Family travel insurance

A family policy provides cover for one or two adults living at the same address, plus at least one child. If two adults are travelling under a family policy, they must be spouse/partner.

It's a great option for families traveling together because it ensures you're all covered under one policy which could save you time and money.

Depending on how frequently you travel and the destination, it’s important to have the right holiday insurance for you and your family.

If you tend to take one or two breaks over the year as a family then a single trip policy might be the most cost-effective option. If you’re travelling a number of times in the year then multi-trip travel insurance might be more suitable.

You can also choose a policy based on where you’re going. For example, if you’re taking a stay-cation then UK cover is fine, but if you’re going further afield then you’ll need either European or worldwide cover to make sure you’ve got the right level of protection.

• Lost luggage and possessions
• Cancellations
• Medical care or repatriation
• Legal assistance
• Some adventure activities

There are some other things you might want to think about when taking out family travel cover:

• Some policies will only cover children who permanently live at the same address
• Your policy may become invalid if some members travel independently.

Make sure to check your policy details or get in touch with the provider if you're unsure.

Several things can affect the cost, including the size of your family, specific details of who is travelling and whether they have any pre-existing medical conditions.

Based on 2 adults and 2 children travelling to Spain the average cost of a family travel insurance policy is £20.17*. If you’re the only adult travelling with your kids the cover is likely to be cheaper, costing an average of £12.26 for one adult and two children travelling to Spain.

*Average cost quoted for a family policy between June-Nov 2019 on Confused.com.

Choosing the best destination for your family holiday can be confusing. If you haven’t decided yet, here are ten of the most popular destinations among families to help get you started:

The most frequent countries covered by family policies, as declared by customers using Confused.com between June-Nov 2019

It’s important to check whether you need to provide a visa or other form of entry to your chosen holiday destination. If you’re planning on going to the USA for your family holiday, you’ll need to complete an ESTAbefore your trip.

Along with entry requirements you’ll need to decide how you’re going to take money abroad. There’s always cash but pre-paid cards can be a safer option to take money overseas

It’s best to take out family travel insurance as soon as you’ve booked your holiday. Unexpected things can crop up so it’s important to have the right cover in case you need to cancel your trip. Accommodation and travel for families is usually more expensive so your policy may be able to compensate for some of the expense.

Transport and accommodation seem to sky-rocket around the school holidays. It’s usually the only time families with children in education can go and some companies take advantage by hiking their prices.

Despite this there are still ways to save on flights and, believe it or not, the day you book your holiday could save you a pretty penny too. Lastly, if you’re flying then check the weight of your family’s bags before you head off, don’t let extra baggage fees eat into your spending money.

Compare family travel insurance

Sorting out travel insurance for your family doesn’t need to be confusing. The process is simple, straightforward and could save you money. Just fill out some details about your holiday and family then we’ll show you quotes from a variety of trusted providers. You can choose the policy that best suits your needs and also tailor the policy if you require any extra baggage allowance, for example.

If you have a pre-existing medical condition, you can still get a quote through Confused.com. These conditions could include cancer, stroke, serious heart, respiratory and terminal conditions.

Some insurers might not cover you if you already have a serious medical condition, or if you have a number of conditions. Others might only offer insurance at a much higher price. If you're unable to find suitable cover, the Money and Pension Service (MaPS) has also set up a directory of insurers willing to cover customers with pre-existing medical conditions.

You can contact the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) or you can telephone 0800 138 7777.