Travel insurance and death in the family

Key Takeaways

• Most travel insurance policies will cover you if the death of a family member affects your travel plans

• However, you might not be able to claim if the deceased family member had a pre-existing medical condition

• It’s important to take out cover as soon as you book your holiday for peace of mind that you’ll be financially protected in an emergency situation

Does travel insurance cover cancellation due to family bereavement or illness?

Fortunately most travel insurance policies offer cancellation cover as standard, so you’ll be financially protected if the unthinkable should happen. These policies are designed to give you a safety net if your travel plans are affected by things that are out of your control - such as a death in the family, as well as other situations including illness or injury or things like jury duty.

If you find yourself in unfortunate circumstances that mean you need to cancel your travel plans, check the details of your policy to see exactly what’s covered.

It should refer to the death or serious illness of someone, usually a close relative, close business colleague or someone you were travelling with. It may also cover the death of someone you were planning to stay with while abroad.

When would a death in the family not be covered by travel insurance?

Unfortunately there may be circumstances outlined in your travel insurance policy that your provider won’t cover - usually these are:

• Pre-existing conditions or circumstances: You likely won’t be able to claim if a family member passes away from a medical condition or other circumstances that you were aware of when you booked your trip

• How close a relative they were: The definition of close relative can vary between providers, with some including extended family like aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins and others not

• Suicide: Most policies are unlikely to cover a bereavement that results from suicide

Who is considered a family member?

Immediate family such as siblings, children, parents and partners with whom you’ve lived for more than six months will all be included as standard. However, where policies are likely to vary is when it comes to:

• Extended family like aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews

• In-laws

• You’ll also find that pets and close friends are unlikely to be included in these policies.

What if a bereavement happens while I’m abroad?

If you’re already away on holiday when a family member passes away, you should still be covered for certain costs related to ending your trip early. These include non-recoverable travel and accommodation costs, as well as the cost of any activities and excursions you’ve booked, and the cost of making new travel arrangements to get home early.

Remember you’ll need to keep receipts and tickets for your insurer, while you’ll also likely need to show a death certificate. Remember to keep your insurer informed from the start - they may even want to make your travel arrangements on your behalf.

If a family member dies on holiday with you...

If one of your family members passes away on holiday with you, your travel insurance policy may be able to cover you for the cost of repatriation. It will usually pay out for bringing home the body of the deceased, as well as contributing towards funeral expenses up to a set amount.

Will pre-existing conditions be covered?

It’s unlikely you’ll be able to claim on your travel insurance policy if a family member passes away from a pre-existing condition you were aware of before taking out cover. You won’t need to declare the pre-existing medical conditions of anyone not travelling on your policy.

Will terminal illnesses be covered?

The disruption of your holiday plans due to a non-traveling family member's terminal illness may also be covered, unless it is related to a pre-existing condition that was not declared.

What happens if I pass away while travelling?

If you die while on holiday, your family will need to contact the British embassy or consulate of the country you were in, as well as contacting your insurance provider as soon as possible. Your insurer will usually have a 24/7 helpline for your family to contact - and your policy can cover the cost of repatriation and any potential legal fees involved.

Compare travel insurance quotes

Finding affordable cover for your holiday is quick and easy when you compare travel insurance with MoneySuperMarket. Just tell us a little about yourself and your holiday plans, including who’s travelling and where you’re going, and we’ll search the market for a list of quotes tailored to your requirements.