Is it permissible for a female student on scholarship and her husband to use the health insurance paid by the sponsoring entity to cover the expenses of pregnancy check-ups and childbirth, knowing that there is an intention to repay the amount when money becomes available?

The basic ruling concerning commercial insurance is that it is impermissible, and one may not benefit from it beyond the amount paid. Some contemporary scholars, including the European Council for Fatwa and Research, have permitted commercial health insurance when one is unable to bear the costs of treatment, especially for Muslims in Europe, where there is a prevalent need for it to ward off dangers and due to the absence of an Islamic alternative. Commercial insurance is also permissible in cases of legal obligation and severe necessity to avert hardship and difficulty, such as insurance for Islamic institutions, cars, and homes, as well as health insurance to avoid exorbitant costs. Whoever wishes to act upon this opinion has latitude. As for those who wish to be precautious, they should give away the excess beyond what was paid as charity or give it to the poor and needy, unless they themselves are in need.