Family Travel Insurance: What to Know to Purchase the Best Policy

Family travel insurance has been around for decades, and millions of people are covered with billions of euros every year to financially protect them from unexpected accidents on holidays. Do you know that if you don’t have one, you’ll have to pay 100% of whatever bills there are if misfortune happens? With family travel insurance, all your family members can get covered for flight cancellation, medical treatment, lost luggage, etc. But there’ll be specific conditions and procedures you have to follow to claim a policy successfully that not many people know. Drop your worry and read along because Cabin Zero will provide you with the most updated and beneficial information. 

What Is Family Travel Insurance? 

Unlike individual insurance, family travel insurance helps cover all family members under a single policy. It’s especially convenient and efficient if you have children. It’s also cost-effective and easier to manage compared to paying for each individual. 

Family travel insurance usually covers one or two adults with up to 8 children under 18 if they live at the same address. The adults in question can be parents, single parents, grandparents, and cousins, while the children can be biological, stepchildren, foster children, and adopted children. 

Some policies can cover adult children up to 24 years old, regardless of their address, if they’re having a full-time education.

Family travel insurance normally pays for: 

(The below is just general information; make sure to refer to your specific policy.) 

• Intentional disruptions and cancellations of your flights or accommodations. (If your flight is cancelled or delayed by the airline, it’s the airline that has to compensate travellers) 

• Medical treatment abroad if your family member falls ill or has an accident (except if you’re under the influence of alcohol and drugs)

• Repatriation if anything unexpected arises during your drip that requires you to cancel.

• Legal fees if you’re accidentally involved in cases like bodily injury or property damage. 

• Lost or stolen luggage and belongings

• Adventure or winter sports cover if you’re planning to take part in slightly risky sports or activities (remember, only slightly risky ones; high-risk activities won’t be covered, and you’ll have to buy add-ons)

Note: 

• Policies won’t cover children travelling without parents or non-family members. 

• If you have pre-medical conditions, you’ll normally have to buy a policy at a higher rate, but it’ll still be cheaper to put all members in one. 

What Types of Family Travel Insurance Are There?

Depending on your needs, there are different types of insurance catering to those.

Based on frequency: 

1. Single trip: Covers only one trip on set dates, and it’s the cheapest option if you only travel once a year. 

2. Annual multi-trip: Covers all holidays in the next 12 months, and it’s the most suitable for those who travel more regularly.

3. Long stay: Covers trips up to 18 months at one or multiple destinations in a single trip. Use it if you go backpacking, visit friends and family, or escape the British winter. 

Based on destination:

1. UK travel insurance: Covers holidays in the UK, but it doesn’t cover medical treatment because the NHS will provide treatment for free. 

2. European travel insurance: Covers your trips to countries in Europe and some others outside of Europe, like Turkey and Morocco, depending on the provider. 

3. Worldwide travel insurance: Covers holidays to nearly every destination in the world. Places like Canada, the USA, or the Caribbean make a different category, so if you don’t travel there, look for policies that exclude those places as they’re cheaper. Some destinations advised against visiting by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) won’t be covered. 

How Much Does Family Travel Insurance Cost? 

Rates of insurance depend on various factors.

According to Forbes, the average cost for a family insurance is between 4% and 6% of the total trip cost, with an average cost of £98 for a trip worth £2,231. These rates can vary depending on 8 main factors, including: 

1. Your destination: The more destinations you go to, the higher the price of your policy. For a UK citizen, European travel insurance policies are cheaper than those of a worldwide one. Moreover, certain countries with more expensive medical services, like the US, will also require you to pay more. The expert’s advice here is to buy a more comprehensive insurance cover. 

2. The length of your stay: The longer your holiday, the more you’ll pay for the insurance since more uncertainties can happen.

3. The frequency of your trips: If you’re a regular traveller, an annual multi-trip policy will work out cheaper than a single-trip one. 

4. The number of your family members: A policy covering 5 members will cost more than one that covers only 2 or 3 people. 

5. The person you go with: If there’s a grandparent on your trip, family travel insurance will be more expensive, as they normally have pre-existing medical conditions with a higher risk of needing medical treatment.

6. Extra benefits: If you plan to stay on a cruise or participate in high-risk sports, you should buy coverage with add-on benefits. You can also consider a gadget cover that will help protect your electronic devices get lost, stolen, or damaged. The more benefits you have, the more you have to pay.

7. Pre-medical conditions: You’ll have to pay more if any of your family members have health conditions like asthma or epilepsy.

8. Policy excess: Different policies have different rates of excess, and normally, a higher excess will ensure a lower cost for the policy. However, you should only go with this option if you have a low-risk profile without a need to make a claim frequently.

Note: Remember to purchase family travel insurance with travel credit cards to earn points when booking hotels, flights, or restaurants. You can also receive generous reimbursement for lost belongings or nearly travel for free if you know the hacking guides.

Tips for Choosing a Cheaper Family Travel Insurance

There are tips that you need to know to buy the most suitable policy  

Compare providers

Finding good family travel insurance may be tricky when there are many options on the market. Therefore, checking trusted websites like MoneySuperMarket, CompareTheMarket, or GoCompare will be helpful. 

Choose annual cover

If you travel regularly, an annual policy is more financially reasonable. Remember to check the maximum length of each trip allowed under your annual policy as some limit trips to 30, 45, or 60 days.

Read the fine print

Pay close attention to some extra conditions tied to certain provisions on your policy. Some policies say that they cover medical treatment, but it’s only effective for 24 hours after the injury. If you don’t know about this, you will end up paying full price for treatment. 

Consider your destination

Places like the USA, Canada, Japan, South Korea, or the Caribbean have higher medical treatment costs, up to thousands of pounds.  

Places like Austria, Switzerland, France, Thailand, Indonesia (Bali), Vietnam, Australia & New Zealand will require add-ons for high-risk sports and activities like skiing, motorbiking, trekking, diving, bungee jumping, etc.

Check the excess amount

An excess amount is the money you need to pay from your own pocket when you make a claim, and the insurer will cover the remaining cost. So, checking this means making sure you know how much you have to pay first. Different parts of the policy have different excesses. 

For example, your policy has an excess for medical claims of £100, and the total cost for your treatment is £500, meaning you have to pay £100 first, and the insurer will pay the remaining £400. 

Make sure to check your excess carefully so you won’t get surprised later on. 

How to Make a Claim on Your Family Travel Insurance Policy?

You should follow the procedures to claim your insurance. Photo by phpetrunina14 on Stock Adobe

As much as we hope your trip goes as planned without having to make a claim, unexpected things may still arise, so do follow these steps to get yourself and your family covered: 

1. Contact your insurer: Do this as soon as possible, since some policies have time limits. There’s an emergency contact of the insurer that you can call 24/7.

2. Provide details when asked:  

• • For medical claims: all the bills or documents that you got from the hospital. 

  • For loss of baggage or belongings: the proof of purchase for items you’re claiming. 

  • For thefts: a police report and a crime reference number.

  • For delays and cancellations: travel details and reasons for problems. 

3. Wait for the insurer patiently: For the insurer to check the details of your claim thoroughly, you’ll need to wait a couple of weeks. 

4. Receive the payment: Once they accept your claim, you’ll get the payout, minus the excess.  

Popular Family Travel Insurance Providers in the UK

Make sure to purchase insurance from reputable providers to benefit from your policy. Photo by mojo_cp on Stock Adobe

Below are the top 5 most reputable insurance providers in the UK that provide reliable family travel insurance: 

1. Staysure: It’s the UK’s most trusted insurance provider with hundreds of thousands of positive reviews on multiple platforms, including Trustpilot, Smartmoney People, and REVIEWS.io. It’s a great choice for families with members having pre-existing medical conditions. 

2. Post office: It’s well-known for its affordability and comprehensive package. In 2022, they received a 5-star Defaqto rating (a legit platform for expert reviews of financial product ratings) and have been awarded for their services in multiple years.

3. Aviva: It provides a comprehensive package with a wide range of add-ons to cover most claims. Their policies offer up to £10 million for emergency medical expenses outside the UK.

4. Admiral: They have a 5-star platinum cover with extensive protection for diverse travel-related issues. This is one of the most trusted insurance companies in the UK, with an average rating of 4.5 stars. 

5. Asda Money: Their policies have received a 5-star rating from Moneyfacts, with various options for different types of families.

FAQs 

1. Do Children Need To Travel With Both Parents To Be Covered?

Not always. Some policies cover children even if they’re travelling with just one parent, a grandparent, or another guardian, but always check the terms.

2. Can You Travel Individually On A Family Travel Insurance?

It’s normally possible for adults to travel alone and still get covered, but it’s not the case for children. Children need to be accompanied by at least one adult from the family. Do check your policy booklet to be sure.

3. Can you get family travel insurance as a separated or divorced parent?

Family travel insurance normally covers one or two adults with children if they live at the same address. So, if you’re a separated or divorced parent, you have to buy individual travel insurance. 

4. What if we need to cancel because our child is sick?

Most policies will cover cancellation as long as your child’s illness wasn’t pre-existing and was unexpected. 

5. Is pregnancy covered?

Yes, if it’s a normal, uncomplicated pregnancy and you’re within the airline’s travel window. If your case isn’t common, then you might need additional medical coverage or disclosure.

6. Will each family member need the EHIC/GHIC?

Yes. The EHIC/GHIC card allows you to receive state emergency treatment at the local rate in the European Union and countries including Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Australia. It’s free and easy to apply, and it lasts up to 5 years.   

7. Do we need travel insurance if we have a GHIC/EHIC card?

A GHIC/EHIC card isn’t a substitute for full travel insurance. It still gives you limited access to state healthcare in European countries, but not private hospitals, cancellations, luggage, or repatriation. 

Ready to Get Your Family Travel Insurance Today?

Family travel insurance will spare you the headache and considerable financial loss if anything bad happens on your trip. It’s a necessary and beneficial investment that we urge you to get right when you plan your holidays. Don't be stingy with a few dozen euros and end up spending thousands in the emergency room, especially in countries where healthcare is expensive.

We hope you find something useful in what we provided in this article, and if so, check out our other blogs with many expert-approved pieces of knowledge to accompany you everywhere. 

Follow Cabin Zero on social media for the most updated news and useful travel tips. Finally, make sure to leave a comment below and share this blog with your loved ones.

Duyen Pham