Travel Insurance for Children
Compare travel insurance policies to help find the best for your children.
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Travel insurance isn’t just for adults to worry about. Children of all ages, whether holidaying with their families or alone, will need to be covered when they leave their homes to explore Australia or the world. There are plenty of travel insurance options available for youngsters in this boat, so you can start the comparison process right here with Savvy.
By considering a range of options before committing to purchasing your policy, you’ll give yourself the best chance of finding the most suitable policy for your kid. Get the comparison process started today and lock in the cover you need before you know it.
How can I get travel insurance for my children?
There are several different ways to take out travel insurance for a child, so it’s important to identify which category yours falls under before buying travel insurance. These are:
Children under 18 travelling alone
If the policy you’re looking for is child-only, you’ll be required to take out an individual travel insurance policy to cover them. This will typically offer the same sorts of cover which are afforded to standard adult travellers and will generally cost a similar amount. However, it’s important to compare age restrictions between insurers, as some may limit travellers to 16 to 18 years of age, which could count your child out of contention.
Children under 18 travelling with family
If you’re journeying away from home as a family unit, one option for you to take is a family travel insurance policy. This enables you to purchase a single policy with which to cover you, your partner and your children (up to as many as ten kids). If they’re a dependent under the age of 21, they can be included in your policy for no additional charge in most cases, saving you a considerable amount of money. If you’re a single parent travelling with dependent children under 21, they can also be added to your policy for no extra cost.
Children aged 18 or over travelling alone
If you’re looking for a child-only policy when they’re at least 18 years of age, they’ll be old enough to seek out travel insurance themselves and purchase a policy in their own name. Even if they still live with you and are a dependent, travel insurers will allow those 18 years or older to purchase a policy. This can extend to those as young as 16 in some cases.
What does children’s travel insurance cover?
As mentioned, the differences between a travel insurance policy for children only and adults in terms of what they cover are typically very minimal. Purchasing travel insurance for your child will come with the same key benefits as it would if you were purchasing it to cover yourself. The standard coverage offered by a comprehensive travel insurance policy includes the following:
- Medical cover: if your child is travelling overseas, insurance can cover the cost of emergency or medical treatment for an illness or injury which comes about due to a covered event. It can also cover the cost of transporting them to receive treatment and any medical evacuation and repatriation.
- Cancellation cover: they’ll be covered for any cancellations or delays which occur either before or during their trip due to a covered event. This may be caused by an illness or family emergency, the cancellation of an overseas study course or if the government changes travel advice to their destination.
- Loss, theft and damage to belongings: your children’s items, such as luggage, electronics, jewellery and cash can all be insured in the event they’re lost, stolen or damaged. However, if they’re lost or stolen due to being left unattended, among other potential reasons, a claim would likely be rejected.
- Personal liability: should your child be found liable for injury to a third party or damage to their property, they can be covered for personal liability. The amount which can be claimed varies depending on your insurer and the type of cover taken out, but it could reach as high as $5 million.
What types of travel insurance can I purchase for my child?
There are many different types of insurance to consider when considering a policy for your child. The best travel insurance for their needs will largely depend on the nature of their travel, so it’s important to consider those when picking out a policy. Some of the different types of travel insurance include:
Level of cover: comprehensive or basic?
The first key factor to consider is whether to take out comprehensive or basic travel insurance. As the name suggests, comprehensive travel insurance offers more cover (in all the areas listed above) but will cost more overall. If your child is travelling light, though, you might consider cheap basic travel insurance, which is also known as a medical-only policy for international travel.
Destination: domestic or international?
This is perhaps the simplest option to work out, as whether you choose domestic or international insurance will depend solely on where they’re travelling. The only major difference between these types of insurance is that domestic cover doesn’t include medical costs (given that Medicare and private health insurance are still in effect), so you’ll only need to ensure medical coverage if your child is travelling to Mexico, for instance.
Travel frequency: single-trip, annual or one-way?
The frequency of travel will also play a substantial role in helping you pick out the best policy for your situation. If it’s only a one-off trip, single-trip insurance is the best option. For children travelling multiple times a year, such as to see family, an annual travel insurance policy will likely be of better value, as this can cover up to 90 days of travel over 12 months. However, if your child is leaving Australia without a return ticket, you can look at a one-way insurance policy, which can cover them for up to a year after their departure. This type of insurance can also cover their return to Australia provided it’s purchased at least 72 hours before they depart.
Types of travel insurance
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Top tips for comparing children-only travel insurance
Read the PDS for inclusions and exclusions
Your insurer’s Product Disclosure Statement will cover everything which is covered under your child’s travel insurance policy. By familiarising yourself with these documents, you can more confidently pick out a provider which offers the coverage you need for your child.
Consider the cost of premiums
While cost isn’t everything, it’s still important to try to avoid paying more than you need to. You can compare offers side by side to determine which travel insurance offers suitable cover at the cheapest price, as insurance is often about the balance between cover and cost.
Find a policy with suitable claim limits
There’s little use insuring all your child’s luggage and valuables if they’re only going to be able to claim a fraction of their cost back. When comparing travel insurance policies and providers, make sure you’ll be able to claim a decent portion of your child’s items or cancellation fees.
Compare your options with Savvy
It helps to compare your options side by side when deciding on which offer is best for your child. When you compare with Savvy, you’re given the tools to compare from some of Australia’s most respected and trusted travel insurers to help you find the right policy.
Frequently asked questions about children’s travel insurance
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Disclaimer:
We do not compare all travel insurance brands currently operating in the market. Any advice presented above or on other pages is general in nature and does not consider your personal or business objectives, needs or finances. It’s always important to consider whether advice is suitable for you before purchasing an insurance policy.
Savvy earns a commission from our partners each time a customer buys a travel insurance policy via our website. We don’t arrange for products to be purchased from these brands directly, as all purchases are conducted via their websites.
Before purchasing your policy, we recommend you refer to the provider’s PDS for any further information on the terms, inclusions and exclusions.