How to Get Family Travel Insurance for Your First Trip Abroad
Buy family travel insurance before you leave—it typically costs $150–$400 for a week-long trip for four people and covers medical emergencies, trip cancellations, and lost luggage. Get quotes from at least two providers, read the fine print on coverage limits, and buy it within 14 days of your first trip deposit to maximize benefits.
- Budget
- $25–$60 per person for a week-long international trip
- Duration
- Buy before departure; coverage typically lasts for the trip length you select (7 days, 14 days, 30 days, etc.)
- Best Time
- Buy immediately after booking your flights or accommodation, but always within 14 days for full pre-existing condition coverage
- Visa Required
- No—insurance is optional but strongly recommended
Step by step
Determine what type of coverage you need
Sit down with your family and list what could go wrong: someone gets sick abroad, you need to cancel last-minute, a flight gets delayed, luggage is lost, or you cause accidental damage. Medical coverage is non-negotiable with kids. Trip cancellation and baggage coverage are worth the extra cost on a family trip. Check if your credit card or existing home insurance already covers some things—many don't, but it's worth 10 minutes to verify.
Get quotes from at least two insurers
Use comparison sites like InsureMyTrip, SquareMouth, or World Nomads to pull quotes for your specific trip (dates, destination, number of people, ages of children). Write down the price, deductible, and maximum payout for medical, trip cancellation, and baggage for each option. Don't just pick the cheapest—a $50 difference might mean half the medical coverage.
Read the exclusions on each policy
Open the policy document (not just the summary) and search for: pre-existing conditions (applies to anyone with a chronic illness), adventure activities (hiking, skiing—matters if your trip includes these), and what 'cancellation' actually covers (illness only, or also job loss, weather, airline strikes?). Call the insurer with any questions. This takes 20 minutes but saves heartbreak later.
Verify medical coverage limits for your destination
Medical costs vary wildly. A hospital visit in Thailand might cost $2,000; in the UK or Canada, $15,000+. Check that your policy's medical maximum ($100,000 is standard but not universal) covers your destination's healthcare costs. If you're heading somewhere expensive (Western Europe, Australia, Japan), aim for $250,000+ in medical coverage.
Check coverage for kids' specific needs
Some policies have age limits (often no coverage for kids under 2 weeks old or over 65, though that's less relevant for families). Ask: does the policy cover a child's pre-existing condition like asthma or diabetes? Does it cover routine pediatric care abroad, or just emergencies? Will they reimburse you for a parent to fly home early if a child gets seriously ill?
Buy within 14 days of your first trip deposit
Most insurers won't cover pre-existing conditions unless you buy within 14 days of your initial trip booking. Mark the date you booked your flights or hotel. Set a phone reminder. Buy the policy online immediately after—it takes 5 minutes and is usually instant by email.
Save your policy documents
Print or save the full policy, the confirmation email, and the emergency contact number. Put one copy in your carry-on bag and one in checked luggage. Add the insurer's phone number to your phone contacts. You won't use it 99% of the time, but when you need it at 2 a.m. in a foreign hospital, you'll be grateful.
Questions people ask
Do I really need travel insurance for a first trip?
Yes. On your first trip, you don't know what can go wrong—flights get cancelled, kids get sick in unfamiliar climates, luggage gets lost. One missed flight or ER visit ($5,000+) pays for years of insurance. It's not optional with young kids in a foreign country.
What if my child has asthma or diabetes? Will it be covered?
Only if you buy the policy within 14 days of your trip booking and the condition is declared at purchase. Some insurers exclude pre-existing conditions entirely; others cover them. Call the insurer before buying and ask directly. Don't assume—get it in writing.
Can I cancel my insurance if my trip gets cancelled?
No. You buy insurance to cover the event of cancellation. Once purchased, it's final. This is why you buy it early—before plans are locked in. If your trip cancels, the policy pays out (if eligible). You don't get refunded for the insurance itself.
Does travel insurance cover adventure activities like hiking?
Standard policies usually don't. If your trip includes rock climbing, zip-lining, skiing, or backcountry hiking, tell the insurer when getting a quote. You'll need 'adventure sports' coverage, which costs 10–20% more but is essential.
What's the difference between single-trip and annual multi-trip insurance?
Single-trip covers one specific trip (cheaper per trip if you take 1–2 trips yearly). Annual multi-trip covers unlimited trips within a year (better value if you take 2+ trips, and easier to manage). For a first trip, single-trip is fine; upgrade if you become a frequent traveler.
If we have travel delay, do we get a hotel for free?
Most policies reimburse delays over 12–24 hours, but they reimburse you after the fact with receipts—they don't book the hotel directly. You pay for the hotel, keep the receipt, and claim reimbursement when you get home. Limits are usually $100–$300 per night, so read your policy.
Do I need separate insurance for each child?
Yes. Each person needs their own policy, including infants (some policies cover kids age 2 weeks and up). Family packages group multiple people under one plan and are cheaper than buying four individual policies.
- Typical Breakdown
- Annual multi-trip policy: $250–$500 per person per year (best value if you take 2+ trips). Single-trip policy: $40–$100 per person for 7 days.
- Factors That Raise Cost
- Older children (teens = higher risk), expensive destinations (North America, Western Europe), long trips (over 30 days), adventure activities included
- One Week Family of Four
- $150–$400
Packing
- Printed copy of your insurance policy and emergency contact number (keep in carry-on and checked bag)
- Photo of your insurance ID card or digital copy on your phone
- List of any family member's pre-existing conditions and current medications (for medical claims)
- Credit card statement showing your trip booking date (proof of purchase for cancellation claims)
- Copies of receipts for any cancelled flights, hotels, or activities (you'll need these to file claims)
Related: travel insurance, what travel insurance covers, and what it never will and the first trip abroad with your kids.