensive premiums compared to whole life insurance for the same coverage amount. Whole life insurance does not expire, and it can accrue “cash value” over time.

Here’s more on term vs. whole life insurance.

What term length and coverage amount should I choose?

Term length refers to how long your coverage lasts. Generally, many people want life insurance to help cover them during the time when dependents, like children, rely on them financially. If you’re reading this article because you’re having a baby soon, you may expect to support your child financially for 20 years or longer.

Consider your age, income and other needs to figure out what term length might be best for your family.

When it comes to coverage amounts, consider your debt, overall financial contribution to your family and the amount of money you’d like to dedicate toward future plans like higher education.

Are there any special riders I should consider if I’m pregnant?

Life insurance riders are additional coverages that can either come with your policy or be added on for a fee. These could include things like the ability to convert term life insurance into a whole life policy down the line if you want to, or a "return of premium" rider so you can get back your premium payments if you outlive your term life policy. Note that increases in coverage are subject to additional underwriting. The specifics (payout caps, covered illnesses and more) will vary depending on the insurance company, so be sure to do your research and consider the details of each rider as you decide which, if any, are right for you and your family.

Some riders that may be especially relevant if you’re having a baby include:

• Child rider: This pays out a small benefit if your child dies, to help defray costs like funeral and burial expenses.

• Disability income rider: This serves a purpose similar to disability insurance, in that the policy will pay you money if you become disabled and can't work.

• Spousal rider: This rider will pay out in the event of a spouse’s death. Though it’s similar to purchasing life insurance for your spouse, it’s not the same as each of you having your own policy. It’s usually less expensive to purchase a spousal rider than an additional policy, but riders also generally offer lower coverage.

Note that not all insurers offer all of these riders as options (for example, these aren't options for policies sold through Fabric by Gerber Life). Here’s more on how life insurance riders work.

What if I'm planning to stay home with the baby?

You’ll often hear that life insurance is designed to replace the income one partner contributes to the household. A more accurate explanation is that life insurance covers the monetary value you contribute, which doesn’t always come in the form of a paycheck.

Even if you’re not going to work every day, stay-at-home partners provide meaningful, valuable work in the form of housework, childcare, errands and other contributions. It is worth considering coverage even if you don’t earn income.

Should both parents look for life insurance even though only one of us is pregnant?

If your family would be adversely affected financially by either of your deaths, then yes. The main reason people get life insurance is to help replace the financial contributions they would have made otherwise.

So if you and your new baby would struggle without your spouse's income, then your spouse might want to think about a policy. And ditto: If your spouse and the baby would struggle financially without you, then a policy probably makes sense for you, too.

Do I need life insurance if I’m going to be a single mom?

Life insurance is there to help your loved ones financially if something were to happen to you. Single parents can use life insurance to help add a form of coverage for their children in case they pass away.

What if I already have life insurance through my job?

While employer-sponsored group life insurance may be sufficient in some cases, the coverage amounts are often lower than what many parents need. And although you will often have the choice to pay for increased coverage, you may not be able to take your policy with you when you change jobs. Or if you do, it may cost significantly more.

Here's what you should know about life insurance through work.

Bottom Line

It's totally possible to get life insurance while pregnant. If life insurance is on your new baby to-do list, there’s no need to put it off until after the baby’s born.

Underwriters consider various factors to get a snapshot of your health, even when your life is constantly changing. You may find, like I did, that tackling this financial milestone can make you feel even more prepared for the new adventure of parenthood.

Fabric exists to help young families master their money. Our articles abide by strict editorial standards.

Information provided is general and educational in nature, is not financial advice, and all products or services discussed may not be offered by Fabric by Gerber Life  (“the Company”). The information is not intended to be, and should not be construed as, legal or tax advice. The Company does not provide legal or tax advice. Consult an attorney or tax advisor regarding your specific legal or tax situation. Laws of a specific state or laws relevant to a particular situation may affect the applicability, accuracy, or completeness of this information. Federal and state laws and regulations are complex and are subject to change. The Company makes no warranties with regard to the information or results obtained by its use. The Company disclaims any liability arising out of your use of, or reliance on, the information. The views and opinions of third-party content providers are solely those of the author and not Fabric by Gerber Life.