Have Kids, Will Travel

You've spent months organising down to the last detail, saving all year so you have enough travel money to have a fun filled break with the whole family.

You've arrived safely at your destination, and enjoying a relaxing drink by the pool when, out of the blue, your six-year-old suddenly starts to feel unwell. Being away from home with an ill child can be a scary experience for any parent. Being in unfamiliar surroundings and perhaps dealing with a language barrier can only add to your unease.

That's why having adequate travel insurance in place can at least help to give you some peace of mind. If you and your family regularly take more than one holiday a year, annual family travel insurance is perhaps an option to consider, as it can work out to be cost-effective when compared to the price of taking out several single policies. But while many annual travel policies state they provide free cover for children, it's worth checking the small print to find exactly what you are (and more importantly are not) insured for, as some family travel policies are not as comprehensive as you might think.

Exact Definition of Family

There's the definition of the word 'family' for a start - something you and your insurance company may not see eye to eye on. Independent financial research company Defaqto found that 29 per cent of annual family travel policies only protect children if they permanently live with the policyholder, which is

something to think about if you were planning to take children or step-children on holiday who don't normally reside with you. You may also fall foul of the 'family' definition if you have three children, and your policy only covers a maximum of two.

Insurers can also have somewhat different opinions on what constitutes a child. While some may cover young people all the way up to 23 if they're in full-time education, some could have a much younger cut-off point - not great for a clumsy teenage son with a penchant for walking into lampposts while glued to his mobile.

Independence Days

You also need to check the terms of your annual travel policy if your child needs to go anywhere without you - perhaps they're going abroad with school, grandparents or an ex-partner. While your policy will no doubt cover any adults who want to travel independently, this may not be the case with your children. Defaqto found that just half of all annual trip travel insurance policies will cover children named under the policy if they travel independently of their parents.

If you pay for your annual travel insurance by direct debit, it can be really easy to overlook the fact that a policy you bought when your children were small may not suit their needs now. While the most dangerous thing a little one was going to do was a gentle toddle round the paddling pool, an older child may want to go rafting or mountain biking, which may cost extra to insure. Always check the list of excluded activities in your policy - this should be available online on your insurer's website.

Finally, pregnant women should inform their insurers before they travel, as it may be difficult to find cover, particularly for those in the third trimester. You may even need to provide a note from your doctor confirming yours isn't a high risk pregnancy before flying, as some airlines have restrictions.

November 2011

Issued by Sainsbury's Finance
Sainsbury's Finance is a trading name of Sainsbury's Bank plc. All information correct at time of publication, but may be subject to change. Any views or opinions expressed in this article are the responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of any part of the Sainsbury's Group of companies.

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