Having IVF treatment abroad may risk invalidating your travel insurance if you don’t read the small print
Spain's a popular IVF destination
Though it’s becoming increasingly popular for British couples to travel abroad for fertility treatment, there may be hidden risks you haven’t even considered.
According to the Infertility Network UK, 76% of British couples struggling to conceive would consider heading abroad for treatment. According to a report earlier this year, Spain is most popular with the Brits, with nearly 70% of those who would go abroad citing shorter waiting lists and cheaper treatment as their motivation.
But despite weighing up the risks connected with the treatment, such as Ovarian Hyper Stimulation Syndrome (OHSS) couples may forget other considerations, such as whether their travel insurance covers their medical treatment. If it doesn’t, undergoing the treatment may invalidate the entire policy, leaving couples unprotected for unrelated accidents such as the loss of luggage or delays.
“Worryingly many couples travel without knowing they have no protection should something go wrong and that their standard travel policy is void,” said Leila Wilcox, founder of IVF Travel Shield, an insurance policy dedicated to covering couples heading abroad for fertility treatment.
If you are considering going abroad for IVF, check the small print on your insurance policy and make sure you know your rights if you do need to claim. While it might seem like the swifter, less expensive options, you need to consider what the total cost will be if things don’t go as you’d planned.
