Family travel insurance
Family travel insurance is one policy that covers the adults and their dependent children travelling together. Many insurers include dependants at no extra premium when they travel with you, as long as they meet the policy's definition of a dependant. That definition, and whether benefit limits are shared across the family or apply to each person, are the two things that decide whether a family policy is good value.
Families also have more to lose to cancellation. One sick child can cancel a trip for everyone, and school-holiday bookings are usually paid well in advance, so the cancellation limit matters as much as the medical cover. Our guide to compare travel insurance explains each benefit.
By Better Rate Mate Editorial Team ยท Last reviewed
General advice only. It doesn't consider your circumstances. Read the PDS and TMD before you decide.
Who counts as a dependant
Each Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) defines a dependant, and the age limit varies more than most parents expect. The usual elements are an age limit, being financially dependent on you, not working full time, and travelling with you for the whole trip. A child over the age limit, or one who joins or leaves the trip part way, may need their own policy.
| Insurer (PDS date) | Age limit | Grandchildren included? |
|---|---|---|
| Allianz (19 December 2025) | Under 25 | Yes |
| nib (1 September 2026) | Under 25 | Yes |
| Cover-More (15 October 2025) | Under 21 | Yes |
| Southern Cross Travel Insurance (12 July 2025) | Under 21 | Yes |
| Bupa, Budget Direct and Australia Post (2025-26 PDSs) | Under 21 | Yes |
| Fast Cover (16 July 2026) | 20 or under | Yes |
| 1Cover (4 March 2026) | Under 19 | Yes |
| Medibank (22 April 2026) | Under 18 | The definition doesn't mention grandchildren |
| Tick and InsureandGo (2026 PDSs) | Under 18 | Yes |
Shared limits and per-person limits
This is where family policies differ most. Some benefits are paid per person, others are capped for the whole policy. Luggage and cancellation are the usual shared limits, and a luggage limit that sounds generous for one traveller can be thin once it has to cover four people's bags, devices and prams. The same question applies to couples travel insurance: when two adults travel on one policy, check which limits each of you has and which you share.
| Term | What it means | Why it matters for families |
|---|---|---|
| Dependant definition | Age, dependency and travel-together conditions in the PDS | Decides whether each child is covered at all |
| Per-person vs per-policy limits | Whether a benefit is capped for each traveller or for everyone together | Shared caps shrink quickly across a family's luggage and bookings |
| Cancellation amount | The most the policy pays towards prepaid, non-refundable costs | Must cover the whole family's flights and accommodation |
| Item limits | The cap on any single item, such as a phone, laptop or pram | Children's gear and devices often exceed per-item caps |
| Pre-existing conditions | Conditions of every traveller, including children | Asthma, allergies and other childhood conditions need declaring too |
| Single-parent option | A policy for one adult and their dependants | Avoids paying for a second adult who is not travelling |
How to keep family travel insurance cheap
The cheapest family policy is usually the one that includes the children for free and leaves out what you don't need. These are the levers.
- Check that dependants are included at no extra cost. Many insurers include them when they travel with you; Qantas's PDS, for example, charges no premium for children under 12 travelling with an adult.
- Use a single-parent option if only one adult is travelling, so you don't pay for a second adult.
- If you travel more than once a year, price an annual multi-trip family policy against single-trip cover for each holiday.
- Choose a higher excess you could comfortably pay, and set the cancellation amount to what the family has actually prepaid.
- Weigh shared limits against price. A cheaper policy with one luggage limit for the whole family may cost you more at claim time than a dearer one with limits per person.
Grandparents travelling with grandchildren
Whether grandchildren can go on a grandparent's policy depends on the dependant definition. Most of the PDSs we read include grandchildren who travel with you for the whole trip and meet the age limit, from under 18 (Tick and InsureandGo) to under 25 (Allianz and nib). Medibank's definition doesn't mention grandchildren, so ask before you buy.
The grandparent's own age limits apply too. Annual cover in particular often stops in your 70s, and some budget plans at 69. Our seniors travel insurance page lists the limits by insurer. If a grandparent can't get the cover the family needs, separate policies for the children, or adding them to their parents' policy, may be the answer.
Pregnancy and travelling with a baby
Travel insurance covers pregnancy only up to a point, and the cut-off differs a lot between insurers. Most cover serious, unexpected complications up to a set week and exclude childbirth itself. Smartraveller's guidance is to see your doctor or obstetrician at least 8 weeks before you go, and it notes that most airlines won't let you fly beyond 28 weeks of pregnancy and most will ask for a letter from your doctor.
A baby born overseas is a gap in most policies. Of the PDSs below, only Southern Cross Travel Insurance covers childbirth before week 24 and the newborn's care until you return home. Smartraveller also notes that giving birth overseas doesn't automatically give your child that country's citizenship.
| Insurer (PDS date) | Pregnancy covered up to | Multiple or IVF pregnancy | A baby born during the trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cover-More (15 October 2025) | 24 weeks (23 weeks 6 days) | Must apply for cover | Childbirth and newborn care not covered |
| Allianz (19 December 2025) | Before week 24 | Must apply for a multiple pregnancy | Childbirth and newborn care not covered, with narrow exceptions |
| Southern Cross Travel Insurance (12 July 2025) | 24 weeks (23 weeks 6 days) | Covered automatically if there were no complications | Childbirth before week 24 and the newborn's care until you return home are covered |
| nib (1 September 2026) | End of week 26 | Same rules for IVF | Birth and newborn care excluded |
| Medibank (22 April 2026) | 26 weeks (25 weeks 6 days) | Childbirth and newborn care not covered | |
| Qantas (1 July 2026) | Excluded beyond 26 weeks | Newborn care excluded beyond that point | |
| 1Cover (4 March 2026) | 25 weeks (single), 20 weeks (multiple) | Complications and IVF must be declared | Childbirth and newborn care not covered |
| Fast Cover (16 July 2026) | End of week 23 (single), week 19 (multiple) | Multiple and IVF pregnancies need screening | Newborn care never covered |
| Tick and InsureandGo (2026 PDSs) | Before the 31st week | Tick: no cover for a baby born during the trip; InsureandGo: none for a child born after the policy was issued | |
| World Nomads (30 September 2026) | End of week 26 | Same rules for IVF | Childbirth and newborn care excluded |
| Travel Insurance Saver (31 December 2025) | 23 weeks, single uncomplicated pregnancy only | IVF and multiple pregnancies excluded |
Children's health conditions
Declare pre-existing conditions for every traveller, children included. Asthma, anaphylaxis and other allergies, epilepsy and diabetes are all conditions insurers ask about, and some are covered automatically if they meet stated criteria. An undeclared childhood condition is treated no differently from an adult's at claim time.
Cancellation and school holidays
Family trips are often booked months ahead to lock in school-holiday fares, and the longer the gap between booking and departure, the more chance something stops the trip. Buy the policy when you book so cancellation cover starts straight away. Check that the cancellation amount covers every traveller's non-refundable costs, and what the policy says about cancelling because a child or a close relative at home falls ill.
Theme parks, snow and activities
Standard policies cover most ordinary holiday activities, but snow sports usually need an add-on, and some adventure activities are excluded. If the trip includes skiing, a ski school or anything that involves hiring motorised vehicles, check the activities section of the PDS for every traveller, not just the adults. Our ski travel insurance page covers snow options.
General advice only. This information doesn't take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Consider whether the product is right for you and read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and Target Market Determination (TMD) before you decide. We don't compare every product in the market, and we may earn a commission if you take up a product through our links.
What to watch for
- Check the dependant definition: the age limit runs from under 18 to under 25 depending on the insurer.
- Find out which benefits are shared across the policy and which are per person.
- Check the pregnancy cut-off week, and that childbirth and newborn care are usually excluded.
- Declare children's conditions, including asthma and allergies.
- Set the cancellation amount to cover everyone's non-refundable costs.
Common questions
Are kids covered for free on travel insurance?
Many insurers include dependent children at no extra premium when they travel with the adults on the policy. Whether a child qualifies depends on the PDS definition of a dependant, which sets an age limit between under 18 and under 25 in the policies we read.
How do I get cheap family travel insurance?
Choose a policy that includes dependants at no extra cost, use a single-parent option if only one adult is going, consider an annual family policy if you travel more than once a year, and pick an excess you could pay. Compare shared limits as well as price.
Can grandparents take grandchildren on their travel insurance?
Often yes. Most of the policies we read include grandchildren who travel with you and meet the age limit, but Medibank's dependant definition doesn't mention them. The grandparent's own age limits also apply.
Is a baby born overseas covered by travel insurance?
Usually not. Most policies exclude childbirth and newborn care. Southern Cross Travel Insurance is an exception in the PDSs we read: it covers childbirth before week 24 and the newborn's care until you get home.
Can a single parent get family travel insurance?
Yes. Many insurers offer a single-parent or one-adult family option that covers one adult and their dependants, so you are not paying for a second adult who is not travelling.
Do I need to declare my child's asthma or allergies?
Yes. Pre-existing conditions must be declared for every traveller on the policy, children included. Some common conditions are covered automatically if they meet stated criteria; others need assessment.