Even more so than single trip or individual policies, family travel insurance is a source of mystery for the majority of holidaymakers. Doubts about what will be included in a package of this type, why it is necessary, what it will and will not cover and how it differs from 'standard' policies are extremely common. While companies generally do their best to try and provide answers to these questions, the number of prospective buyers still confused about the process is still far from negligible.
And yet, many policies - family travel insurance especially - are easy enough to tweak so these types of questions become almost irrelevant. Unlike what many buyers seem to think, such policies and packages are not entirely static - often, there will be several variants to the same general type of policy, each adapted to a specific set of circumstances. As such, it is up to the individual to locate the right type of policy in terms of the type of holiday they are planning to take, and to make sure that is the one they eventually contract.
Below is a list of the most common types of group holidays, complete with the type of characteristics buyers should look for in a travel cover policy.
Beach Breaks
Beach breaks are the most common type of getaway to indulge in with a family, and they do not necessitate anything that strays too far from the basic family travel insurance plan. Make sure the plan covers luggage theft, breakage of electronics and, of course, medical care, and you should be all set for your holiday in the sun!
City Breaks
For city breaks, you should make sure first and foremost that your policy provides good coverage in the case of an accident. These are much more frequent in the city than at a beach resort - mostly due to traffic and other common hazards found in this type of environment - and treatment could prove costly. Make sure you're covered against any eventuality.
Activity Breaks
At the risk of sounding repetitive, it is also crucial that you check to see if your chosen policy offers cover against physical harm before taking off on an activity holiday. However, in this case the matter becomes even a little more complex, as activity-break cover has a very specific set of parameters. It is, therefore, not enough to simply contract any old policy to cover against risk; you should make sure you are buying the correct type, as precedents show that claims have been turned down for this very reason.
Provided you ensure your policy is the correct type for you, you should be fine when trying to file claims with your provider. It is important to remember, however, that 'family travel insurance' is an umbrella term for many different types of plans, so take the time to select exactly the right one for you.
Patrick Chong is the Managing Director of Insuremore. We provide low cost travel insurance and offer a range of policies including family travel insurance, annual, multi-trip and single-trip insurance. For all your travel cover needs, Insuremore can help you in the quickest and most cost-efficient way.
