Invest in Safe Travel With the Right Family Travel Insurance

Planning a family holiday can be exciting, especially when finalising the itinerary. But being prepared for the holiday does not end with listing the places you are going to visit. One of the most crucial steps in planning a break away is getting family travel insurance. The questions should not be whether you will or won't get it; it should just be a question of what needs to be covered and what special circumstances could arise during your trip when you might need emergency medical assistance. You need to plan ahead and be flexible – but don’t forget the things that really count, starting with the following.

Don't Skimp on the Essentials

While you may not necessarily need car rental cover included in your family travel insurance if you're not going to drive abroad, medical assistance is always an essential, especially if one or more members of the family has a specific condition that may need to be attended to immediately - such as asthma or diabetes. Baggage loss and passport replacement are other basic concerns that definitely need to be covered. However, before deciding on adding another clause to the policy you are going to purchase, check that these are not already covered in a separate policy you currently hold – like household, for instance.

Shop Around to Know Your Options

If this is the first time you've purchased family travel insurance, the first thing you need to know is your family’s eligibility. For starters, a basic package for a family will cover two adults and four children less than 18 years of age. The next thing to figure out is whether to get single-trip or a multi-trip insurance. Basically, a single-trip policy will cover you for the extent of your holiday and will expire when you get back to your home country. This is an ideal option for families who don’t do a lot of travelling. On the other hand, families who frequently go abroad might be able to make a more efficient purchase with multi-trip insurance, which is usually good for one year and doesn’t need to be renewed or repurchased every time you go away.

Declare Medical Conditions Up Front

Especially when travelling with babies or young children, it is crucial to be transparent when you're buying family travel insurance. This means declaring any existing medical conditions of every member of the family. Doing this not only helps you make an informed decision about which policy you need, but it is also vital information when it comes to processing a claim. Ignore this at your peril – honesty is always the best policy.