travel insurance if relative dies

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How Travel Insurance Works With a Death in the Family

When you purchase travel insurance, you are trying to plan for the unexpected. In the unfortunate event that there is a death in the family, you may be eligible for coverage under your travel insurance plan.

Coverage for Trip Cancellation, Trip Delay, and Trip Interruption

Trip Cancellation is a benefit that can provide coverage for non-refundable trip payments in the event that a trip has to be cancelled for a covered reason. One covered reason for trip cancellation is the death of a family member of yours or your traveling companion.

If you have to cancel your trip due to the death of a family member and meet all the criteria for coverage as detailed by your policy, then your non-refundable, pre-paid expenses such as hotels and airfare are eligible for reimbursement.

This coverage applies to the Trip Interruption and Trip Delay benefits as well. So you may have coverage in the event you have to cut your trip short or start your trip late due to a death of a family member.

Does Your Family Member Need a Travel Insurance Policy to be Eligible for this Coverage?

No, your family member does not need to be a covered traveling companion under your travel insurance policy in order for you to be eligible for this coverage. If you are the traveler and have your own travel insurance policy, death of a family member may be covered.

Who is Considered a Family Member?

Under an Arch RoamRight travel insurance policy, the definition of “family member” is expansive. This may include you or your traveling companion’s:

• legal spouse (or common-law spouse where legal),
• legal guardian or ward,
• son or daughter (adopted, foster, step or in-law),
• brother or sister (includes step or in-law),
• grandparent (includes in-law),
• grandchild,
• aunt or uncle,
• niece or nephew,
• domestic partner,
• caregiver or child caregiver.

Is a relative different from that above a family member?

For the purpose of coverage under your Arch RoamRight travel insurance policy , only those listed in the definition of a family member are considered in determining your coverage.

When is a Death in the Family Not Covered?

There are some exclusions to the benefits, highlighted below, when it comes to claims related to deaths in the family. For a full details of the coverages, imitations, & exclusions please refer to your policy.

Under an Arch RoamRight travel insurance policy, death of a family member resulting from suicide is not eligible for coverage.

Pre-Existing Conditions

Death of a family member as a result of a pre-existing condition is not covered under an Arch RoamRight policy unless you and your traveling companion(s) – “the travelers” – have a policy that includes a Pre-Existing Conditions Exclusion waiver.

A pre-existing condition is defined as:

“An illness, disease, or other conditions during a specified period immediately prior to the effective date of the insured’s coverage for which the insured or insured’s traveling companion, business partner, or family member: 1) received or received a recommendation for a test, examination, or medical treatment; or 2) took or received a prescription for drugs or medicine. Item (2) of this definition does not apply to a condition which is treated or controlled solely through the taking of prescription drugs or medicine and remains treated or controlled without any adjustments or change in the required prescription throughout specified period before your coverage is effective under the policy.”

For most Arch RoamRight plans, the specified time period is 180 days, however there are a few plans that have a shorter, 60-day time period.

In order to have a Pre-Existing Conditions Exclusion waiver, you must meet the following criteria at the time of your purchase:

• Purchase your travel insurance plan within 21 days of making your first trip payment;
• Insure the entire non-refundable cost of your trip;
• Must not be disabled† from travel at the time your premium is paid; and
• This must be the first and only booking for this same time period and destination.

† For definitions, please refer to the travel insurance policy .

The Pre-Existing Conditions Exclusion waiver is available with the Arch RoamRight Preferred , Elite , Pro , and Pro Plus plans.

Related Articles

What To Do When The Worst Happens On A Trip: While we do not always want to plan for it, it is always a good idea to know what to do in an extreme emergency when traveling. Read More ->

Non-Refundable Flights & An Emergency: What To Do: These tips on what to do in an event of an emergency as it relates to non-refundable flights can be helpful when you are in a bind. Read More ->

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Travel insurance for a death in the family

Travel insurance can help with the expenses if a relative gets sick or dies when you’re away from home..

In this guide

Does travel insurance cover you for a death in the family?

How am i covered by travel insurance for family emergency compare your options, what do insurers consider as a ‘relative’, am i covered if my relative falls ill or dies from a pre-existing medical condition, can i resume my trip and be covered for it, example: john and sue's trip re-arrangement, frequently asked questions.

Destinations

What you need to know

• Travel insurance can reimburse you for costs associated with returning home at short notice.
• To be covered, the emergency must be unexpected.
• There is generally no cover if you were aware of any pre-existing medical condition before the policy started.

Yes. If a family member falls ill or dies while you are travelling or before you depart, comprehensive travel insurance can help you recover your cancellation costs including pre-booked tickets and hotels, costs associated with returning home at short notice and costs associated with resuming your journey at a later date. Most insurers have the following conditions:

• The person must meet the insurer’s definition of a relative
• The person must be under a specified age limit (according to the travel insurance policy)
• The death or illness must be unexpected

Note: This information was last updated August 2022

In order to qualify for trip cancellation cover following the illness or death of a relative, your family member must meet the insurer’s definition of ‘relative’. The term normally refers to a:

• Spouse, de facto partner, fiancé or a fiancée
• Parent or parent-in-law
• Son, daughter, son-in-law or daughter-in-law
• Brother, sister, brother-in-law or sister-in-law
• Grandchild or grandparent
• Step-parent, step-son or step-daughter

The exact definition of a relative for each travel insurance policy will differ. It is best to check with your insurer if you're unsure.

A pre-existing medical condition is a condition that is known about prior to an insurable event.

In most cases, you won't be covered if a relative falls ill or passes away due to a pre-existing condition. This is an exclusion with most insurers. However, if you were unaware of the condition at the time you took out the policy, then travel insurance can cover you.

What is considered as 'aware'

Travel insurers will typically exclude cover if your family member is on any sort of waiting list or if you were aware of any recent:

• Consultation
• Required medication
• Upcoming surgery

Most trip cancellation policies will allow you to resume your journey at a later date after being forced to return home due to the illness or death of a relative. There are normally specific conditions surrounding this type of cover, including:

• Your trip must have been for a minimum number of days
• Your insurance must have had a minimum period left to run (usually at least 50%)
• You must have had no knowledge that such an incident might occur prior to your departure
• Your resumption expenses must be pre-approved by your insurer
• You must resume your journey before your policy expires.

John and Sue were into the second week of their month-long European holiday when their son called and told them that his 9-year-old daughter, Emily (their granddaughter), was unwell and had been admitted to hospital. She had been diagnosed with a rare blood disease and would be undergoing life-saving treatment in the next few days.

This was completely unexpected news for John and Sue, and they immediately rang their airline and insurance company to arrange to cancel their trip and return home to be with their granddaughter.

Emily remained in hospital for several weeks, but soon began to make a full recovery. A relieved John and Sue were then able to resume their interrupted European holiday, thanks to their resumption of journey cover reimbursing them for the costs associated with rebooking their flights and accommodation.

Costs incurred

• Fee for bringing the date of original return flight forward: $200
• New round trip flights back to resume journey: $3,500
• Fees for changes to accommodation dates: $150

Total costs covered by insurance

Out-of-pocket costs.

• $150 in excess

Why you can trust Finder's travel insurance experts

We're experts

We're independent

We're here to help

Can you cancel a flight due to family emergency.

You may be eligible for a free change or refund with the airline, depending on their rules. However, travel insurance can cover you if you need to cancel your trip, including your flights, because of a family emergency such as the unexpected death of a relative.

Will travel insurance cover cancellation due to family illness?

Yes, it can. Most comprehensive travel insurance policies can cover cancellation if a close family member falls unexpectedly ill. In most cases, it can reimburse you for the cost of your flights home.

Am I still covered if my relative is over 90 years old?

Age limits apply to many trip cancellation policies in terms of the illness or death of a relative. The age your relative can be will vary with insurers, but many set a maximum age of around 90, after which the illness or death is not deemed to be 'unexpected' and no cover is offered. Some travel insurance brands do not state an age limit, but the health of your relative is a condition many policies will consider.

If your relative is elderly and you are concerned about whether you will be covered if an incident occurs while you're away, you should read your product disclosure statement (PDS) carefully and contact your insurer for further information.

When won't I be covered?

As with all forms of insurance, trip cancellation cover has certain exclusions or circumstances in which a claim will not be paid. These depend on the individual insurer, but they generally include:

• Travelling despite suspecting that your relative might die or become hospitalised
• Expenses that you incur while you're at home
• The cost of a return flight home if you haven't already booked one (considered part of normal costs rather than emergency expenses)
• Any expenses that you've already claimed for elsewhere in your travel insurance policy

Jessica Prasida

Jessica Prasida is a travel insurance expert for Finder. She lives and breathes travel, having worked as a travel agent and branch manager at STA Travel for over 4 years, then writing about travel insurance with Finder for another 5 years. Jess has a Bachelor of Business from the University of Technology, Sydney and a Tier 1 General Insurance qualification.

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Does Travel Insurance Cover Death in the Family?

When a death occurs in the family, there can be a lot of turmoil and disruption. For travelers, a death in the family can be even worse because you may have to cancel your trip, interrupt it and come home early, and otherwise abandon or change your travel plans.

Changing even a single airline ticket these days is often cost-prohibitive and it’s up to the discretion of the airline representative whether to waive the change fee or not. The same is true for cruises and tours that have already been booked and paid.

Many travelers – especially those with elderly parents or family members who are ill – want to know if travel insurance covers death in the family.

It does … with some exceptions.

How travel insurance helps with family death

Here’s how travel insurance works when a death occurs in the family:

• If you have to  cancel an insured trip  because a family member unexpectedly dies, travel insurance will reimburse you for your pre-paid trip expenses.
• If you have to  interrupt your trip and return home  due to a family death, travel insurance will reimburse you for your unused pre-paid costs due to your change in travel plans.

Important exceptions

It’s important to note that there are some important exceptions travelers should understand. These include:

• The family member must be a ‘covered’ family member and every plan defines this differently. In some cases, for example, a sister- or brother-in-law may not be considered a covered family member. You’ll find the list of covered family members in the definitions section of your travel insurance plan documentation.
• The death must not have been the result of a pre-existing medical condition (even one that you or the family member didn’t know about) unless you purchase a plan with  coverage for pre-existing medical conditions .
• The death must not have been the result of suicide or mental illness as these are excluded from all travel insurance coverage.

Many people are surprised when their travel insurance plan doesn’t cover the loss of best friends, close acquaintances, and even pets. This is because those persons and pets who are important to us may not be considered family members as defined by the travel insurance policy.

To be able to make a claim on your travel insurance policy should someone who is not a family member as defined by the travel insurance plan documents die, you’ll need to have  ‘cancel for any reason’ coverage  and you’ll have to cancel your trip within the time frame defined by that coverage (sometimes as early as two days prior to your trip).

DamianTysdal

Damian Tysdal is the founder of CoverTrip, and is a licensed agent for travel insurance (MA 1883287). He believes travel insurance should be easier to understand, and started the first travel insurance blog in 2006.

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• 18 September 2013

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Why does travel insurance need the airline reimbursement for my lost bag?

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How Accidental Death Travel Insurance Works

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Table of Contents

What is travel insurance?

Does travel insurance cover death, how to get accidental death travel insurance, filing a claim, accidental death travel insurance recapped.

Vacations are always exciting. The chance to get out of town, see some new things and explore new places is an opportunity many dreams of. However, traveling is always risky, especially if you intend to undertake activities such as hiking or bungee jumping. Travel insurance can help protect you if things go awry, with coverage such as emergency medical insurance, trip cancellation insurance and accidental death insurance. But do you need travel life insurance — and how does it work? Let's take a look.

There are many different kinds of travel insurance available to customers, and the type you'll need will depend on travel style, destination and how long you'll be away. Generally speaking, here are some of the more common types of travel insurance:

Accidental death insurance .

Baggage delay and lost luggage insurance .

Cancel for Any Reason insurance .

Emergency evacuation insurance .

Medical insurance .

Rental car insurance .

Trip cancellation insurance .

Trip interruption insurance .

» Learn more: How much is travel insurance?

You'll find a few different varieties of coverage within the broader accidental death travel insurance umbrella. Generally speaking, the way that accidental death travel insurance works is that you'll purchase a policy covering the period that you're away. Then, if a covered accident occurs, you or your designated beneficiary will receive the payout from your insurance company. Despite its name, accidental death travel insurance can cover more than just death. Here are some different types of injuries that your insurance policy may cover:

Loss of life.

Loss of speech and/or hearing.

Loss of thumb and index finger on the same hand.

Loss of hand/s.

Loss of foot/feet.

Loss of eye/s.

The amount you'll be paid will be determined by the policy you've purchased and the extent of your injuries. Depending on your policy, your spouse and unmarried children may also be covered against accidental death. You'll also want to be aware that different accidental death travel insurance policies can cover you at different times. Accidental death flight insurance, as you'd suspect, will provide coverage for you while you're flying. Meanwhile, 24-hour accidental death insurance will protect you anytime during your trip. You don't need to be traveling for your policy to be enacted, though there are certain limitations to this. For example, don't expect to be covered while you're in the middle of skydiving. Finally, common carrier accidental death insurance insures you while traveling on any ticketed public transportation. This can be flights, buses, ferries or even trains. » Learn more: What to know before buying travel insurance

Just like there are multiple types of travel insurance, there are various ways to acquire accidental death travel insurance.

Buy a policy

Probably the most common option is to purchase a policy for life insurance from an insurance company. Whether you're looking for accidental death insurance or trip cancellation insurance, you can find policies to cover various issues from providers. Before you buy a plan, be sure to gather as many quotes as possible. Different levels of coverage will affect the cost of your policy, as will your age, travel dates, destination and residency. Websites like Squaremouth can help you find the best policy to suit your needs. For example, Squaremouth compares coverages and costs from a wide variety of providers on a single screen as an aggregator. Expect insurance coverage amounts ranging from $10,000 to $1 million. » Learn more: The best travel insurance companies

Use your credit card

If you hold a travel credit card, you may be eligible to receive accidental death insurance for free. Many different types of credit cards provide trip insurance , including:

Trip cancellation insurance.

Trip delay insurance.

Emergency medical insurance.

Accidental death insurance.

The type of insurance you'll receive will vary greatly depending on which card you hold, so you'll want to read your guide to benefits carefully if this is something you'll be relying on. The Chase Sapphire Reserve® , for example, provides you two types of accidental death insurance. You'll be covered throughout your trip with 24-hour coverage if you charge your travel bookings to the card. The coverage limits and payouts will differ, however, based on when the incident occurs.

Chase's 24-hour travel accident insurance only covers you for the first 30 days you're out of the country.

The Platinum Card® from American Express , meanwhile, will only provide you with common carrier accidental death insurance, though you'll also be covered when en route to and from your common carrier. Terms apply. » Learn more: The best travel credit cards right now

The process for making a claim on your insurance will vary based on your provider. For example, you may need to contact a benefits administrator or create a file online. Usually, you'll have a specific period during which you must report the incident, file the claim and complete your documentation. Documents that you can expect to turn in with your claim include the following:

Your completed claim form.

A copy of your travel itinerary.

A police report confirming the accident.

A death certificate.

Have a plan for submitting the required documentation ahead of your trip. » Learn more: Does travel insurance cover medical expenses?

Travel insurance, as a whole, can be a good option for you if you're worried about accidents while you're away from home. Along with emergency medical and trip cancellation insurance, accidental death insurance can provide you and your family coverage when things go wrong. Before buying a policy, however, be sure to check if your credit card already provides complimentary travel life insurance. Doing so can save you money while ensuring you're always protected.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024 , including those best for:

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

on Chase's website

1x-10x Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.

60,000 Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

1x-5x 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.

60,000 Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

1x-2x Earn 2X points on Southwest® purchases. Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare. Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services, and select streaming. Earn 1X points on all other purchases.

50,000 Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

U.S. News takes an unbiased approach to our recommendations. When you use our links to buy products, we may earn a commission but that in no way affects our editorial independence.

The 5 Best Family Travel Insurance Plans

Travelex Insurance Services »

Allianz Travel Insurance »

Seven Corners »

World Nomads Travel Insurance »

AIG Travel Guard »

Why Trust Us

U.S. News evaluates ratings, data and scores of more than 50 travel insurance companies from comparison websites like TravelInsurance.com, Squaremouth and InsureMyTrip, plus renowned credit rating agency AM Best, in addition to reviews and recommendations from top travel industry sources and consumers to determine the Best Family Travel Insurance Plans.

Table of Contents

• Rating Details
• Travelex Insurance Services
• Allianz Travel Insurance

The best travel insurance plans can provide you with considerable peace of mind, but the real value comes into play when you wind up using your coverage. Hassles like flight delays, lost luggage and unexpected injuries can be stressful and traumatic, yet travel insurance can reimburse you for the financial costs associated with these mishaps.

If you are planning to travel with your entire family in tow, you already know that the stakes are higher and the potential for losses even greater. For example, you'll want to make sure children traveling with you have travel medical insurance as well as coverage for trip cancellations and interruptions.

You'll need to compare the best family travel insurance plans of 2023 if you want to find the right one for you and ensure each of your dependents is covered by your policy. U.S. News has compiled this guide to the best of the best when it comes to companies offering family travel insurance, since these top picks make it easy and affordable to add children to your plan.

• Seven Corners
• World Nomads Travel Insurance
• AIG Travel Guard

Best Family Travel Insurance Plans in Detail

Travel Select plan offers complimentary coverage for children 17 and younger

Primary coverage with no deductibles

Travel Select only includes up to $50,000 in protection for emergency medical expenses (optional upgrade available)

Meager policy limits ($200) for delayed baggage and sporting equipment

• Trip cancellation protection worth up to 100% of prepaid travel expenses (up to $50,000)
• Trip interruption coverage worth up to 150% (up to $75,000)
• Up to $2,000 ($250 per day) in coverage for trip delays
• $750 for missed connections
• $50,000 for emergency medical and dental expenses
• $500,000 in coverage for emergency medical evacuation and repatriation of remains
• $1,000 in insurance for baggage and personal effects

Single-trip travel insurance plans include free coverage for children ages 17 and younger

Allianz offers annual travel insurance plans for families

Not all plans cover kids for free

Get coverage for up to 10 people in a single policy

Generous policy limits for emergency medical expenses and evacuation

Kids aren't covered for free

Emergency dental coverage is capped at $750

• Trip cancellation coverage worth up to 100% of prepaid trip costs
• Trip interruption coverage up to 150%
• Trip delay coverage up to $2,000 ($250 per day)
• Up to $1,500 in protection for missed tours or cruise connections ($250 per day)
• Up to $500,000 in coverage for emergency medical expenses
• Up to $1 million in protection for emergency evacuation

Includes coverage for up to seven children on a single policy

Provides coverage for more than 200 adventure activities and sports

No free travel coverage for kids with paid adults

No option to customize coverage with CFAR protection

• Up to $100,000 in emergency medical insurance
• $500,000 in coverage for emergency medical evacuation
• $3,000 in insurance for lost baggage and belongings
• $10,000 in insurance for trip cancellation

Free coverage for one child 17 or younger with each paying adult relative on the plan

Choose from three tiers of travel protection based on your needs

Travel medical expense coverage is low ($15,000) with Essential plan

Essential plan also has low limits for baggage delays ($200) and lost or stolen luggage ($750)

• Up to 100% in coverage for trip cancellation
• 150% in coverage for trip interruption
• $1,000 in baggage insurance
• $300 in protection for baggage delays
• $50,000 in insurance for emergency medical expenses
• $500,000 in protection for medical evacuation

Family Travel Insurance: Coverages You'll Need

As you compare the best travel insurance plans for families, you might be wondering which types of coverage are most important. Ultimately, that depends on the cost of your trip, where you're traveling and the travel issues you worry about the most.

Frequent traveler Linda L. Adkins of Spokane, Washington, says she purchases travel insurance for every trip since her U.S.-based health insurance policy doesn't apply when her family travels overseas. She worries not only about emergency medical expenses that could come into play, but also about the high costs of medical evacuation if a family member needs to be transported a long distance or even back to the U.S.

Adkins has also endured scenarios where her luggage was temporarily lost by an airline while traveling internationally, and she says her delayed baggage benefit was useful when it came to purchasing clothing and toiletries. "I spent almost $100 per day for three days in a row while we waited for our bags," she says.

Adkins saved her receipts and received reimbursement through her travel insurance provider's baggage delay benefit.

U.S. News recommends having the following types of coverage (at a minimum) in place for every trip with kids:

• $50,000-plus in primary insurance per traveler for emergency medical expenses
• Coverage for COVID-19
• $100,000-plus in coverage for emergency medical evacuation
• Adequate protection for trip delays and lost or delayed baggage

Frequently Asked Questions

Credit card travel insurance can provide coverage for families, although the types and amounts of protection you receive can be limited. As an example, the Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card comes with trip cancellation coverage for up to $10,000 per person and up to $20,000 per covered trip, as well as lost luggage reimbursement worth up to $3,000 per passenger if the cardholder or an immediate family member has their luggage lost by a common carrier.

Fine print with the card also states that trip delay coverage can apply if common carrier travel gets delayed by more than six hours or requires an overnight stay, and that both the cardholder and their family members can be reimbursed up to $500 per ticket for incidental travel expenses including meals and lodging.

For credit card travel insurance to apply, the cardholder needs to pay for common carrier travel for all of their family members with the credit card in question. In other words, simply carrying a travel credit card with travel insurance benefits won't be enough.

Travel insurance plans are built to cover every person listed on the application for coverage. This means you can apply for travel insurance as an individual or as a family who wants all members covered under a single plan.

That said, some travel insurance plans are superior for families since they offer free coverage for dependents. Others offer comprehensive travel insurance policies that provide broad coverage for groups up to 10 people.

Why Trust U.S. News Travel

Holly Johnson is an award-winning content creator who has been writing about travel insurance and travel for more than a decade. She has researched travel insurance options for her own vacations and family trips to more than 50 countries around the world, and she has experience navigating the claims and reimbursement process. In fact, she has successfully filed several travel insurance claims for trip delays and trip cancellations over the years. Johnson also works alongside her husband, Greg – who has been licensed to sell travel insurance in 50 states – in their family media business.

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How Travel Insurance Works if a Family Member is Hospitalized or Dies

Buying travel insurance to cover your whole family is a great idea, since one family travel insurance plan can usually provide travel protection to you, your loved ones and your trip. But, did you know certain travel insurance coverages can kick in even if a non-traveling family member is hospitalized or dies?

Whether you have elderly family or have understandable concerns about the pandemic causing a family member to be hospitalized, you can plan a trip with more peace of mind, knowing if you need to cancel the trip for a covered reason you won’t lose your vacation investment. 

Also read: 7 Questions to Ask to Find the Best Family Travel Insurance

What about family members who are not traveling?

There are a few ways family members not going on your trip could impact that trip and the travel insurance coverages you might have.

All of our plans include Trip Cancellation coverage that reimburses your trip costs if you cancel for a covered reason. One of those reasons is a non-traveling family member being hospitalized or passing away due to an illness or injury and you are unable to take your trip.

Everyone wants a vacation to be a carefree time, and even if everyone on the trip is doing the right thing, staying healthy and out of trouble, there’s no guarantee that things will be going along swimmingly back at the hacienda.

If trouble strikes back home, our Trip Interruption coverage can reimburse you for the unused portion of your trip and help arrange for transportation back to your loved ones at home, in case of a covered event.

One other way family members could become involved with travel insurance is if you’re traveling alone and hospitalized for more than seven days and need family support. Our Emergency Assistance and Transportation benefit includes coverage  to fly one person of your choosing to come accompany you. Their lodging, meals, local transportation and telephone calls during this time can also be covered by the plan.

Also read:  Does Travel Insurance Cover the Flu or Other Illness?

Defining “Family”

It’s very important that you understand who is considered a “family member” when you buy travel insurance with this in mind. Don’t assume that your cousin qualifies – because in this case, they don’t.

You can find those specific details in the  Plan Details , but we’ve pulled the definition for our plans out of the fine print.

FAMILY MEMBER means:

• Insured ’s or Traveling Companion’s Spouse 
• grandparent, great-grandparent or grandchild or great-grandchild;
• son-in-law or daughter-in-law; 
• brother-in-law or sister-in-law; 
• parent-in-law;
• step-parent, step-child or step-sibling; 
• aunt or uncle; 
• niece or nephew; 
• legal guardian; 
• foster child or legal ward;
• step-grandparent or step-grandchild;
• step-aunt or step-uncle.

See more travel insurance definitions

Coverage For One, Coverage For All

The topic of family travel insurance often results in many questions, starting with the basic question, “Can one travel insurance policy cover my entire family?”

The answer is yes – one travel-insurance policy can cover up to 10 people. Adding each family member (or traveling companion , technically) to the plan increases the total premium, but everyone has coverage under the same policy, enjoying the same benefits.

The only exceptions to that is if your traveling family exceeds 10 people or a family member(s) fall outside the traveling companion definition .

Another common question family travelers have is, “What if one of my family members has to cancel their trip because of illness, but the rest of us don’t? Does family travel insurance cover one cancellation because of illness?”

The person who has to cancel their trip has coverage under Trip Cancellation (assuming they’re canceling their trip for a covered reason, of course), while the rest of the family’s coverage continues on.

This can happen time and again. If your grandfather’s luggage is lost he can get coverage under the Baggage benefit, without compromising the benefit in case your sister subsequently loses her luggage. And, if your nephew needs emergency medical attention, he will have coverage under the plan – without changing the amount of the Medical and Dental benefit you have on tap in case you need it.

On the other hand, if everyone needs to use their benefit at once, they can. So if grandma back home gets sick and the family needs to interrupt their trip to be with her, they all can

That’s one of the great advantages of families using travel insurance: the incredible versatility. It works just as well for one family member as for an entire family.

Also read:  Buying Travel Insurance in a Post-Pandemic World

Making Sure Everyone’s Covered

If you’re planning a big family vacation and want to make sure everyone has coverage, here’s what you need to do:

• Read your policy. Make sure everyone you want to be covered under the plan is actually covered – and on a per-person basis. If they’re not, shop around for a plan that can accommodate everyone.
• Make plans early. It’s easier to get everyone coverage when everyone is on board right away, and the plan is purchased soon after the trip is paid for. It’s harder but not impossible to add family members after the plan is purchased. Learn more about adding to an existing plan.
• Look for medical coverage. Usually with family trips the most desired coverage is emergency medical protection. Make sure your plan has good Medical and Dental and Emergency Assistance and Transportation coverage – the more the better.
• Put one person in charge of insurance shopping . If everyone is out looking for plans there can be confusion and delay in getting everyone coverage – and sometimes that can mean no one gets coverage at all. By making one person responsible for finding the travel insurance for the entire family the process is consolidated – and the outcome is generally favorable.
• Have personal information handy. If you go the route of trusting one person with the insurance shopping, they’ll need everyone’s birthdate to buy a plan. Make sure they have this information before they start shopping. 

Also read: Info You Need to Know Before Getting a Travel Insurance Quote

Getting an entire family travel insurance coverage makes a lot of sense – and doing it online is fast and easy. Plus, with coverages that work even if a non-traveling family member gets sick or injured – it’s a no-brainer. It’s the best way of making sure your family travels get off to a great start and continue that way.

Start the process with Generali by comparing plans and getting a quote .

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Travel Erudition

Does travel insurance cover death of a relative?

When a loved one dies, it is often an unexpected and devastating event. If you are planning a trip when this happens, you may be wondering if your travel insurance will cover the death of a relative. The answer to this question depends on the specific policy that you have. Some policies will cover the death of a relative, while others will not. You should check with your insurance provider to find out what is covered under your policy.

No, most travel insurance policies do not cover the death of a relative.

Does travel insurance cover funeral expenses?

Most travel insurance plans include coverage for repatriation of remains, which is transportion of the remains of the deceased insured person back to their home country. Additionally, some visitors insurance plans also cover local cremation or burial. This can be a valuable benefit for travelers, as it can help to alleviate the cost and stress of making arrangements for the transport of a loved one’s remains in the event of their death while abroad.

When looking for travel insurance, it’s important to check if family members are included in the coverage. Some plans will include children 17 and younger automatically, while others will require that you add each family member individually. This can make a big difference in the overall cost of the policy, so be sure to check before you buy.

Can you get a refund on a holiday if someone dies

Cancellation cover is a great way to protect yourself from having to forfeit the cost of your holiday if you need to cancel due to unforeseen circumstances. It can reimburse you for things like illness or injury, being called to jury service, or bereavement.

When you purchase visitor travel insurance, you will have the opportunity to name a beneficiary. This is the person who will receive a payout in the event of your death. It is important to choose someone you trust to receive this money, as it can be a significant amount.

What happens if a family member dies abroad?

If you’re abroad when someone dies, you should contact the nearest British embassy, High Commission or consulate. They’ll be able to give you advice on what to do. If you’re on a package holiday you should tell your package organiser’s representative in the resort as soon as you can.

If you need to fly for a funeral or to escort a body on a plane, many airlines offer bereavement fares. These fares are generally a percentage off the normal ticket price, with discounts ranging from 5% to 25%.

What reasons are not covered by Travelers insurance?

There are a few things that travel insurance does not cover, such as fear of travel due to a pandemic, outbreak or other reason, natural disasters that begin before you buy travel insurance, some last-minute changes, bad weather and trip cancellation.

Pre-existing medical conditions can be a tricky area when it comes to travel insurance. Some policies will exclude them entirely, while others may offer coverage for an additional fee. It’s important to read the fine print of any policy before purchasing to make sure you understand what is and isn’t covered. Common exclusions include bone and joint conditions, so if you have any pre-existing medical conditions, it’s important to check with your insurer to see if they will be covered.

What is family travel insurance

The main purpose of family travel insurance is to cover expenses related to medical emergencies, cancellations, and other unforeseen events that may occur while you are traveling. This type of insurance can be a valuable asset for families who travel frequently or who are planning a trip abroad.

If you are faced with the death of a loved one while away from home, the most important thing to do is to call your hometown funeral director. By doing so, you can arrange to have the body transported back home for the funeral. This will allow you to have the funeral in a place that is familiar to you and your family, and it will also allow you to work with a funeral director that you know and trust.

Can you get a flight refund for a death in the family?

In the event of the death of the customer, immediate family, or traveling companion, American may consider tickets for refund. Proof of relationship for immediate family member is required.

If a person dies without leaving a will, their children will inherit the whole estate. This applies regardless of the value of the estate. If there are two or more children, the estate will be divided equally between them.

What happens to insurance money when someone dies

The death benefit is the money that the life insurance company will pay out when the policy owner dies. This money will go to the named beneficiary, which is the person or persons that the policy owner designate to receive the money. If there is no named beneficiary, then the death benefit will be paid to the deceased’s estate.

Your beneficiaries will receive a single payment that includes the entire death benefit in this scenario. The death benefit will be placed by the insurer into an interest-bearing account, and beneficiaries receive monthly or annual payments of an amount they choose. This payout option allows your beneficiaries to receive regular income payments while still allowing the death benefit to grow over time.

Does the beneficiary get everything?

If you are a beneficiary of an estate, you generally will not receive any assets or property until the estate has been taken care of. This includes paying outstanding bills and other expenses. Depending on the estate, distributions may occur before the estate closes.

The cost of shipping a dead body depends on a few factors, including the distance, weight, and method of transportation. In addition to the cost of the travel, you’ll have to purchase a container as well as other services. The cost can range from $1,500 to as much as $15,000 for an international shipment.

How many days are you entitled to when a family member dies

A bereavement policy is a policy implemented by a company to support employees during the death of a close family member or friend. The policy typically includes a certain number of days of paid leave, but can also include other support such as counseling services.

If you have to cancel your trip because a family member died, your travel insurance policy might be able to help you with the costs. In order to make a valid claim, the death must have been unexpected and not caused by any medical condition your relative had before you got travel insurance.

Final Words

Most travel insurance policies will cover the death of a relative. This coverage may include travel expenses to attend the funeral, as well as reimbursement for any prepaid travel expenses.

There is no one definitive answer to this question since policies differ and coverage varies. However, it is generally advisable to purchase travel insurance when planning a trip, especially if traveling abroad, as it can provide some financial protection in the event of an unexpected emergency.

Scott Johnson

Scott Johnson is passionate about traveling. He loves exploring new cultures and places, and discovering the world around him. He believes that travel can open up new perspectives and opportunities for growth and development. Scott has visited many countries in Europe, Africa, South America, and Asia, and he continues to seek out new destinations for his adventures.

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• Section 4 - Injury & Trauma
• Section 4 - Poisonings, Envenomations, and Toxic Exposures

Death During Travel

Cdc yellow book 2024.

Author(s): Francisco Alvarado-Ramy, Kendra Stauffer

• Death Onboard a Conveyance
• Obtaining US Department of State Assistance

Importing Human Remains for Burial, Entombment, or Cremation

Exporting human remains.

Death of a friend, relative, or coworker can be immensely distressing. The situation is aggravated when the death occurs abroad, where grieving individuals might be unfamiliar with local laws, language, culture, and processes for investigation and release of the body. Whether dealing with the death locally or from their home country, next of kin could face large, unanticipated costs and labor-intensive administrative requirements.

Depending on the circumstances surrounding the death, some countries require an autopsy. For travel companions of the deceased, in addition to friends and relatives, sources of support might include the US consulate or embassy, a travel insurance provider (particularly if coverage included repatriation of remains), the airline, a tour operator, faith-based and aid organizations, or the deceased person’s employer. Official identification of the body will likely be needed, and official documents likely will need to be issued by the consular office. A body can be identified by witness statements of those who knew the person well, by analyzing DNA samples, by checking fingerprints, by reviewing dental radiographs, or by inspecting surgical implants.

Death Onboard a Conveyance

Federal regulations require that all deaths aboard commercial flights and ships destined for the United States be reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). For details, see Guidance for Airlines on Reporting Onboard Deaths or Illnesses to CDC and Guidance for Cruise Ships: How to Report Onboard Death or Illness to CDC .

Commercial Aircraft

The Federal Aviation Administration requires that flight attendants receive training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and in proper use of an automated external defibrillator (AED) at least once every 2 years. Under US laws, Good Samaritan laws offer protections for actions brought in a federal or state court that result from acts or omissions when people assist in a medical emergency during flight, unless there is gross negligence or willful misconduct.

If CPR is performed in an aircraft cabin for ≥30 minutes with no signs of life, and no shocks advised by an AED, the person can be presumed dead and resuscitation efforts halted. Airlines can choose to specify additional criteria for presuming death, depending on the availability of ground-to-air medical consultation services or a physician aboard the flight (see Sec. 8, Ch. 2, . . .  perspectives : Responding to Medical Emergencies when Flying ). In these cases, the body should be secured and covered for the remainder of the flight.

Cruise Ships

If death occurs on a cruise ship, the crew are usually able to provide logistical support to repatriate the body. Cruise ships are equipped with morgues and body bags and are staffed with health care professionals capable of providing clinical care. Any death involving an accident, violence, or foul play will require more extended and complicated processes. US consular officials will be able to provide general guidance and legal aid resource options . Some travel insurance products cover legal services abroad. Travelers should be aware of exclusions and limitations of travel insurance products prior to purchasing.

Obtaining US Department of State Assistance

When a US citizen dies outside the United States, the deceased person’s next of kin or legal representative should notify US consular officials at the Department of State. Consular personnel are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to assist US citizens during overseas emergencies.

If the next of kin or legal representative is in the foreign country with the deceased US citizen, that person should contact the nearest US embassy or consulate for assistance. Contact information for US embassies and consulates overseas can be found at the Department of State website.

Family members, domestic partners, or legal representatives who are in a different country from the deceased should call the Department of State’s Office of Overseas Citizens Services in Washington, DC, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern time, Monday through Friday, at 888-407-4747 (toll-free) or 202-501-4444. For emergency assistance after working hours or on weekends and holidays, call the Department of State switchboard at 202-647-4000 and ask to speak with the Overseas Citizens Services duty officer. In addition, the US embassy closest to or in the country where the US citizen died can provide support.

The Department of State has no funds to assist in the return of remains of US citizens who die abroad. US consular officers assist the next of kin by conveying instructions to the appropriate offices within the foreign country and providing information to the family on how to send the necessary private funds to cover the costs of preparing and repatriating the deceased person’s remains. Upon issuance of a local (foreign) death certificate, the nearest US embassy or consulate can prepare a consular report of the death of an American abroad. Copies of that report are provided to the next of kin or legal representative and can be used in US courts to settle estate matters. If the deceased person has no next of kin or legal representative in-country, a consular officer will act as a provisional conservator of the deceased person’s personal effects.

CDC regulates the importation of human remains and provides guidance for their importation . The requirements are more stringent if the person died from a disease classified as quarantinable in the United States.

Except for cremated remains, human remains intended for burial, entombment, or cremation after entry into the United States must be accompanied by a death certificate stating the cause of death. A death certificate is an official government document that certifies that a death has occurred and provides identifying information about the deceased, including (at a minimum) name, age, and sex. The document must also certify the time, place, and cause of death, if known. If the official government document is not written in English, it must be accompanied by an English language translation of the official government document, the authenticity of which must be attested to by a person licensed to perform acts in legal affairs in the country where the death occurred.

In lieu of a death certificate, a copy of the Consular Mortuary Certificate and the Affidavit of Foreign Funeral Director and Transit Permit together constitute acceptable identification of human remains. If a death certificate is not available in time for returning the remains, the US embassy or consulate should provide a Consular Mortuary Certificate stating whether the person died from a disease classified as quarantinable in the United States. A person transporting human remains must also meet requirements of the country of origin, air carrier, the Transportation Security Administration, and Customs and Border Protection.

CDC does not regulate the exportation of human remains outside the United States, although other state and local regulations might apply. The United States Postal Service is the only courier legally allowed to ship cremated remains. Exporters of human remains and travelers taking human remains out of the United States should be aware that they must meet the importation requirements of the destination country. Information regarding these requirements can be obtained from the foreign embassy or consulate. Air carriers also might have their own requirements , of which individuals transporting remains outside of the United States should be aware.

The following authors contributed to the previous version of this chapter: Francisco Alvarado-Ramy, Kendra E. Stauffer

Bibliography

Bureau of Consular Affairs, US State Department. Death abroad. Available from:  https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/abroad/events-and-records/death.html . 

Bureau of Consular Affairs, US State Department. Return of remains of deceased US citizens. Available from:  https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/while-abroad/death-abroad1/return-of-remains-of-deceased-us-citizen.html . 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Importation of human remains into the United States for burial, entombment, or cremation. Available from:  www.cdc.gov/importation/human-remains.html . 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Importation of human remains final rule. Specific laws and regulations governing the control of communicable diseases. Available from:  www.cdc.gov/importation/laws-and-regulations/human-remains-importation-requirements.html . 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Quarantine station contact list, map, and fact sheets. Available from:  www.cdc.gov/quarantine/quarantinestationcontactlistfull.html

Connolly R, Prendiville R, Cusack D, Flaherty G. Repatriation of human remains following death in international travelers. J Travel Med. 2017;24(2):1–6. International Air Transport Association. Death on board; 2018. Available from:  www.iata.org/contentassets/ccbdc54681c24574bebf2db2b18197a5/death-on-board-guidelines.pdf .

National Funeral Directors Association. International shipping regulations. Available from:  www.nfda.org/resources/operations-management/shipping-remains/international-shipping-regulations . 

US Customs and Border Protection. What is the process for bringing bodies in coffins/ashes in urns into the United States? Available from:  https://help.cbp.gov/s/article/Article-237?language=en_US .

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Travel Insurance Cover Death Of Family Member

Depending on your relationship with the deceased and if the loss was unexpected, your travel insurance may or may not provide grief coverage. Before contacting us, it’s crucial to make sure your insurance covers the claim you’re making.

Here, we go through how your travel insurance can be useful if you need to shorten or cancel your vacation due to a death in the family.

The incident, illness, or medical condition that resulted in the death in your family must be unexpected if you want to make a claim on your travel insurance.

Travel insurance covers the death of a family member This means that if a major medical condition or terminal illness was the cause of a death in your family, you might not be able to file a claim with your travel insurance.

Table of Contents

Can You Make A Claim For Your Vacation Being Cancelled Due To A Death In The Family?

Travel insurance is made to safeguard you from unanticipated occurrences like illness, injury, or the passing of a close relative or travelling companion.

If a close relative or travelling partner unexpectedly passes away, you may submit a claim for the cancellation of your vacation up to your policy’s cancellation restrictions.

Already paid for your travel (including lodging or airfare)? If you have to cancel your trip due to the passing of a close relative or travelling companion, your travel insurance can help with the expense of nonrefundable deposits and other payments you have to make.

Am I Protected If A Family Member Passes Away While I’m On Vacation?

If a family member passes away while you’re away, you might be able to make a claim for having to cut your trip short if the death wasn’t expected.

If you had to leave the country earlier than the time allotted for your return flight because:

unexpectedly losing a close relative the unexpected and impending passing of a close relative aa close relative’s unexpectedly terrible illness or accident

Please verify the policy limits of your travel insurance to see if the trip interruption or shortening is covered.

What Should I Do If Someone In My Family Passes Away?

Travel insurance covers the death of a family member It’s crucial that you get in touch with us right away if you need to make a claim on your travel insurance due to an unexpected death in the family. Prior to booking any flights back home while you’re on vacation, it’s crucial that you get in touch with us to let us know what’s going on and to find out what your insurance will cover.

When you return home, you might be asked to send us evidence to support your claim. We will typically need to see a copy of the death certificate as a result of this. We understand that dealing with a loss can be difficult, and we’ll try to make the process as easy as we can.

For Travel Insurance, Who Qualifies As A Close Relative?

A close relative for the purposes of travel insurance is any of the following: who you share a home with (in a relationship for at least 6 months at the same address, either married or cohabiting)

your young ones (including step, fostered or adopted children)

Grandchildren Parents Grandparents Siblings Parents-in-law daughters or sons-in-law relatives who are in law

Does Travel Insurance Cover The Death Of A Family Member?

Your non-refundable, pre-paid expenses, such as hotels and airfare, are eligible for reimbursement if you must cancel your vacation due to the loss of a family member and you meet all the coverage requirements outlined in your policy. The Travel Interruption and Trip Delay benefits are also covered by this insurance.

Do Funeral Costs Get Covered By Travel Insurance?

The majority of travel insurance policies cover the repatriation of remains, or the transportation of the deceased insured’s remains back to their place of origin. Some travel insurance policies also include local cremation or burial.

Is The Death Of A Family Member Covered By Allianz?

Check your plan documents’ definitions section, too. For example, a covered reason for a vacation cancellation could be a family member’s passing. Although our definition of “family member” is quite inclusive, not all members of the same family are included. For instance, cousins are excluded but aunts and uncles are included.

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Please Note - If you are cruising around Australia you need to select Pacific. With Regions, variances can apply for Bali, Indonesia, Japan and Middle East. You are not required to enter stop-over countries if your stop-over is less than 48 hours.

If you don’t know where you’re traveling to within the next 12 months, choose Worldwide to ensure you’re covered no matter where you go. If you’re travelling to multiple countries choose the region that you are visiting that is furthest away (excluding stopovers less than 48 hours). In most cases you will be covered for the closer regions as well. For example, if you choose Europe, you will also be covered in the Middle East, Asia and Pacific.

Worldwide means anywhere in the world

Americas means USA, Canada, South America, Latin America, Hawaii and the Caribbean

Europe means all European countries, including UK

Middle East refers to the area from Syria to Yemen; Egypt to Iran

Asia generally means Asia and the Indian subcontinent. For some insurers this excludes Japan*

Pacific means the South West Pacific, Australia and Indonesia/Bali*. Select Pacific for domestic cruises in New Zealand waters

New Zealand means domestic travel within New Zealand only

*Note: Variances apply for Bali, Indonesia, Japan and Middle East. Check that your destination is covered once directed to your chosen insurer’s site.

Travel Insurance & Family Emergencies

It's only natural to be concerned about your loved ones when you go away on your holidays.

If a family member or travelling companion falls ill or is injured on your trip, or before you depart for your holiday, it's important to know where you stand with your cover.

A common question that comes up again and again is;  Does travel insurance cover family emergencies? The answer is yes, but like all insurances, there are terms, conditions, and exclusions that will affect your claim.

Keep reading to learn about the cover conditions when it comes to travel insurance and family members.

Who is classified as 'Family'’?

'Family' in the world of travel insurance usually refers to your spouse (or legally recognised defacto) and your dependants.  

Cover for furbabies

Who is classified as a ‘relative’.

'Relatives' in terms of travel insurance will typically include, your or your travelling companions' spouse, de facto partner, parent, parent-in-law, daughter, son, daughter-in-law, son-in-law, brother, sister, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, grandchild, grandparent, step-parent, step-son, step-daughter, fiancé, fiancée or guardian.

NOTE:  aunties, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews and close friends are not often included as a ‘relative’ so it pays to pay attention.

When Does Travel Insurance Cover For Family Emergencies?

Your policy will kick in if a family member or relative (as defined above or within your insurers' definitions);

• Dies unexpectedly
• Is disabled by an injury
• Becomes seriously sick and requires hospitalisation

When Are You Not Covered For Family Emergencies?

Like any type of insurance terms and conditions apply to your cover. Where your relative resides matters:  Relatives who live outside Australia or New Zealand are typically not covered by your policy. Most insurers state that they will only pay claims concerning ‘Relatives’ who reside in Australia or New Zealand. If you have a family member that lives in a different country to you, chances are you wouldn’t be covered for cancelling your trip.    Pre-existing illnesses can cause difficulties:   If you were already aware of a Relative’s illness when you booked your travel insurance, you may not be covered should they take a turn for the worse. However, some companies like 1Cover, Fastcover and Zoom Travel Insurance would provide limited cover under these circumstances, provided you were not aware of the likelihood of their hospitalisation or death when purchasing your policy. How the family member dies matters : If the death was due to the relative committing suicide, or related to alcohol or drug consumption you may find that isn't covered.  Any claims to do with alcohol, drugs or mental illness are typically excluded in Australian travel insurance policies. 

Compare Family Member Age Limits

As mentioned above, many policies have age restrictions in the event that a family member falls ill or dies while you are travelling or before you depart.  Whilst travel insurance can help you recover your cancellation costs including pre-booked tickets and hotels, costs associated with returning home at short notice, and in some instances resuming your journey at a later date, it's important to understand the restrictions. Our experts have done some digging to bring the important relative age limits to the forefront.  Many insurers limit a relative's age to 84 and there are a few insurers that do not pose any age restriction.

Can I resume my trip if it was cut short due to a family emergency?

Most policies with a family emergency benefit will allow you to resume your journey at a later date after being forced to return home due to the illness or death of a relative and still be covered.  This is sometimes included as a sub-limit within the trip cancellation benefit or, it may be under a benefit called "resumption of journey".   This will often include the cost of flights for you to return to the destination where your trip was disrupted. There are normally specific conditions surrounding this type of cover, including:

• You must have had no knowledge that such an incident might occur prior to your departure
• Your resumption expenses may be limited or must be pre-approved by your insurer
• You must resume your journey before your policy expires
• You may need to resume your journey within a certain time of returning to Australia.  Usually within 30 days.

Other Options

As mentioned, the majority of insurers would not cover family emergencies if the relative in question suffered from a pre-existing medical condition.  However, specialist insurer  AllClear  may cover you  provided that your relative’s doctor is prepared to state that at the date you booked your trip, he/she would have seen no substantial likelihood that his/her patient’s condition would deteriorate to such a degree that you would need to cancel or curtail your journey.  

Carolina Tran

Carolina has been working exclusively in the travel insurance industry for over two years. With a customer consultancy background and currently studying law, she is a fine-print wizard who loves helping travellers find a policy that actually works for them. Speaking two languages and having travelled all over the world, Carolina discovered that she is not cut out for working holidays after a stint on her grandparents’ southern Vietnam farm, and is definitely a lounge-by-the-pool kind of lady.

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Travel insurance & terrorism

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Does Travel Insurance Cover Death Of A Relative?

When a family member dies, there can be a lot of upheaval and disruption. A death in the family can be very difficult for travelers since they may have to cancel their trip, interrupt it and return home early, or abandon or adjust their travel plans.

Even changing a single plane ticket these days is often prohibitively expensive, and it is up to the airline representative’s judgment whether or not to waive the change price. The same can be said for cruises and trips that have already been paid for.

Many travelers, particularly those who have elderly parents or sick family members, wonder if travel insurance covers death in the family.

How travel insurance helps with family death

• Travel insurance will reimburse you for pre-paid trip fees if you have to cancel a covered vacation due to the sudden death of a family member.
• Travel insurance will repay you for any unused pre-paid charges incurred as a result of your change in travel plans if you have to interrupt your trip and return home due to a family death.

Important exceptions

It’s vital to highlight that there are a few key exclusions that tourists should be aware of. These are some of them:

• The family member must be a ‘covered’ family member, which is defined differently by each plan. A sister or brother-in-law, for example, may not be deemed a covered family member in some instances. In the definitions part of your travel insurance plan documents, you’ll discover a list of covered family members.
• Unless you choose a plan that covers pre-existing medical issues, the death must not have been caused by a pre-existing medical condition (even if you or a family member were unaware of it).
• Suicide and mental illness are not covered by travel insurance, therefore the death could not have been the result of either.

Many people are taken aback when they discover that their travel insurance policy does not cover the loss of best friends, close acquaintances, or even pets. This is because essential people and pets may not be considered family members under the terms of the travel insurance policy.

You’ll need ‘cancel for any reason’ coverage and you’ll have to cancel your trip within the time frame provided by that coverage to be able to make a claim on your travel insurance policy if someone who isn’t a family member as defined by the travel insurance plan paperwork dies (sometimes as early as two days prior to your trip).

Does travel insurance cover cancellation due to family funeral?

The answer, as you might imagine, is that it depends. Every travel insurance company and plan, like every traveler, is unique. However, there are certain similarities amongst travel insurance plans that can be used to answer this issue.

In this scenario, you can cancel and be reimbursed your trip costs

Yes, you will be protected if your travel insurance plan has trip cancellation coverage that includes the death of a family member as a covered reason for canceling your trip.

Caution! According to your strategy, you’ll need to know what qualifies a family member. Some plans just cover the husband and children, while others include in-laws, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and other relatives.

The Travelex Travel Select plan certificate defines ‘family member’ as follows:

In this scenario, you cannot cancel and be reimbursed your trip costs

No, you will not be covered for canceling your trip if the family member who died had a pre-existing medical condition and you did not acquire a travel insurance plan that covered pre-existing medical conditions. Travelers frequently get trapped in this trap since they only consider their own pre-existing ailments, not those of family members. Unless you obtained a pre-existing medical condition waiver with your plan, you won’t be able to cancel your trip if your uncle dies from an existing heart condition.

As previously said, no insurance policy can cover every eventuality – that is not the essence of insurance. In their explanation of coverage or plan certificate, every travel insurance company meticulously specifies out the covered causes for cancellation. The most important thing is to read the coverage.

In addition, some travel insurance policies cover the death of a host as a basis for cancellation.

Does travel insurance cover family?

The same as single-person medical, trip cancellation, and trip interruption insurance, travel insurance coverage under a family rate operates the same way. The main difference is that it’s a single insurance that covers everyone in your immediate family, including your parents and children.

Does travel insurance cover funeral expenses?

Yes, as indicated in your travel insurance plan’s medical evacuation coverage, repatriation is covered by travel insurance.

The return of an insured traveler’s body home if they die while on the road is known as repatriation. For further information, see our repatriation coverage review.

The basic truth is that repatriating a person’s body is a time-consuming and costly procedure. Local rules and regulations govern how the body is handled and moved, and there are frequently fees, embalming expenditures, container costs, and shipping costs to consider, not to mention the bureaucracy involved in transferring human remains.

Regardless of the situation, a travel insurance provider that can handle, arrange, and pay for the repatriation is a huge aid to the traveler’s family.

What kinds of travel insurance plans include repatriation?

This coverage is included in many types of travel insurance plans (both package plans and travel medical plans), however it’s crucial to note that repatriation is almost always bundled with the medical evacuation coverage of the travel insurance plan.

The repatriation will be coordinated, managed, and paid for by the travel insurance provider, not the traveler’s family. The travel insurance provider, on the other hand, will inform the traveler’s family of their plans and progress.

What’s not included with repatriation coverage?

Funeral, burial, and cremation costs are not covered by a travel insurance plan with repatriation coverage. It also excludes similar containers like urns and coffins. The legal transportation of the body in an approved container to a funeral home near the traveler’s residence is the subject of the travel insurance coverage.

In other words, the traveler’s body cannot be buried where they died because of their travel insurance policy; instead, it must be carried home.

What is not covered by travel insurance?

Baggage delay, damage, and loss plans do not cover all of your belongings. Glasses, hearing aids, dental bridges, tickets, passports, keys, cash, and cell phones are all common travel insurance exclusions. These things are sometimes covered, but only up to a particular cost limit, so if you have several expensive electronic items (such as a laptop, tablet, and mobile phone), you may not have enough coverage to cover the loss of all of them.

Can you cancel a holiday due to bereavement?

A consumer watchdog has warned that travel companies will have to fairly compensate consumers if they have to cancel their vacation due to illness or a death in the family.

Customers can be charged a cancellation fee to compensate for their losses, but the amount must be fair.

For example, if a vacation is canceled at the last minute, they may be able to defer the costs of reselling the booking.

However, some vacation companies withhold significant advance payments for cancellations or refuse to refund any money to customers, even if the company is able to recoup costs by reselling the vacation.

According to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), cancellation prices are frequently not made clear enough to consumers, who may not realize how much money they would lose if they cancel due to illness.

Up to 89 percent of the 2,000 persons polled by the CMA incorrectly assumed that if the operator was able to resell the holiday, they would be reimbursed in full.

Does travel insurance cover death repatriation?

Most travel insurance policies include repatriation insurance as a standard feature. There will usually be a section labeled ‘Key Features’ where you can view a list of situations in which a travel insurance company will support repatriation.

The high levels of coverage reflect the true expenses of repatriation, particularly from remote locales and places with high costs. If you require more coverage than what is offered as normal, you might look for a policy with larger limits.

Does travel insurance cover death of elderly parent?

If you have to cancel your vacation due to the death of a family member and meet all of the coverage criteria outlined in your policy, you will be reimbursed for non-refundable, pre-paid expenses including hotels and airfare. The Trip Interruption and Trip Delay benefits are also covered under this policy.

How does family travel insurance work?

A family travel insurance coverage normally covers one or two people who live at the same home, as well as at least one child aged 18 or under who permanently lives with you (up to a maximum of eight children).

Always read the insurance specifics carefully, regardless of how your family is made up. Some insurance may not cover youngsters accompanied by a non-family member or family members traveling separately. Also, see what the policy says about children who don’t reside with you on a permanent basis, such as stepchildren.

What does the travel insurance cover?

Medical crises, trip cancellation, trip interruption, delays, medical evacuation, and lost, damaged, or stolen luggage are all covered by most travel insurance plans.

What is repatriation of mortal remains?

If an insured person dies while abroad, the costs of collecting their body and transporting their remains back to their home country might be a significant financial hardship. The cost of returning a loved one’s mortal remains to their homeland can be too expensive. The assistance department of your travel insurance company will make the appropriate arrangements, provide guidance, and communicate with foreign national authorities to assist you in the event of such an unanticipated catastrophe. Travel insurance companies offer multilingual professionals who are well-versed in the repatriation process and can assist in the transport of a body back home.

Return of Mortal Remains / Repatriation coverage is included in most comprehensive travel health insurance plans.

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Travel insurance -death of a relative

JoB1977 · 14/03/2024 19:08

MIL died yesterday. We have a holiday booked for Easter hols. Really don’t want to go now as FIL needs us. However, after contacting travel insurance it seems that, as she has had inpatient treatment over the last 12 months, we can’t claim. She went in for a procedure. It wasn’t meant to kill her but things went wrong. This just seems really unfair. YABU - it’s in the terms and conditions (in stupidly small writing on page whatever of whatever) YANBU - how are you meant to properly weigh up the health risks of all family members (who aren’t even travelling with you!) before you ever book a holiday??

Am I being unreasonable?

102 votes. Final results.

Are you sure it's her having treatment it refers to? I used to work for travel insurance and usually they just asked if anything was expected to happen while you were away / had terminal diagnosis?

First of all, sorry for your loss. It seems unusual that the insurers are taking a pre-existing condition into account under these circumstances OP, the last time I bought travel insurance you were eligible to claim if you cancelled due to the death of a close relative. Assuming MIL wasn't due to travel with you, then I'd have expected you to be covered.

You are usually covered for death of a close relative but not if what they died from was a known pre-existing condition. So, for example someone who had had treatment for cancer and died - you wouldn't be covered even if they hadn't been expected to die. Someone healthy who had an unexpected event (heart attack, stroke etc) - you would be covered. This is how it was explained to me by my insurance company.

Complain to insurance company, they may review the case. Can any of the cost be reclaimed from the accommodation , travel etc even if just tax on flights. Insurers would expect you to try and provide evidence of costs.

Thank you. She had a triple heart bypass 19 years ago and a kidney transplant 10 years ago. She lived the best she could with these issues. Over the last year she was getting more breathless and had a couple of A and E admissions which led to one stent being put in in December and a further planned for this month. It was meant to be a straightforward procedure (as much as anything can be when you have more than one thing up with you and are in your 80s) but there was a complication and here we are. The policy says you can claim for cancellation if a close relative dies, but in the exemptions bit says about if they have had inpatient treatment or are awaiting tests when you booked the holiday. It’s just, when you think about it, how could you ever be sure you are covered, especially as you age and therefore the people you know age too? She wasn’t coming on the holiday so I was never asked about the medical conditions of everyone I loved. I suppose I’m fixating on this because I’m upset (I am lucky, I have amazing in-laws) and it seems unfair.

So was she actually having inpatient treatment or awaiting tests when you booked the holiday OP? If not, then I'd go back to the insurance company, but if so, then I'm afraid it was down to you to check before accepting that the policy was suitable. I know this won't be what you want to hear, and seems terribly unreasonable, but I guess we all risk this when we take out insurance and can't be arsed to read all the small print, which I'm actually the worst at, glazing over before I get half way through, so I always get my DH to read it too, just to be on the safe side. However, as a previous poster suggested, it might be worth checking whether you can get any money back on other parts of the holiday, such as hotels, etc.

I'm sorry for your loss. As a pp said, could you put an official complaint in writing. I do hate insurance companies, they seem to look at every single case as an exercise in how not to pay out.

So sorry for your loss. It may depend on whether you knew that she was having the procedure before you took out the insurance if this is in their terms and conditions. I would definitely follow this up. Alternatively, is there any chance that you can ask the tour operator or airline/hotel if they can help you. If they are not able to refund you, would they let you change the holiday dates to next year or provide you with vouchers to be used at a later date?

Was it in the key facts doc when you took out the policy?

It was insurance I have with the bank account so I hadn’t taken it out specifically for this trip but yes, I can’t deny it is written down. If this is a cautionary tale for anyone else then at least I will feel I achieved something! I suppose she was just someone who always had health things going on so it was never something that felt individually significant, until it was (obviously). Have contacted the travel agent to see if there is anything that can be done but yeah, that’s the situation. Hope no one else ends up in the same boat.

I learned insurance companies often decline (almost all) claims at first. Many people don't object.... Object to their reasoning, as you explained on here, that she didn't die from the condition she was in care for. Please try again.

I have started the process of a claim, but haven’t actually claimed yet. This is because in order to claim, and be declined, I have to cancel the holiday and send proof of cancellation. However this means if they then decline my claim I’ve lost the lot. I’m currently trying to sell the holiday instead. It’s a bugger. Yes, they are within their terms and conditions (which I’ve now read all 48 pages of).My issue is; I’m late 40s, my husband is 10 years older, my parents are in their 70s and my dad has Parkinson’s. Realistically; most people I love may well have an inpatient episode or be ‘awaiting tests’ within any 12 month period. By the terms and conditions; should I need to cut short or cancel a holiday due to death or serious illness I’m not covered for anyone I know. Is that a risk I’m willing to take??

These insurers are a bunch of dirty thieves IMO. Their policies are worded so that they can always wriggle out of paying. It's horrible. Like legalised fraud. Your MIL died yesterday, you ought to be well within your rights to claim for a holiday that's in a couple of weeks.

On her death certificate we were told it would be a combination of heart and kidney. She had A and E admissions for her heart ( hence the procedure, which was supposed to make it better) over the last 12 months). She also had a 10 year old kidney transplant which had regular monitoring. I know it sounds daft but on paper yes she was a medical nightmare but face to face you wouldn’t have thought ‘she’s ill’ and she didn’t present that way. I don’t know. I know insurance is a business but I never thought about this. I just thought that the cancellation clause would support us. ultimately we will be there for family but I’d rather do that without being out of pocket for over £2000 - perils of being a teacher and tied to school holidays I suppose…. I loved her. I don’t want to be worrying about this

Professionalnot · 15/03/2024 18:53

This is NOT true in the slightest. I have worked at many insurers and there is no incentive for claims teams to deny any claims. Products are also monitored by regulators and if claim denials are high there would definitely be investigations and fines. An insurer will monitor and investigate any products where the claim denials are below over 20% of claims made to ensure it isn't being misunderstood or missold. This rule does sound like a harsh one, but similarly insurance has to be based on providing cover for events that are unlikely or unexpected to happen. The risk is too likely to happen in the case of a relative considered to be seriously ill at the time of booking for them to be able to cover it. Ultimately they have to price a product at a price that allows a break even between money in and money out in their statistical modelling. (Before anyone starts on the money grabbing bastards angle the profit for most bulk insurance like this is generally only from interest earned in the delay between premiums in and claims out so insurance is run pretty much for cost price). I'm sorry OP I understand this is hard. Travel insurance attached to bank accounts is cheap insurance priced on low risks. For coverage on high risks like older relatives receiving treatment or health problems in those travelling you usually have to buy specialist high risk policies which are quite a bit more expensive to reflect the higher chances of claims.

In many cases, family members don’t share the details of their ailments - especially when they get to a certain age and have quite regular trips to the doctors/hospital/optometrist/hearing aid centre/chiropodist etc. or have dementia and can’t even remember who we are. My MIL wouldn’t tell my DH details of her health conditions (she’d be more likely to tell my SIL) and I don’t accompany him on visits as she lives close to his work and he pops in on his way home. So are we all expected to ask all family members to complete some kind of health questionnaire?! It’s ridiculous!

Not sure. They might only cover your DH.

Interestingly when I've bought travel insurance over the past few years, one of the initial questions asked is if family members have health issues & you are warned that the insurance cover won't be valid if you do. I think it was to do with hospital admissions & chronic illnesses but as it didn't apply to my family, I'm afraid I didn't pay attention to the precise questions asked.

It seems that we must have been lucky with our claim. DP's Father died a few years ago while we were on holiday. He had had a stroke several months previously, had dementia (albeit undiagnosed) and had recently moved into a care home. We came home as early as possible but were in Asia and getting back involved travel to a city with international flights, an overnight hotel and expensive long haul flights. We claimed for dp, myself and dp and our claim was agreed.

I bought travel insurance a few weeks ago and a clause of this nature was highlighted at the top. Never seen such a thing before so it seems they are either making people more aware or (more likely?) looking for more reasons to take our money but not pay out.

I have seen this often on travel insurance policies but then I am someone who likes to crawl the T&Cs so I know what I am covered for. My DM was diagnosed as having terminal cancer but she lived for years after that diagnosis and I did know I wasn't covered for cancellation if I tried to claim because of her death because it was a 'known' risk.

I think a policy you paid for would have been more generous. I’ve never relied on the free ones when going abroad for this reason. I am sorry though - last thing you need.

Thanks for the replies. I accept that they are legally correct I just think it’s morally shitty but they are a business and need to make money. Hope this thread might help someone else before they get into a similar situation.

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