Understanding a Family Travel Insurance Policy
When you travel abroad with your family, you need to ensure you are covered for any and all possibilities in the event of an emergency or difficulty. Of course, you probably don't need to include a clause in your family travel insurance cover against a shortage of snow if you're travelling to Barbados, but it is sensible to ensure that your cover is appropriate for your particular requirements.
What Can Go Wrong?
Most people purchase single trip or annual travel cover to protect them against things going wrong, but just what can happen when you are travelling abroad temporarily?
The answer is, plenty of things!
Firstly, you may need to cancel your holiday before it even begins, if, for example, one of your party becomes too ill to travel or someone close to you dies. You may need to abandon your plans but, if you're properly covered, you'll receive a payout against your costs so you can rebook at a later date.
Your family travel insurance will also cover you whilst you are travelling to the airport, in case you are delayed by circumstances beyond your control and miss your flights. Your flights may be cancelled or delayed so long that you miss part or all of your holiday, so what would happen if the hotelier insisted on charging you for at least your first nights' accommodation, when you haven't turned up on time? If you have a good policy, you will be reimbursed - if not, you're on your own.
What if You Lose Belongings?
If the airline loses or misplaces your luggage, a family travel insurance policy will provide you with 24-hour emergency assistance and allow you funds to purchase replacement clothing and other items at a moment's notice.
In another, less savoury scenario, you may be living in unusual circumstances when you are abroad, so you'll be an easier target for thieves. If you are mugged or any belongings are taken from your hotel room, your policy will take care of the financial burden of any medical treatment and the replacement of valuables.
The NHS Does Not Stretch Overseas
Although you will receive some basic NHS cover in Europe and some other countries, it will not be sufficient to provide you with the standard of service that you would have expected at home. If you're travelling to America, you will find that medical expenses are extremely high and you may find a bill for thousands of pounds for just a few minutes consultation. Most insurers will expect you to take out at least 1 million worth of cover against medical expenses. In the event of needing emergency care when you are away, it is vitally important to have family travel insurance for you and your family.