Family Travel Insurance
Find travel insurance for your family by comparing your options here with Savvy.
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Rounding up your family on a trip can be a great way to explore the country or the globe with the people you love the most. It’s important, therefore, to be able to leave home without any lingering concerns over finding yourself caught short if something goes wrong, which is where a family travel insurance policy can come in handy.
You can compare a range of insurance options right here with Savvy. We’re partnered with some of the most well-respected insurers across the country to give you great quality of choice when considering the options available to you. Start the process of finding your family travel insurance deal here today with Savvy.
How does family travel insurance work and what does it cover?
Family travel insurance is an alternative to the standard single person travel insurance which allows you to include multiple people under one policy. This means you can have yourself, your spouse or de facto partner and your children under a single agreement, rather than taking out individual policies for each member of your family. Crucially, if your children are under the age of 21 and aren’t working full-time, they can be included as dependents under your policy free of charge (up to a typical maximum of ten kids).
In terms of what you’ll be covered for under a family travel insurance policy, it’ll depend on whether you opt for comprehensive travel insurance or a basic policy. Comprehensive insurance offers more in the way of protection for your family (albeit at a higher price than a basic policy) and will often include the following:
- Cover for emergency and general medical treatments
- Cover for booking and trip cancellations (which can sometimes be unlimited, depending on the policy you buy)
- Cover for the loss, theft or damage to your belongings such as luggage (up to $15,000 or more)
- Cover for hire car excess if damaged in your possession (subject to certain conditions and exclusions)
- Personal liability if someone is injured or has their property damaged and you’re found to be at fault (potentially up to $5 million)
In comparison, basic travel insurance generally only covers medical costs and personal liability (although some policies may have lower limits for things like emergency dental cover, and personal effects cover can sometimes be added as an optional extra.) It’s important to consider what you and your family need cover for before you start the quote process.
What options do I have for family travel insurance?
Once you decide which level of policy you’re going to take out (choose between basic and comprehensive,) you can then choose which type of policy is best suited to your family’s getaway. Choices include:
Domestic or international insurance
These are fairly self-explanatory: if you’re travelling overseas, look at an international policy, while those holidaying in Australia may find a domestic travel insurance policy more appropriate. These are similar in nature aside from one key difference: because Australians are still covered by Medicare and private health insurance whilst in their home country, there’s no need for domestic travel insurance to include medical cover. This makes domestic insurance cheaper than international coverage, but no less useful to have in place for you and your family.
Single-trip insurance
The most common type of travel insurance policy for families is single-trip insurance, which covers each member from the start of your trip to the end. This can last up to 12 months in some cases, but your travel must start and end in Australia to qualify for cover. If you’re a family which doesn’t travel very often, perhaps only once a year, this type of insurance may be the most appropriate type of insurance for you.
Annual/multi-trip insurance
Unlike single-trip insurance, an annual travel insurance policy will cover your family for multiple trips over the span of 12 months. The amount of travel you can be covered for varies between insurers, but can be capped at 90 days in total under some policies. Annual insurance is popular with families who travel frequently, whether that be due to parents having work commitments abroad, or simply because the family enjoys exploring what Australia has to offer on a regular basis.
One-way insurance
One-way travel insurance is designed for those who are heading off overseas without a clear end date booked at the time of your departure. This can also cover you for up to 12 months after you depart Australia and may be suitable if you have to relocate your family temporarily, yet indefinitely, for work or other reasons. This type of insurance can also cover your return trip to Australia, provided you take out your one-way insurance at least 48 to 72 hours prior to your departure.
How much will my family travel insurance policy cost?
There are many variables which can influence the cost of your travel insurance policy. As such, it’s important to compare as many options as possible to help you find the cheapest family travel insurance policy offered by our partners, which you can do right here with Savvy. Some of the main factors which can impact your family insurance premium are:
The level of cover you choose
As mentioned, comprehensive insurance is more expensive than basic insurance as it offers a greater number of areas covered as part of the policy, and possibly higher cover limits. You can expect a correlation between the incidents and events included in a policy, and its price. Additionally, annual travel insurance in itself is more expensive than a single-trip policy, but may possibly work out to be cheaper over 12 months than taking out individual policies for each trip (if you do travel often.)
The number of family members travelling
The size of your family may also influence the cost of your premium. As mentioned, dependents under 21 who aren’t working full-time can usually be added to the policy for free, but some insurers may charge an additional premium to do so. Also, if your children are 21 or older and/or working full-time, you’ll need to pay extra to have them covered under your policy.
Your family’s health records
As with any insurance policy, your health and that of each member of your travelling party can have an impact on your premium. For instance, if one of your family members has a pre-existing health condition, you may have to pay extra to ensure any expenses which arise due to the pre-existing condition are eligible for cover.
Your destination/s
Different countries come with different levels of risk as determined by insurers. This is generally due to the cost of healthcare varying across the world. For example, it’ll likely cost less for you to be insured to travel to Ireland, as the nation has a reciprocal health care agreement with Australia, which gives you access to public medical treatment. This may not be the case if you’re travelling somewhere like the United States, or getting insurance for a Germany trip, as these countries have more expensive health systems.
How long you’re away for
The longer your trip, the greater the chances (in theory) of something going wrong and you being required to make a claim. As such, longer holidays will cost more to insure from departure to return than shorter trips.
The activities covered
Additionally, the events which are included in your policy will also have an influence on how much your travel insurance costs overall. For example, if your family is adventurous and wants to partake in activities such as scuba diving or rock climbing, you’ll be required to pay more to compensate for the comparatively greater risk of injury.
Types of travel insurance
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How to compare different family travel insurance policies
Inclusions and exclusions
Familiarise yourself with your insurer’s Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) so you can clearly see what is and isn’t able to be claimed for under your policy. Having the cover you need is the most important aspect of different policies to compare.
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Cost of premiums
You shouldn’t pay more than necessary when taking out insurance for your family. While you shouldn’t choose the cheapest family insurance if it comes at the cost of the range of cover included, it’s valuable to compare the price of policies to help you make your insurance dollar stretch the furthest.
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Optional extras
Have a look at what’s available as standard cover, and as an optional extra with each insurer. For instance, winter sports like skiing or snowboarding are often available as part of an added package, so if your family is hitting the slopes, look for insurers that offer this type of additional cover.
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Claim limits
When it comes to things like cover for your valuables such as luggage, electronics and jewellery, it’s worth checking your insurer’s claim limit. These vary between providers depending on what you’re looking to cover, with some only offering $5,000 cover while others can offer up to $15,000 or more.
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Compare customer support
You may want the peace of mind that your insurer can answer your calls, no matter the time or where you are in the world. Many insurers offer 24/7 support, meaning you’ll be able to get in touch with them at any time of day or night. If this is important to you, check the level of customer support offered when comparing insurers.
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Frequently asked questions about family travel insurance
Helpful travel insurance guides
Explore your travel insurance options for your next destination
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.