Compare couples travel insurance

If you’re jetting off with your husband, wife or partner, then couples cover (sometimes known as joint travel insurance) can be a budget-friendly alternative to buying separate policies.

Patrick Ikhena

From the Travel team

minute read

posted 28 JANUARY 2020

What exactly is couples travel insurance?

To qualify for couples travel insurance (or joint cover), you need to be two adults aged 18 or over, who live at the same address and are in a relationship.

Policies vary between providers, but standard travel insurance for couples usually includes:

medical cover – this will help to ensure you won’t be left with a hefty hospital bill. You’ll usually be covered for around £2 million in medical expense
personal belongings – from pricey laptops to fancy designer sunglasses, your personal belongings are often covered for damage, loss, and theft
cancellation cover – cancellation cover means you won’t be out of pocket if you’re forced to shelve your holiday plans because your travel provider lets you down or you have an accident or illness that prevents you from travelling. Cancellation cover would usually be equal to the value of your holiday, including pre-booked excursions, activities, and extras
travel delay/disruption cover – if your flight is delayed then your first port of call should be the airline or if, for example, your hotel isn’t finished you should contact your tour operator. It’s their responsibility to compensate you for the cost of the disruption caused. If they’re not compensating you for the disruption you should call your insurance provider

Some insurance companies won’t cover you for absolutely every eventuality, so always be careful when you’re buying your policy to make sure you’ve got the right cover for your needs. If you’re heading off on a specific type of holiday, such as a ski trip, then some providers offer tailor-made packages that are better equipped for the slopes.

CORONAVIRUS UPDATE

As of 23rd Match 2020, the UK Government announced a series of restrictions to travel, public spaces and gatherings. For a minimum of three weeks, people are being instructed to stay at home whenever possible. For this reason, travel insurance policies purchased from this date, for trips within the UK with a start date before 13th April 2020, will not be valid.

The UK Government also instructed all British tourists and travellers, that are currently abroad, to return to the UK as soon as possible.

As of 17th March 2020, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) have advised against all non-essential travel abroad for an initial period of 30 days. This means that any travel insurance purchased from this date, for trips outside of the UK with a start date before 16th April 2020, will not be covered by the provider.

Coronavirus was declared a pandemic on 11th March 2020, so this may also affect your policy, particularly those taken out on or after that date. Please check any existing policies carefully, to find out what you’re covered for.

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

Do you have to travel together for couples travel insurance?

With couples travel insurance, travelling separately is allowed with some policies. This can 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 I save money by taking out a couples policy?

Going on holiday is pricey enough, so it will come as good news that opting for couples travel insurance can save you money.

However, if one of you has a pre-existing medical condition then it could 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, then it’s also possible to make further savings with an annual multi-trip policy over a single trip policy.

While travel insurance for couples may seem tempting, the lowest-priced deals don’t always offer the right cover – and can sometimes end up costing you more money if things don’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.

Are there any common exclusions for couples travel insurance?

Exclusions are the things an insurance provider won’t provide, so you should certainly be aware of them.

The ones that regularly occur include:

pre-existing medical conditions – if you’ve got a dodgy knee or problematic organs, you may be considered by some providers a big a risk to insure. Fortunately, there are providers out there that do cover people with pre-existing medical conditions
extreme sports – not all insurance providers will take the fall if a bungee jump goes disastrously wrong. Whether it’s skiing, white-water rafting, or even skydiving, adrenaline junkies will sometimes need to seek out policies that specifically cater for extreme sports
certain locations – from dangerous countries to plush cruise liners, not every insurance policy will cover you everywhere. If you’re opting for a cruise, you need to select the cruise option when completing your quote
delays and disasters – some of the least anticipated things aren’t always covered by insurance providers. These can range from ‘Acts of God’ (storms, floods, tornados etc.) to acts of terrorism. The same can also be true of more common eventualities, such as delayed flights. Make sure your policy doesn’t exclude any of the more likely ones

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 companies to choose from. Get a quote in minutes and see if you can start saving.