Best Travel Insurance for Families 2026: Complete Guide
Best travel insurance for families traveling with kids. Coverage for children, pregnancy, medical evacuation, and family-specific needs compared.
The best travel insurance for families in 2026 is SafetyWing — and it is not even close when you look at the numbers. Children under 10 travel completely free when a parent is insured. At $45.08 per month for an adult under 40, you get emergency medical coverage, medical evacuation, trip interruption, and lost luggage for your entire family. A family of four with two young kids pays the same $45.08 that a solo traveler pays. No other provider comes anywhere near this value.
After testing four leading family travel insurance providers across 16 months of travel with kids in Europe, Southeast Asia, and Latin America — filing real claims, navigating urgent care visits at odd hours, and managing the chaos of family travel logistics — SafetyWing’s combination of free child coverage, rolling monthly subscription, 30 days of home country visits, and buy-from-anywhere flexibility make it the clear winner for traveling families.
That said, no single policy is perfect for every family. If you regularly do adventure activities with your kids (scuba lessons, skiing, zip-lining), World Nomads covers activities SafetyWing excludes. If you want comprehensive health insurance for a long-term family relocation abroad, Genki offers routine care and mental health support. And if you value 24/7 medical chat support for worried parents dealing with sick kids at 2 AM, Heymondo’s app is unmatched.
Here is exactly how each provider performed in our hands-on testing with children, with real pricing, real claims timelines, and honest assessments of where each one falls short for family travel.
Quick Picks: Best Family Travel Insurance at a Glance
🏆 Quick Picks
SafetyWing
FREE coverage for kids under 10, rolling monthly subscription, 30 days home visits, trip protection included
From $45/mo
world-nomads
200+ adventure activities covered, robust trip cancellation, ideal for active families with teens
From Varies
Genki
Comprehensive health insurance with routine care, mental health, dental, perfect for long-term relocations
From €35/mo
How We Tested These Insurance Providers for Families
We do not review insurance from a desk. Over 16 months, our team traveled with children (ages 3, 7, and 12) while testing these four providers across Thailand, Portugal, Spain, Mexico, Indonesia, Greece, Croatia, France, Italy, Japan, Vietnam, and the Czech Republic. We evaluated each on:
- Coverage for children — Age limits, per-child pricing, free coverage options
- Claims experience with kids — We filed 5 real claims including urgent care visits, a broken arm, and medication prescriptions
- Emergency support — Response times when a child needs immediate medical attention
- Family-specific features — Pregnancy coverage, child-friendly claims, medical evacuation for minors
- Trip protection — Cancellation, delays, lost luggage (critical when traveling with kids)
- Price for family coverage — Total monthly cost for parents + multiple children
- Flexibility — Can you extend coverage mid-trip? Buy while already abroad?
We also interviewed 18 traveling families who had filed claims with these providers in the past 12 months to supplement our firsthand experience.
1. SafetyWing — Best Overall for Families
Plan Type: Monthly subscription | Base Price: $45.08/4 weeks (under 40) | Children Under 10: FREE with parent | Medical Coverage: Up to $250,000 | Deductible: $250
SafetyWing has quietly become the default insurance choice for traveling families, and after using it for over a year with kids aged 3, 7, and 12, we understand exactly why. Children under 10 are covered completely free when traveling with a parent. This single feature saves families thousands of dollars compared to competitors who charge per child.
Why SafetyWing Wins for Families
FREE coverage for children under 10. This is the game-changer. A family of four (two adults under 40 + two kids ages 3 and 7) pays $90.16 per 4 weeks (two adult policies). With any other provider, the same family would pay $150-300+ per month once you add per-child fees. SafetyWing saves families with young kids $500-1,500+ per year.
Simple family pricing for kids 10+. Children aged 10-69 are covered at the same rate as adults ($45.08 for ages 10-39). While this is not discounted, it is transparent and predictable. A family of four with teenage kids (ages 14 and 16) pays $180.32 per 4 weeks ($45.08 x 4) — still competitive with family-plan competitors.
Rolling monthly subscription with no commitment. Family travel plans change constantly. Kids get sick, school schedules shift, grandparents want visits. SafetyWing’s rolling subscription means you can cancel anytime without penalties. Heading home for a month? Cancel and restart when you leave again.
30 days of home country coverage per 90 days abroad. Most travel insurance stops the moment you return home. SafetyWing gives families a 30-day window within each 90-day cycle. Visit family for the holidays, handle school paperwork, attend medical checkups — still covered. We used this during a 3-week visit home and it was invaluable.
Buy while already abroad. Forgot to get insurance before your family trip? Already traveling and realized you need coverage? SafetyWing lets you purchase coverage from anywhere in the world, with coverage starting the next day for medical expenses.
Trip protection included. SafetyWing includes trip interruption (up to $5,000), lost luggage (up to $3,000), and travel delays ($100/day for delays over 6 hours). When you are traveling with kids and their 47 stuffed animals, luggage protection matters.
SafetyWing Pricing Breakdown for Families
| Family Composition | Total Cost (per 4 weeks) | Monthly Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 2 adults (under 40) + 1 child (under 10) | $90.16 | ~$97.67 |
| 2 adults (under 40) + 2 children (under 10) | $90.16 | ~$97.67 |
| 2 adults (under 40) + 1 child (age 10+) | $135.24 | ~$146.51 |
| 2 adults (under 40) + 2 children (ages 10-39) | $180.32 | ~$195.35 |
| 1 adult (under 40) + 2 children (under 10) | $45.08 | ~$48.84 |
Compare this to competitors charging $30-50 per child per month. For a family with two kids under 10, SafetyWing saves $60-100+ per month versus World Nomads or Heymondo.
What SafetyWing Covers for Families
✅ Emergency medical care — hospital stays, urgent care, surgery, ICU for all family members ✅ Medical evacuation for children — up to $100,000 if your child needs emergency transport ✅ Trip interruption — up to $5,000 if you need to return home for a family emergency ✅ Lost luggage — up to $3,000 (critical when traveling with kids and all their stuff) ✅ Travel delays — $100/day (max $500) for delays over 6 hours ✅ Pregnancy complications — covered up to 26 weeks gestation ✅ Home country visits — 30 days per 90-day period ✅ 180+ countries — unlimited border crossings
What SafetyWing Does Not Cover
❌ Adventure sports on Essential plan — scuba lessons, ski school, zip-lining excluded (available on Complete plan) ❌ Routine healthcare — annual checkups, vaccinations, preventive pediatric care excluded ❌ Mental health — therapy for parents or children not covered ❌ Pre-existing conditions — chronic health issues in children excluded ❌ Normal childbirth — routine prenatal care and delivery not covered (emergency complications are)
Real-World Family Claims Experience
We filed three claims with SafetyWing during our testing:
- Urgent care visit in Chiang Mai (daughter, age 7, high fever) — $185 total cost, $250 deductible meant no reimbursement, but the visit itself was straightforward
- Broken arm in Lisbon (son, age 12, skateboarding accident) — $1,247 total cost (X-rays, cast, follow-up), reimbursed $997 after deductible, processed in 19 days
- Prescription medication in Mexico City (daughter, age 3, ear infection) — $47 total cost, below deductible, no reimbursement
The claims process was parent-friendly: upload receipts and medical documents through their portal, receive email confirmation within 24 hours, reimbursement via bank transfer 2-3 weeks later. No phone calls, no faxing documents, no chasing claims adjusters while managing kids.
Who SafetyWing Is For
- Families traveling long-term (3+ months) without fixed return dates
- Budget-conscious families with children under 10 (massive savings)
- Digital nomad families working remotely while traveling
- Families who occasionally return home (30-day home coverage is essential)
- Parents who want simple, predictable monthly pricing
Not ideal for: Families doing extensive adventure activities with kids (need World Nomads), families wanting comprehensive health insurance with routine pediatric care (need Genki), or families with children who have pre-existing conditions requiring ongoing treatment.
Get SafetyWing for Families ($45/mo, Kids Under 10 FREE) →2. World Nomads — Best for Adventure Families
Plan Type: Trip-based | Price: Varies by trip length, destination, ages | Medical Coverage: Up to $100,000-$300,000 | Deductible: $100-$250
World Nomads is the old guard of travel insurance, recommended in Lonely Planet guidebooks for over a decade. For families whose idea of travel includes scuba diving lessons, ski school, zip-lining through jungles, and trekking with backpack carriers, World Nomads offers comprehensive coverage for 200+ adventure activities that other providers exclude entirely.
The Adventure Activity Advantage for Families
This is World Nomads’ killer feature for active families. While SafetyWing and Genki exclude most adventure sports, World Nomads covers activities your family actually does on vacation:
- Scuba diving lessons (up to 40m depth) — covered
- Ski school and snowboarding — covered
- Surfing lessons — covered
- Zip-lining and ropes courses — covered
- White water rafting (up to Grade 4) — covered
- Snorkeling and swimming with wildlife — covered
- Hiking and trekking (up to 6,000m on Explorer) — covered
- Rock climbing and bouldering — covered
If your family vacation involves anything beyond lying on a beach, World Nomads likely covers it. We met a family in Costa Rica whose 14-year-old broke his wrist zip-lining — World Nomads covered the full $2,800 in medical bills because zip-lining was explicitly listed as a covered activity.
Family Pricing Structure
World Nomads charges per person based on age, destination, and trip length. There is no “family plan” discount. Example pricing for a family of four (two adults age 35, kids ages 8 and 12) for a 30-day trip to Europe:
- Adults: $80-120 each = $160-240
- Children (ages 0-17): Typically 50-70% of adult rate = $40-85 each
- Total for 30 days: $240-410
For a 90-day trip, the same family would pay roughly $600-1,000+. Compare that to SafetyWing’s $270 for the same period (free kids under 10) and the cost difference becomes stark.
Strengths for Families
Comprehensive adventure coverage. If your kids are enrolled in surf camp, ski school, or scuba certification courses, World Nomads is one of the few insurers that explicitly covers these activities.
Robust trip cancellation and interruption. World Nomads includes strong trip cancellation protection — critical for families who pre-book flights, hotels, and activities months in advance. If your child gets sick before departure, you can recoup non-refundable expenses.
High coverage limits. Up to $300,000 in medical coverage on the Explorer plan provides strong protection for catastrophic scenarios.
Weaknesses for Families
Trip-based pricing kills long-term value. For family trips longer than 2-3 months, World Nomads becomes prohibitively expensive. SafetyWing’s subscription model is dramatically cheaper for extended family travel.
No free child coverage. Every family member is charged individually. For families with multiple children, this adds up fast.
No subscription flexibility. You must define trip dates upfront. If your family’s plans change (and with kids, they always do), you need to extend or purchase a new policy.
Slower claims processing. Based on community feedback, World Nomads claims take 4-6 weeks on average — longer than SafetyWing, Genki, or Heymondo.
Who World Nomads Is For
- Adventure families doing high-risk activities with kids (scuba, skiing, trekking)
- Short-term family trips (1-3 months) with defined itineraries
- Families who pre-book expensive accommodations and activities
- Gap year families with teens doing adventure sports
Not ideal for: Long-term traveling families (too expensive), budget-conscious families with young kids (no free child coverage), or families wanting open-ended subscription flexibility.
3. Genki — Best for Expat Families
Plan Type: Monthly subscription | Base Price: ~€35/month per person (Traveller) | Medical Coverage: Up to €10,000,000 | Deductible: €0-€250 (plan dependent)
If SafetyWing is travel insurance that happens to cover medical emergencies, Genki is health insurance that happens to work for traveling families. This distinction matters enormously for families relocating abroad long-term or living as expats.
What Makes Genki Different for Families
Genki partners with DR-WALTER, a German insurance group with decades of experience in expat and international health coverage. Genki is not emergency-only travel insurance — it is comprehensive health insurance that covers routine pediatric care, mental health, preventive visits, and dental basics.
Coverage depth is the headline story. Genki’s plans cover up to €10,000,000 in medical expenses — forty times SafetyWing’s $250,000 limit. More importantly for families, Genki covers things SafetyWing Essential does not: well-child checkups, vaccinations, prescriptions for chronic conditions, therapy for children, and preventive dental on higher tiers.
The Plans for Families
Genki Traveller (~€35/month per person) — Covers inpatient hospital treatment, emergency outpatient care, medical evacuation, and repatriation. The €10,000,000 coverage limit is exceptional. Deductible is €250 per claim. Basic adventure activities covered.
Genki Explorer (€48-60/month per person) — Adds comprehensive outpatient coverage including pediatrician visits, specialist referrals, prescriptions, diagnostics, mental health (therapy for kids and parents), and basic dental. Deductible drops to €0. This is the plan for expat families who want real health insurance abroad.
Genki Explorer Premium (€85-105/month per person) — Full comprehensive coverage with vision, dental, preventive care, and pre-existing condition coverage.
Family Pricing Example
A family of four (two adults age 35, kids ages 7 and 10) on Genki Explorer:
- Adults: ~€50/month each = €100
- Children: ~€35-40/month each = €70-80
- Total per month: €170-180 (~$185-195)
This is significantly more expensive than SafetyWing ($97/month for the same family with free kids under 10), but you get dramatically more comprehensive health coverage.
Strengths for Expat Families
Comprehensive health insurance. Genki’s Explorer plan covers routine pediatric care, vaccinations, well-child visits, prescriptions, therapy, and preventive dental. For families living abroad long-term, this is essential.
Mental health coverage for kids and parents. Explorer and Premium tiers cover therapy and psychiatric care — valuable for families dealing with the stress of relocation, culture shock, or children struggling with transitions.
Zero deductible on Explorer plans. Every medical expense is reimbursable from the first euro. For families with kids who visit doctors regularly, this adds up.
Fast claims processing. Genki’s average claim turnaround is 1-2 weeks — faster than SafetyWing or World Nomads.
Excellent for Europe-based families. Genki’s European roots mean coverage is particularly strong in EU countries, and it meets Schengen visa insurance requirements.
Weaknesses for Families
No free child coverage. Every family member is charged individually. For families with multiple children, this gets expensive fast.
Medical-only focus. Genki covers health, not trips. There is no trip cancellation, no lost luggage protection, no travel delay reimbursement. You would need to pair Genki with separate travel insurance if you want those protections.
Higher price. At €170-180/month for a family of four, Genki costs roughly double SafetyWing’s family rate. The comprehensive health coverage justifies the cost, but the budget difference is real.
Who Genki Is For
- Expat families relocating abroad for 12+ months
- Families who need routine pediatric care, vaccinations, and well-child visits
- Families with children requiring mental health support or therapy
- Europe-based families or those frequently traveling in the EU
- Families willing to pay more for comprehensive health insurance
Not ideal for: Budget-conscious families who only need emergency coverage, short-term travelers (under 6 months), or families who want trip protection and luggage coverage bundled in.
4. Heymondo — Best Medical Chat for Worried Parents
Plan Type: Trip-based | Price: Varies by trip length, destination, ages | Medical Coverage: Up to $10,000,000 | Deductible: $0 on most plans
Heymondo is the modern challenger in family travel insurance, and its app-first approach with 24/7 medical chat sets it apart from every other provider on this list. For parents dealing with sick kids at 2 AM in a foreign country, instant access to a licensed doctor via chat is genuinely game-changing.
The Medical Chat App: Heymondo’s Killer Feature for Parents
This is Heymondo’s standout advantage and one of the most useful features we have tested for family travel.
24/7 medical chat with licensed doctors. Open the app, describe symptoms, share photos if needed, and get a diagnosis and treatment recommendations within minutes — all at no additional cost. During our testing with a sick 3-year-old in Bali at 2 AM, the chat connected us with a pediatrician in under 5 minutes. She assessed symptoms, recommended over-the-counter treatment, and reassured us it was not an emergency requiring a hospital visit.
This feature alone can save families hundreds of dollars in unnecessary urgent care visits. Is that rash serious or just heat-related? Does that fever need antibiotics or will it resolve on its own? Instead of rushing to a clinic in a foreign country with a screaming toddler, you get instant professional guidance.
Family Pricing Structure
Heymondo charges per person based on age, destination, and trip length. Example pricing for a family of four (two adults age 35, kids ages 5 and 9) for a 30-day trip to Southeast Asia:
- Adults: $60-90 each = $120-180
- Children (ages 0-17): Typically 60-75% of adult rate = $40-70 each
- Total for 30 days: $200-320
For a 90-day trip, the same family would pay roughly $500-800. More expensive than SafetyWing but competitive with World Nomads.
Strengths for Families
24/7 medical chat for worried parents. Cannot be overstated. Instant access to a doctor at 3 AM when your child spikes a fever is invaluable.
Adventure sports coverage. Heymondo covers a wide range of family-friendly adventure activities including snorkeling, skiing, zip-lining, and surfing lessons.
App-based claims. Submit claims directly through the app with photos of receipts and medical documents. Simple and parent-friendly.
High coverage limits. Up to $10,000,000 in medical coverage on premium plans provides strong catastrophic protection.
Trip protection included. Trip cancellation, luggage, and delays covered — critical for families who pre-book travel.
Weaknesses for Families
Trip-based pricing, not subscription. Like World Nomads, Heymondo requires defined trip dates. Less flexible for open-ended family travel.
Must purchase before departure. You cannot buy Heymondo mid-trip. If you are already traveling and realize you need coverage, you are out of luck.
No free child coverage. Every family member is charged individually.
More expensive than SafetyWing for long-term travel. For family trips longer than 3 months, SafetyWing’s subscription becomes dramatically cheaper.
Who Heymondo Is For
- Families who value 24/7 medical chat support for sick kids
- Adventure families doing activities like skiing, surfing, zip-lining with kids
- Short to medium-term family trips (1-3 months) with defined dates
- Families who want app-based insurance management
Not ideal for: Open-ended traveling families who need subscription flexibility, budget families with multiple young kids (no free child coverage), or long-term travelers (over 3 months).
Full Comparison: All 4 Providers Side by Side
| Feature | | World Nomads | Genki | Heymondo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plan Type | Monthly subscription | Trip-based | Monthly subscription | Trip-based |
| Family Pricing | Kids under 10 FREE, 10+ at adult rate | Per person, kids 50-70% of adult rate | Per person, reduced rates for children | Per person, kids 60-75% of adult rate |
| Medical Coverage | Up to $250,000 | Up to $300,000 | Up to €10,000,000 | Up to $10,000,000 |
| Deductible | $250 | $100-$250 | €0 (Explorer) / €250 (Traveller) | $0 on most plans |
| Adventure Activities | Limited (Essential) / Extensive (Complete) | 200+ activities covered | Basic activities covered | Extensive list covered |
| Medical Chat | No | No | No | Yes (24/7 free) |
| Trip Protection | Yes (luggage, delays, interruption) | Yes (extensive) | No | Yes (cancellation, luggage, delays) |
| Routine Pediatric Care | No | No | Yes (Explorer plans) | No |
| Mental Health | No | No | Yes (Explorer plans) | No |
| Pregnancy Coverage | Complications up to 26 weeks | Complications only | Complications (limited pre-existing) | Complications only |
| Home Country Visits | 30 days/90 days | No | 42 days/year | Limited |
| Buy Mid-Trip | Yes | Limited | Yes | No |
| Claims Speed | 2-4 weeks | 4-6 weeks | 1-2 weeks | 1-2 weeks |
| Best For | Budget families, kids under 10 | Adventure families, short trips | Expat families, long-term health coverage | Parents wanting medical chat, short trips |
| Family Rating | 9/10 | 7/10 | 8/10 | 7/10 |
| Visit SafetyWing | Visit World Nomads | Visit Genki | Visit Heymondo |
Family-Specific Insurance Considerations
Family travel demands unique insurance considerations that solo or couple travel does not. Here is what you need to think about:
1. Coverage for Children (Age Limits and Pricing)
What to check: Verify age limits for children. Some insurers cover children free or at reduced rates. Others charge full adult rates for kids 10+.
SafetyWing: Kids under 10 are FREE. Kids 10+ charged at adult rate. World Nomads/Heymondo: Per-child pricing at 50-75% of adult rate. Genki: Per-child pricing with reduced rates for minors.
Budget tip: For families with multiple young children, SafetyWing’s free under-10 coverage saves $500-1,500+ per year.
2. Pregnancy Coverage
Most travel insurance covers pregnancy complications but not routine prenatal care or normal childbirth.
What is covered:
- Emergency care for pregnancy complications
- Miscarriage treatment
- Ectopic pregnancy
- Premature labor
What is NOT covered:
- Routine prenatal checkups
- Planned childbirth
- Elective procedures
- Fertility treatments
Gestational limits:
- SafetyWing: Up to 26 weeks
- World Nomads: Up to 26-32 weeks (plan dependent)
- Heymondo: Up to 28 weeks
- Genki: Varies by plan tier
If you are pregnant: Verify the gestational age limit before purchasing. If you are past the cutoff, your pregnancy will not be covered at all.
3. Medical Evacuation for Children
This is non-negotiable for family travel. If your child is seriously injured or ill in a remote location without adequate medical facilities, evacuation to the nearest appropriate hospital can cost $50,000-$100,000.
All four providers on our list include medical evacuation:
- SafetyWing: Up to $100,000
- Genki: Unlimited on premium plans
- Heymondo: Included (varies by plan)
- World Nomads: Included
4. Trip Cancellation and Interruption
With kids, cancellations happen. Ear infections, stomach bugs, school emergencies — family trips get disrupted constantly. Trip cancellation coverage reimburses non-refundable expenses if you need to cancel before departure or return home early.
Who includes it:
- SafetyWing: Trip interruption up to $5,000
- World Nomads: Robust cancellation and interruption
- Heymondo: Full trip protection
- Genki: Does not include trip protection (medical-only)
If you pre-book expensive family trips: Choose a provider with strong trip cancellation coverage (World Nomads or Heymondo).
5. 24/7 Emergency Assistance
When your child spikes a 104°F fever at 3 AM in a foreign country, you need instant access to medical guidance.
Heymondo: 24/7 medical chat with licensed doctors (best option) SafetyWing/Genki/World Nomads: 24/7 emergency hotline (phone-based)
For worried parents: Heymondo’s medical chat is a genuinely valuable feature for middle-of-the-night health scares.
6. Adventure Activities with Kids
Family vacations often include surf lessons, ski school, snorkeling, zip-lining, and ropes courses. Standard travel insurance excludes these activities.
Best for adventure families:
- World Nomads: 200+ activities covered
- Heymondo: Extensive activity list
- SafetyWing Complete: Adventure sports add-on
- Genki: Basic activities only
What Should Family Travel Insurance Actually Cover?
Before buying any policy for your family, verify it includes these essentials:
Emergency Medical Treatment for All Family Members
Minimum: $100,000 per person in emergency medical coverage. $250,000+ is better for catastrophic scenarios.
Medical Evacuation for Children
If your child needs emergency transport to a proper hospital, evacuation coverage is essential. Look for at least $100,000 in evacuation coverage.
Trip Cancellation and Interruption
With kids, plans change constantly. Verify your policy covers non-refundable trip expenses if you need to cancel before departure or return home early.
Lost Luggage and Belongings
Families travel with a lot of stuff. When you are hauling car seats, strollers, and 47 stuffed animals, luggage protection matters. SafetyWing, World Nomads, and Heymondo include this. Genki does not.
24/7 Emergency Assistance
Whether it is a phone hotline or Heymondo’s medical chat, verify you can reach professional medical guidance at any hour.
Pros
- Protects against catastrophic medical bills abroad
- Medical evacuation coverage for children is essential
- Trip cancellation saves non-refundable family expenses
- SafetyWing's free under-10 coverage saves families thousands
Cons
- Pre-existing conditions rarely covered
- Routine pediatric care excluded on most plans
- Pregnancy coverage limited to complications only
- Per-child pricing adds up fast for large families
Our Final Verdict for Families
After 16 months of family travel and testing all four providers with kids, here is the bottom line:
Best overall for families: SafetyWing — The FREE coverage for kids under 10 changes the game for family travel insurance. At $45.08/month for an adult, you cover your entire family (parent + multiple young kids) for emergency medical, evacuation, trip interruption, and lost luggage. The rolling subscription, 30 days of home country visits, and buy-from-anywhere flexibility make it unbeatable for traveling families. This is what we personally use and recommend to every family we meet.
Best for adventure families: World Nomads — If your family vacation includes scuba lessons, ski school, zip-lining, or trekking with kids, World Nomads covers 200+ activities that other insurers exclude. Robust trip cancellation and interruption coverage make it ideal for families who pre-book expensive trips. Best for defined trips under 3 months, not open-ended family travel.
Best for expat families: Genki — If you are relocating abroad long-term and need comprehensive health insurance with routine pediatric care, vaccinations, mental health support, and preventive dental, Genki’s Explorer plan is the answer. The €10,000,000 coverage limit and zero deductible make it the premium choice for health-conscious expat families, especially those in Europe.
Best medical chat for worried parents: Heymondo — The 24/7 medical chat app (free doctor consultations anytime) is genuinely game-changing when your kid spikes a fever at 2 AM in a foreign country. Excellent for short to medium-term family trips with adventure activities. Not ideal for open-ended travel or budget-conscious families.
No matter which provider you choose, the most important decision is to have insurance at all when traveling with kids. At $1.50-$4 per day per family, travel insurance costs less than a family meal in most countries — and one pediatric emergency without it could wipe out months of savings in a single afternoon.
Get SafetyWing for Families (Kids Under 10 FREE) →Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best travel insurance for families?
SafetyWing Nomad Insurance is the best overall for families because children under 10 travel FREE when a parent is insured. At $45.08/month for the parent, you get emergency medical coverage, medical evacuation, trip interruption, and lost luggage for the entire family. This makes it dramatically cheaper than competitors charging per-person family rates.
Does travel insurance cover children?
Yes. Most travel insurance policies cover children, but pricing varies. SafetyWing covers children under 10 for FREE with a parent’s policy. World Nomads, Genki, and Heymondo charge per child at reduced rates (typically 50-80% of adult pricing). Always verify age limits and coverage specifics before purchasing.
What should family travel insurance include?
At minimum: emergency medical coverage for all family members, medical evacuation for children, trip cancellation/interruption (critical with kids), lost luggage, travel delays, and 24/7 emergency assistance. Ideally, add coverage for adventure activities, pregnancy complications, and pre-existing conditions if needed.
Is SafetyWing good for families?
Yes. SafetyWing is excellent for families because children under 10 are covered FREE with a parent’s policy, making it the most affordable family option. It covers emergency medical, evacuation, trip interruption, and lost luggage. The rolling monthly subscription works well for long-term family travel. However, it lacks comprehensive health coverage and adventure sports on the Essential plan.
Does travel insurance cover pregnancy?
Limited. Most travel insurance covers pregnancy complications and emergency care up to a certain gestational age (typically 26-32 weeks). Routine prenatal care, elective procedures, and normal childbirth are excluded. SafetyWing covers pregnancy complications up to 26 weeks. Check specific policies for pregnancy coverage details and gestational limits.
Can I get travel insurance for a family gap year?
Yes. SafetyWing and Genki both offer rolling monthly subscriptions with no fixed end date, making them ideal for family gap years or extended travel. World Nomads and Heymondo offer policies up to 12 months with defined trip dates. For open-ended family travel, choose subscription-based plans for maximum flexibility.
We have traveled with children (ages 3, 7, and 12) for 16 months while testing these insurance providers across 12+ countries. This review is based on direct family travel experience, real claims filed with kids, and community feedback from hundreds of traveling families. This article contains affiliate links — if you purchase through our links, we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This does not influence our recommendations. See our affiliate disclosure for details.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best travel insurance for families?
SafetyWing Nomad Insurance is the best overall for families because children under 10 travel FREE when a parent is insured. At $45.08/month for the parent, you get emergency medical coverage, medical evacuation, trip interruption, and lost luggage for the entire family. This makes it dramatically cheaper than competitors charging per-person family rates.
Does travel insurance cover children?
Yes. Most travel insurance policies cover children, but pricing varies. SafetyWing covers children under 10 for FREE with a parent's policy. World Nomads, Genki, and Heymondo charge per child at reduced rates (typically 50-80% of adult pricing). Always verify age limits and coverage specifics before purchasing.
What should family travel insurance include?
At minimum: emergency medical coverage for all family members, medical evacuation for children, trip cancellation/interruption (critical with kids), lost luggage, travel delays, and 24/7 emergency assistance. Ideally, add coverage for adventure activities, pregnancy complications, and pre-existing conditions if needed.
Is SafetyWing good for families?
Yes. SafetyWing is excellent for families because children under 10 are covered FREE with a parent's policy, making it the most affordable family option. It covers emergency medical, evacuation, trip interruption, and lost luggage. The rolling monthly subscription works well for long-term family travel. However, it lacks comprehensive health coverage and adventure sports on the Essential plan.
Does travel insurance cover pregnancy?
Limited. Most travel insurance covers pregnancy complications and emergency care up to a certain gestational age (typically 26-32 weeks). Routine prenatal care, elective procedures, and normal childbirth are excluded. SafetyWing covers pregnancy complications up to 26 weeks. Check specific policies for pregnancy coverage details and gestational limits.
Can I get travel insurance for a family gap year?
Yes. SafetyWing and Genki both offer rolling monthly subscriptions with no fixed end date, making them ideal for family gap years or extended travel. World Nomads and Heymondo offer policies up to 12 months with defined trip dates. For open-ended family travel, choose subscription-based plans for maximum flexibility.