Family Travel Insurance (2026): What It Covers, What to Watch For, and How to Choose the Right Policy

Family travel insurance is a single policy designed to cover multiple people traveling together—typically one or two adults and their children. It includes the same core benefits as standard travel insurance (medical, assistance, evacuation, disruption, baggage) but is structured to cover all family members under one policy, usually at a lower cost than buying individual policies for each person.

Family policies cover multiple people (usually 2 adults + children) under one contract, typically with one premium. This is usually cheaper than buying separate policies for each family member. The key differences are in how 'child' and 'dependent' are defined, what ages qualify, and how claims work when more than one person is affected by the same incident.

This varies significantly between insurers. Many policies define children as under 18, but some extend to 21 or 23 if the child is a full-time student or financially dependent. If you're traveling with older teens or young adults, always confirm they qualify as 'dependents' under the policy's definition before buying.

Many policies exclude pre-existing medical conditions. If any family member has a chronic condition, diabetes, heart issues, or takes regular medication, you should treat this as a major filter when choosing a policy. Some policies offer pre-existing condition waivers if purchased within a certain timeframe after booking. Always declare conditions honestly.

Most family policies allow one parent to travel with the children, but you should confirm this before buying. Some policies define 'family' as requiring two adults. If only one parent is traveling with children, or if grandparents are traveling with grandchildren, check that the policy structure matches your actual travel group.

Yes, most family policies include trip cancellation cover for covered reasons (serious illness, injury, death in family, major home emergencies). Family trips are often booked well in advance and are expensive, making cancellation cover particularly valuable. However, cancellation isn't a blanket refund—it depends on covered reasons, timing, and documentation.

The foundation is emergency medical coverage that works abroad. With kids, the most common incidents are common infections, fevers, stomach issues, dehydration, and minor injuries. You also need medical evacuation/repatriation cover for serious situations. The limit needed depends on your destination—€50,000+ for Europe, €500,000+ for the USA due to high healthcare costs.

Many standard policies exclude activities like skiing, diving, jet-skiing, quad biking, or water sports unless you add an extension. Families often rent scooters on islands, do water sports, or book adventure tours. If your holiday includes activities, confirm they're covered before you travel—not after an incident.

If your family takes multiple trips per year (typically 3+), annual multi-trip cover is usually better value than buying single-trip policies each time. The key things to check are: maximum trip length per trip (often 15-45 days), whether activities are included, and whether any add-ons you need (skiing, cruise) are covered for all trips.

Contact your insurer's 24/7 assistance line as soon as possible, especially if hospital care is needed. They can guide you to appropriate medical facilities, explain what documents to collect, and coordinate care if pre-approval is required. For minor illnesses, seek local medical care, keep all receipts and reports, and file a claim when you return.

Standard 'family' policies typically expect parents + children. If grandparents are traveling with grandchildren (without parents), you may need a group policy or separate coverage. Some insurers offer flexibility here, but always confirm the policy's definition of 'family' matches your actual travel group before purchasing.

Claims require documentation: medical reports and receipts for medical claims, proof of delay from carriers for disruption claims, police reports for theft, booking confirmations showing non-refundable costs for cancellation. Keep all original documents, receipts, and reports. Families who keep organized documentation get claims paid faster and with fewer issues.