Traveling with kids means being prepared for the unexpected — including medical emergencies.
That’s why it’s important to understand how your travel health insurance works for pediatric coverage. Many insurance policies allow you to add children traveling with you to your plan, but there may be limitations, like a cap on how many children per adult and cut-off ages.
Here’s how to make sure your young ones are protected no matter where you go.
Erika Recommends
- Allianz Travel Insurance
Coverage for children 17 and under when traveling with a parent or grandparent. - World Nomads
Adventure coverage tailored for families with kids. - Travel Guard
Customizable plan options for families.
. . .
Why Kids Need Travel Insurance Too
Kids can get sick and injured, even on vacation, and your domestic health insurance won’t cover them while you’re abroad. Not only that, but your travel insurance also might not cover them.
While many travel insurers let you include children on your policy, they may have limits, such as one child per adult (so if you have four children and are traveling as a couple, only half of your kids are covered).
And while you can get family travel policies, there may still be limits on how many kids can be included or how closely they’re related to you. For example, if you bring your niece or a young cousin along, they may not fall under your family policy.
That’s why it’s important to check your policy before you travel — ideally, before you even buy it if you know you’ll be traveling with kids. Confirm whether your kids are covered and what exactly they’re covered for.
The last thing you want is for your child to get injured abroad and then have to worry about medical bills on top of an already stressful situation.
READ MORE: Travel Insurance and Safety Tips for Family Vacations
Key Features to Look for in Travel Insurance for Kids
When looking for the right travel insurance for your kids, make a list of your coverage priorities.
Even if you go with a comprehensive pediatric policy, confirm it covers all major medical needs like prescriptions, emergency evacuation coverage, and access to pediatric specialists.
- Care and prescriptions: For costs relating to minor injuries as well as prescription medication.
- Access to pediatric specialists: For consultations with child healthcare experts and specialized medical care.
- Emergency and evacuation coverage: For transportation to the nearest adequate medical facility. This is important if you plan to travel anywhere remote or where civil unrest or terrorist attacks may occur.
- Pre-existing conditions: Most travel insurance plans don’t cover pre-existing conditions unless you purchase a separate waiver to cover that condition.
- Telemedicine services: Finding a hospital or the right doctor when traveling can be quite stressful, especially in a remote location. Some travel insurance plans give you access to virtual consultations as a covered benefit.
Exclusions to watch out for in your kids’ insurance policy
Unfortunately, most of us are far too familiar with the coverage limitations that domestic healthcare plans can come with.
Travel plans offer a similar set of challenges, but the stakes of those limitations can feel so much higher when you’re so far away from home.
Some common examples of gaps in travel insurance coverage include:
- Cancellations caused by anxiety or personal fears related to flying or traveling
- High-risk activities such as bungee jumping, backcountry skiing, or scuba diving
- Pre-existing health conditions that aren't covered by a specific waiver
- Engaging in reckless behavior or illegal actions
- Events or issues that could have been reasonably predicted ahead of time
- Traveling despite awareness of storms, epidemics, or similar risks
- Situations involving war, political unrest, or violent conflicts
You can get around some of these by purchasing add-ons or waivers. For example, if your son is diabetic, you may be able to get a waiver for his pre-existing condition — so he’s covered even for diabetes complications.
Or if your teenage daughter wants to try sandboarding, an adventure sports add-on will keep her covered in case of an accident.
If you might have to cancel your trip at the last minute for a reason not usually covered (say, your child has an exam they didn’t tell you about), some insurers offer a cancel for any reason (CFAR) add-on.
. . .
Navigating Healthcare Systems Abroad
Navigating a healthcare system you’re familiar with can be tricky at the best of times. Add in the chaos and confusion of managing a medical emergency in a foreign land and things can get even more complex.
Here’s how you can navigate healthcare systems abroad effectively.
Finding in-network pediatricians and hospitals
Finding a pediatrician or hospital that works with your travel insurance plan can make a big difference in the quality of care — and help you save money.
Most travel insurance providers offer networks of pre-approved medical facilities and professionals to help you access reliable, family-friendly care.
To find the right medical care while abroad:
- Contact your insurance provider early: Before your trip, request a list of in-network pediatricians and hospitals in your destination. Many providers offer this information on their websites or through their customer service hotlines.
- Use online tools and apps: Some insurers have apps that connect you with nearby in-network providers based on your location.
- Ask about family-friendly services: Check whether the provider specializes in pediatric care or has services tailored to children, such as child-friendly exam rooms or staff trained to work with young patients.
- Know emergency contact protocols: Before setting sail on your big adventure, learn the steps to take in case of an emergency, including how to contact your insurer for approval before receiving care.
Paying for medical services
Even with insurance, you may still have to pay for medical services. Knowing what to expect can simplify the process and help you get your money back faster.
- Upfront costs: In many countries, patients must pay for medical services upfront — even in emergencies. Travel insurance can reimburse these expenses, but remember to keep detailed receipts and medical reports.
- Reimbursement process: Familiarize yourself with your insurer's reimbursement requirements before your trip begins. This process typically includes submitting receipts, medical documentation, and claim forms. Some insurers also require preauthorization for non-emergency treatments.
- Direct billing options: Certain providers within your insurer’s network may offer direct billing, meaning they’ll charge your insurer directly, so you won’t need to pay upfront. Check ahead of time if it’s available to you.
- Claims processing timelines: Insurance claims can take time to process, so having an emergency fund for unexpected upfront payments can be a good backup plan.
Language barriers in healthcare
If English isn’t the primary language (and you don’t speak the local language), you may run into some communication barriers.
Use translation apps and ensure any medical documents you’re given are available in English.
Some travel insurance also covers medical translators, so check if that service is available to you before buying a plan.
FAQs About Travel Insurance for Kids
What documents should I have to ensure smooth insurance claims?
To streamline insurance claims, keep copies of your child’s medical records, insurance policy details, receipts for medical expenses, prescriptions, and doctor’s reports from any treatments they received.
Make sure these documents are legible and translated into English if they’re issued in another language.
Are vaccinations or preventive care covered under travel insurance for kids?
Typically, travel insurance plans cover emergency medical care costs, not routine ones like vaccinations.
If your child needs a vaccination or any other type of preventative care to travel to your chosen destination, take care of that while you’re at home and have access to your normal healthcare coverage.
Can I add medical coverage for my child if I already have a basic travel insurance plan?
Plenty of travel insurance providers let you customize your plan by adding medical coverage for children.
This add-on can include higher coverage limits, access to pediatric specialists, or specific services like evacuation.
Contact your insurance provider to explore kid-friendly add-on options.
TL;DR: Do Kids Need Travel Insurance?
If you’ve been fortunate enough to enjoy lots of nice vacations with no major medical concerns, you may wonder if it’s worth shelling out extra money for an insurance policy for your child.
But, depending on your policy, your kids might not be automatically included. Or your policy may not cover specialty treatments like pediatric care or for pre-existing conditions. Check what — and who — are included before you buy a policy and definitely before you travel.
You don’t want to be out a lot of money for accidents or illnesses or, worse, you don’t want to have to debate if your child should get proper medical care due to cost concerns.
Was there an issue with your flight?
We read the fine print so you don't have to! Take our Flight Rights Quiz to learn more about the compensation the airline may owe you if your flight was delayed or canceled!
Learn With Erika
- Free Travel Secrets Workshop
- Learn how to use the fine print to book your next vacation practically for free with Erika's step-by-step system
- Free 5 Day Investing Challenge
- Learn how to get started as a beginner investor and make your first $10,000
- Free 5 Day Savings Challenge
- Discover how you can save $1,000 without penny pinching or making major life sacrifices
- Join Erika Kullberg Insiders
- Ask investing questions, share successes and participate in monthly challenges and expert workshops
. . .
