Family Travel Insurance

A family holiday sounds fun in theory but all the parents among us are probably already dreading the extra responsibilities involved rather than dreaming of cocktails by the pool. Considering the stress that comes with traversing the globe alongside your kids, getting travel insurance is one way to reduce your worries.  

Try as we might to avoid them, accidents happen, people get sick and flights get cancelled. Rather than being stranded and out of pocket, family travel insurance can mean your group gets the help it needs while protecting against unexpected expenses. 

What is family travel insurance? 

Family travel insurance is how the whole family can be covered under a single policy when heading overseas. Instead of needing a policy for each parent and child, your family has a single policy number, making it much simpler if you ever have to make a claim. 

Depending on the provider, family travel insurance policies might have increased benefits and limits to support the needs of families exploring the globe. These policies can sometimes represent better value for money too, helping reduce the cost of your adventure. 

Do I need family travel insurance? 

For most destinations, you don’t technically need family travel insurance to take your children on an overseas holiday, but these policies can offer peace of mind. By covering medical bills, travel delays and more, you won’t have to worry so much. 

It’s easy to imagine a situation where family travel insurance comes in handy. Perhaps you take the kids to a theme park when one of them takes a serious tumble. If you have to visit the hospital, family travel insurance could help cover the treatment costs. 

What will family travel insurance cover?  

There’s no shortage of family travel insurance policies to consider, with each provider offering different terms and conditions. For example, you’ll want to check how a provider defines children, as some accept those aged under 21 and not working full-time on family travel insurance policies. Meanwhile, other providers set the maximum age at 18 years old.  

There could also be limitations on the number of dependents allowed on your family travel insurance policy. Once again, every provider has its own terms. Some set the limit at six dependants, while others allow 10 or even an unlimited amount.

You must also consider the benefits and cover limits on any policy. For example, there’s generally coverage for medical expenses, permitted activities, theft, loss of luggage, and travel cancellations and delays. Check the product disclosure statement (PDS) to understand what each benefit includes and assess how they best apply to your needs. 

What should I consider when getting travel insurance for my kids? 

Before you load the kids into the car and head to the airport, there are a few things to consider regarding family travel insurance and your children. Keep the following in mind when you’re exploring a policy for your next international family trip. 

Taking side trips 

Family travel insurance is usually intended for trips where everyone stays together. If an adult or child departs alone on a side adventure, even only for a short time, they may need to purchase an individual travel insurance policy to cover this part of their itinerary. 

Declare your medical conditions 

Making sure you declare pre-existing medical conditions for everyone on the policy is essential when purchasing your family travel insurance.¹Smart Traveller – Pre-existing conditions If you fail to do so and need to make a claim, there’s a risk your policy will be deemed invalid or your claim rejected. 

Get cover for adventure

There’s a good chance you’ll want to indulge in adventure activities when exploring with the whole family. However, some providers won’t cover specific activities in their standard cover. Always check to see if you need to add extra cover for risky activities. 

How much does family travel insurance cost? 

Although it depends on the provider, you might discover great value for money if you purchase family travel insurance for an upcoming adventure. For a basic policy, you can expect a week-long trip to Thailand to cost $75-180. If you’d prefer comprehensive cover, you might expect to pay $150-250. Don’t forget, you might have to add optional extras, such as adventure sports cover, which can add to your costs. 

Tips for travelling with children 

With a little preparation, travelling with children can be fun for everyone. Here are some tips to make your trip more calm than chaotic:  

Choose your accommodation wisely 

Self-contained apartments or interconnecting hotel rooms can give everyone some more space, plus amenities like cooking facilities. 

Pack light 

Try to find a balance between bringing what you need and not having too many bags. When you need to wrangle small children, fewer bags are always better. 

Hire equipment 

Instead of lugging baby gear like strollers, cots and highchairs through airports and train stations, investigate what you can hire at your destination. 

Make time for everyone 

Aim for a mix of adult-centric and child-centric activities, for example, an art gallery in the morning and then a playground in the afternoon. 

Stay healthy 

Visit your doctor before travelling to discuss vaccinations and any medications your child may take. You might encounter some restrictions depending on your destination.  

Compare family travel insurance policies with iSelect 

While heading overseas with your kids can be daunting, family travel insurance can protect against everyday risks. Check out iSelect’s range of providers to look for a great policy, see if you can save and start dreaming of those drinks with the little umbrellas in them.