Travel insurance for children

When it comes to children (under 18s) and travel, it’s important to make sure the youngest members of your family have all the cover they need for a safe and comfortable trip. Let us help you find travel insurance for the children in your family.

Patrick Ikhena

From the Travel team

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Posted 01 MAY 2020

What types of travel insurance are available for children?

There are many types of travel insurance policies to consider, from family insurance packages to travel insurance for  children travelling alone. It’s important to understand the different types of insurance so that you can pick the right package for your children.

But don’t worry, we’re here to make the whole thing as easy as possible to organise.

CORONAVIRUS UPDATE

On 7 September 2020, the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) updated the list of countries that are exempt from its ongoing advice against all non-essential international travel.

If you choose to travel overseas to a destination where the FCDO is advising against non-essential travel at the time of your departure, then your insurance policy will be invalid, and any claim likely to be rejected.

For domestic travel, please check the local public health rules for the destination you wish to travel to within the United Kingdom.

For more information, please see our coronavirus and travel insurance page.

Why do I need children’s travel insurance?

Travel insurance for children is there to protect the under 18s against any emergency that may happen while they’re abroad. Just like adult travel insurance, policies for children give you peace of mind that you’ve got the cover you need on holiday.

Taking out travel insurance for your kids means that if anything were to happen, your travel insurance provider would take care of the bill and be on hand to give you advice and support. 

For example, if your child needed to be treated in a hospital for a stomach bug or infection, the policy could cover any follow-up treatment, plus return flights and so on. This could cost hundreds of thousands of pounds without travel insurance for your child.

Here are a few reasons why your child may need their own travel insurance:

if they're visiting family, friends or relatives when they are studying abroad
if they're going on a gap year or backpacking
or if they're working overseas

Under 16s who travel alone are often referred to as “unaccompanied minors”. You may find this phrase in travel insurance policies, and this may affect the terms of your insurance, so it’s important to check carefully.

Before you take out a separate policy for your child, you may want to check any existing family travel insurance you have, as some policies can cover your child even if they’re travelling separately.

Does my child need travel insurance when travelling with me?

Travel insurance is needed for children, regardless of whether or not they’re with their parents. If your child is travelling – especially to another country – you’ll want to make sure that if anything untoward happens, there’s insurance in place to help with any costs.

If your child is travelling with you, you can take out family holiday insurance, which could cover one or two adults plus at least one child (maximum 8). Couple and child policies are available, which cover you and a partner, plus a single child. This is often a cheaper type of family travel insurance

What does child travel insurance cover?

Your child’s travel insurance could include cover for:

lost luggage
personal accidents and repatriation
medical treatment
theft
loss of valuables

If they’re off on an adventure holiday with school, then it’s important to make sure they’re covered for certain activities, like extreme sports or winter sports.

Is your child travelling within Europe? If so, ensure they have a free European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).This will provide them with access to state-provided healthcare while travelling in EU countries, as well as Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. This will remain in place until 31 December 2020, when the post-Brexit transition phase between the UK and EU ends. There may of course be individual reciprocal arrangements with some, or all EU member countries after this date.

Find out more about the EHIC

Do babies need travel insurance?

Travel insurance for a babies is effectively the same as children’s travel insurance. You’ll need to ensure a policy has enough cover to protect your little one(s) against the cost of illness, injury and repatriation, if needed. If you’re taking your baby on holiday, you’ll want to make sure any accessories, such as buggies or cots, are insured as well.

Some insurance providers offer free cover for children as part of a family policy. Always read the terms of your policy so you know exactly what your insurance covers.

What extra cover is available for children?

As well as the inclusions of standard travel insurance for kids, you may want to think about extra types of cover, depending on the type of trip you’re taking:

Damaged or lost luggage/baggage – while lost luggage can be included as standard, you should check it offers you the right amount of cover and take out any further insurance if you need it. We know that children can lose and break things while on holiday, so getting this type of cover can help give you peace of mind.
Adventure activities and sports – you may find that a standard insurance policy won’t protect you for many ‘higher-risk’ sports and activities. If you’re planning on taking part in more adventurous sports like skiing or surfing, you should look at the relevant cover for winter sports, water sports and extreme sports.
Flight cancellation and delays – if your child falls ill or is injured, there’s already a lot to worry about. Flight cancellation cover can help you recover the cost of your flights in these types of situations. This won’t cover you if you simply change your mind about travelling.

How do I get children’s travel insurance?

We can take the hassle out of searching for travel insurance for children. Simply use our  comparison service, tell us what you need and we’ll compare hundreds of travel insurance providers for you, so you can find the perfect cover for your child.