Compare couples travel insurance

If you’re jetting off with your other half, couples travel insurance could be a budget-friendly alternative to buying separate policies. Here’s how it works.

Written by

Kate Hughes

Insurance expert

Last Updated

9 MAY 2023

6 min read

What is couples travel insurance?

Couples travel insurance is designed to cover both you and your partner in one policy. Also known as joint travel insurance, it could be cheaper than taking out two separate policies.

To qualify for couples holiday insurance, you both need to be aged 18 or over, live at the same address and be in a relationship.

What does couples travel insurance cover?

Standard features of travel insurance for couples typically include:

Medical cover – this could protect you against expensive medical treatment costs. You’ll usually be covered for around £10 million in medical expenses. The policy might also include repatriation to the UK for treatment.
Baggage cover – your personal belongings, gadgets and other valuables will usually be covered for damage, loss and theft. But check if there are single-item limits (the maximum an insurance provider will pay towards any single item).
Cancellation cover – this would usually be equal to the value of your holiday, including pre-booked excursions, activities and extras.
Travel delay/disruption cover – your tour operator is responsible for compensating you for the cost of the disruption caused. If they’re not compensating you for the disruption, you should call your insurance provider.

Insurance providers don’t tend to cover you for every eventuality though, so always be careful when you’re buying your joint travel insurance policy. Read the policy wording to make sure you have the right cover for your needs.

What won’t couples travel insurance cover?

Before buying your couples travel insurance, there are a few exclusions to watch out for. Standard policies typically won’t cover:

Pre-existing medical conditions – if you have any health issues like diabetes or cancer, you may need a specialist policy. At Compare the Market, any medical conditions you declare will be covered in your policy.
Extreme sports – if you're going to be taking part in high-risk activities, you’ll need a policy that covers extreme sports. Make sure you’re crystal clear about what your policy does and doesn’t cover. You might be surprised by what's classed as high-risk.
Certain locations – from dangerous countries to plush cruise liners, not every insurance policy will cover you everywhere.
Delays and disasters – these can range from storms, floods and tornadoes to acts of terrorism. The same can also be true for more common eventualities, such as delayed flights. Make sure your policy doesn’t exclude any of the more likely ones.
Drug or alcohol misuse – you may have a claim rejected if your insurance provider believes the incident was down to you being intoxicated.

While you’re checking the policy documents for these things, make sure you’re aware of and happy with the limits the policy has, such as the value of claims for single items and how much cash is covered.

Can I travel alone with couples travel insurance?

With couples travel insurance, travelling separately is allowed with some policies. This could be particularly useful if you regularly visit family overseas and can’t always go together, or if you’re travelling alone or with friends.

Can you get travel insurance for couples not living together?

Couples travel insurance is designed for couples who live at the same address. This means couples who don’t live together won’t be eligible.

However, there are other types of joint travel insurance available. For example, group travel insurance allows you to insure multiple travellers on a single policy.

There’s also honeymoon insurance. It’s a niche product but can cover couples who don’t live together for their honeymoon holiday plans. Honeymoon insurance protects you against the same things as regular travel insurance, but you may be able to add some wedding-related extras.

Can I get cheap travel insurance for couples?

Yes, it is possible to save money by getting couples travel insurance, instead of two individual policies.

That said, if one of you has a pre-existing medical condition, it may be cheaper to buy separate policies – so it’s worth getting a comparison for both to see which could be cheaper.

If you travel a lot, you could pocket further savings with couples annual travel insurance rather than a single-trip policy.

While joint travel insurance might seem tempting, the cheapest policy doesn’t necessarily make it the best travel insurance for couples. That’s because the cheapest policy may not offer the right cover and could sometimes end up costing you more money if your trip doesn’t go to plan. A good policy should tick all your boxes, as well as meeting your budget, so make sure you compare policies before buying the policy that suits you.

Customers with pre-existing medical conditions

If you have a serious health condition, your travel insurance is likely to be more expensive. Whatever happens, tell your insurance provider the truth. If you give false information or miss something out, your claim could be rejected.

When you declare any medical conditions on our website, we’ll only show you quotes from insurance providers that will cover them with no exclusions.

If your condition is more serious, MoneyHelper has a directory of insurance providers who may be able to provide quotes over the phone. You can call them on 0800 138 7777.

Where can I compare travel insurance?

If you’re looking to compare travel insurance for couples we can help you. To compare offers today, simply answer a few questions and we’ll find you a selection of travel insurance providers to choose from. Get a quote in minutes and see if you can start saving.

Frequently asked questions

Can we go skiing on our joint travel policy?

You may not be able to go skiing on a standard joint travel policy. That’s because of the perceived risks involved with winter sports.

If you want to hit the slopes together, you’ll probably need to pay for extra cover to give you the protection you need.

Do we have to be married to get couples travel insurance?

No, you don’t need to be married or in a civil partnership to get couples travel insurance.

However, you and your partner will need to be living together to be eligible for couples travel cover.

Will couples travel insurance cover us if we break up?

Sadly, you won’t be able to make a claim on your travel insurance if you split up with your partner and no longer want to go on the holiday you’ve booked. But it’s often worth getting in touch with your tour operator.

They don’t have to offer you a refund, but most will try to find a workable solution. You might end up paying a cancellation fee, but it’s better than being left completely out of pocket.