FX Excursions

FX Excursions offers the chance for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in destinations around the world.
Condor

Should Your Family Invest in Travel Insurance?

by Holly Riddle

Aug 23, 2018

© Scyther5 | Dreamstime.com

Travel Tips

When should your family invest in travel insurance? If you’re a relatively new family, you may have never purchased family travel insurance. As a young traveler, you could’ve merely faced the odds, traveling without it, fingers crossed nothing will happen. However, once you have a kid in tow, you may think a little more cautiously about your travel risk.

 

While younger you could’ve just rolled with the punches, you with a toddler doesn’t quite fancy that experience. Thankfully, there’s travel insurance that can protect you from just about any bad thing that could happen on a vacation. Illness, natural disaster, theft, lost luggage and more — it’s all there. There are several different types of coverage you can choose from, though, including medical, trip cancellation, interruption, assistance, car rental and evacuation.

 

While you can purchase travel insurance right up until the day of your trip, many providers ask you make a purchase a few weeks in advance. In fact, the sooner you buy your insurance, the better protected you’ll be, for things like sudden cancellations (due to anything from your destination being hit by a hurricane to your family running out of money to your boss saying you can’t go) or pre-existing medical conditions.

 

But how do you know if a certain coverage plan is right for you? Even though none of us quite like to read the fine print, this is an occasion when you’d do well to do so. Read the fine print, the travel insurance plan certification, the policy exclusions, the coverage limits and the special exclusions. Know exactly what you’re getting and what you’re not getting. That way, you can tailor a plan to fit your needs. Also, keep in mind most travel insurance covering a “family” will include your spouses/domestic partners, parents and step-parents, children and step-children, siblings and grandparents or grandchildren, but you’ll want to verify, rather than assume.

 

There are certain things travel insurance won’t cover. Don’t expect it to work like your normal health insurance. You can’t just go see a doctor while you’re overseas for any old thing and expect your travel insurance to pay for it. Your travel insurance is primarily for emergencies only, not routine care. Likewise, travel insurance usually doesn’t cover pre-existing conditions and care you might need for them, and it doesn’t cover injuries that occur when you’re doing something generally unwise (such as drinking heavily or doing illegal drugs).

 

Also, unlike your normal health insurance, you won’t be paying a deductible when you show up at a foreign hospital. Instead, you’ll pay up front and then ask the insurance provider to pay their part after you’ve submitted the appropriate documentation.

 

So, should your family invest in travel insurance? Yes, always. While you might be tempted to risk it, travel insurance is one of those things you only really want when you desperately need it.

#WhereverFamily

Insta Feed
Hotels
Jul 17, 2025

Tiny Travelers, Big Fun at Wyndham Grand Orlando Resort Bonnet Creek

This summer, Wyndham Grand Orlando Resort Bonnet Creek, located only 5 miles from Walt Disney World Resort, allows family travelers to make magical memories with the newest kid-friendly offer: Tiny Travelers, Big Fun. Especially suited to families with young children, the offer takes the stress out of vacation planning while creating joyful moments for little adventurers.

Discover the Azores & Madeira: Portugal’s Island Paradises Await

Embrace the Portugal’s Magical Islands of the Azores and Madeira

Slideshow
Jul 17, 2025

7 U.S. Hot Springs to Visit

It’s time to start dreaming of your next family trip. Here’s some destination inspiration for you. Take a visual journey through these U.S. hot springs with us.

Hotels
Jul 16, 2025

Six Senses Crans-Montana Welcomes Families with Wellness Experiences Just for Kids

Six Senses Crans-Montana is giving families a new reason to plan their next family vacation in Switzerland. The property recently launched a kids club that includes 50 different activities, all designed to let kids have fun and learn new skills while connecting with nature.

Destinations / North America
Jul 16, 2025

3 New Can’t-Miss Attractions in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, a family-friendly mountain town, offers year-round outdoor fun, unbeatable views of the Smoky Mountains and exciting nightlife. This summer, the town welcomes travelers with new attractions.

Destinations / North America
Jul 16, 2025

“The Amazing Max” Brings Family Magic to Bucks County, Pennsylvania — One Day Only

Family travelers to scenic New Hope, Pennsylvania, will be amazed to see acclaimed magician Max Darwin, known as The Amazing Max, bring his high-energy, laugh-out-loud, interactive magic show to Bucks County Playhouse. For one day only, visitors and locals alike can take in two performances on Saturday, Aug. 2. The magic happens at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.