Do I need Travel Insurance for my Kids?

Image of a child on parents shoulders looking over a lake while travelling

Whether you have a newborn, toddler, teeny, tweeny or teenager, you will need travel insurance for them when you go abroad. Family policies offer the ideal balance of cover and affordability for family getaways – here’s what you need to know!

Image by tatianasyrikova CC0

Why do kids need travel insurance?

Whatever could go wrong for you could go wrong for your children also. That could be lost luggage (with all the expensive baby equipment inside), damaged luggage, and the expense of replacing specific items, lost or stolen passport, trip cancellations, and let’s not forget medical emergencies.

Is there children-only travel insurance?

Yes, there are specialist under-18 and student travel insurance options available on the market. In some cases a child will need their own policy, for example travelling solo under a certain age, but in most cases having a child or children on a family travel insurance policy is the most cost-effective solution.

What is covered on a family travel insurance policy?

All of the above, for the whole family, and that includes if parents travel separately with their children. Family policies are also a cheaper way to get travel insurance for each family member. While children cannot travel by themselves on a family policy under a certain age, adults and young adults can. Having the whole family covered on a family policy can therefore save money.

See also  Short family breaks to go on during October half term

Isn’t a GHIC (Global Health Insurance Card) enough for kids?

A GHIC, formerly known as an EHIC (European Global Health Card) provides limited cover for illness and injury, so you may still find that you have to pay medical fees abroad for treatment and medicines. Travel insurance provides more comprehensive cover to avoid such costs, plus it provides cover for non-medical related holiday mishaps such as lost, stolen, and damaged belongings. You can find out more about what is covered by a GHIC here.

Can a single parent get family travel insurance?

Yes, family travel insurance policies are available for single and two-parent families, and can be used for single-trip, multi-trip and annual insurance policies. Do note however that everyone on the policy should live at the same address, so if your child lives with another parent, a separate under-18s policy may be required.

How long before a holiday should I get the travel insurance?

As soon as you’ve booked the holiday! Travel insurance isn’t only useful while you are away, it can be used should life “get in the way” of being able to travel, such as a bereavement or illness. The sooner you get cover, the sooner you are protected should the unexpected happen.

Get a family travel insurance quote today!

Get in touch with us for a quote or call us on 01892 833338.  We offer a 24/7 multilingual helpline and carefully tailored policies to suit the unique needs of you and your family!