What Are The Best Couple Travel Insurances?
Wheter you are without children or you’d like to enjoy your retirement leaving for a romantic trip with your wife, husband or partner?
Being covered while travelling abroad with your partner is essential, especially if something goes wrong (injury, baggage lost, trip cancelled etc.)
Hence, you may be wondering where you could get the best couple travel insurance?
You’ve come at the right place!
In the below article, we will tell you everything you need to know about couple travel insurance: which cover you should go for, insurers, prices, contacts and tips.
Stay tuned!
What is couple travel insurance?
Finding a good comprehensive travel insurance, although not compulsory, is vital if you are planning to travel with your wife, husband or partner. However, buying a single trip travel insurance for both of you might quickly be prohibitive and not very efficient. This is why you should definitely get a more budget-friendly couple travel insurance.
Couple travel insurance, also known as joint travel insurance, cover you and your partner for any unexpected costs you may have to face abroad (trip cancellation, medical expenses, repatriation, baggage lost or damaged, trip dalyaed or missed departure etc.).
Most insurers will ask you, to qualify for a couple or a joint holiday insurance, to:
- be two adults aged of 18 or above
- prove a relationship status or that you live under the same roof.
Note that if one of you suffer from pre-existing medical conditions, it might be more affordable to apply for two single trip travel insurance rather than an alternative couple policy.
Why do I need couple travel insurance?
A comprehensive couple travel insurance covers you in the event of a mishap encountered anywhere abroad. In fact, you, or your partner, are not immune to an accident or illness that could go so far as to justify your repatriation to UK. There are many examples: infections, transport accidents, loss or theft of luggage.
Did you know that a survey conducted by Which in 2018 showed that of about 10000 UK travellers of all age ranges, 64% had medical treatment while they were travelling abroad? Today the average medical claim abroad is £1300 according to comparethemarket when you can find annual couple travel insurance starting at a few pounds per day.
Just to show you how important applying for travel insurance is, here are a few examples of what an unfortunate and unexpected event might cost you during an example holiday:
How much will you have to pay | Without travel insurance nor EHIC (e.g. trip to USA) | Without travel insurance but with EHIC | With travel insurance |
---|---|---|---|
My travelling companion needs to be hospitalized abroad | £37 0000 | £0 in public hospitals only | £0 until medical limit is reached |
My spouse needs to be repatriated to the UK for emergency medical reasons | £29 000 | £29 000 | £0 most often real fees |
We need to cancel our romantic trip for medical reasons | £10000 | £10000 | £0 until trip cancellation / interruption limit is reached |
My baggage has been damaged during transit | £900 | £900 | £0 until personal belongings limit is reached |
Good to know
Applying for couple holiday insurance will prevent you from having to face any unexpected and significant expenses for you or your travel partners as described above.
The European Health Insurance Card for couple holidays
Always remember that while travelling in Europe, your first ally is your European Health Insurance Card. Your EHIC will cover for any treatment you may need abroad, including any treatment linked to a pre-existing medical condition as any local national would be covered.
The EHIC is individual and you must get one (free-of-charge) for you and your partner if travelling in Europe together.
What is covered by EHIC? | What is not covered by EHIC |
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|
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Good to know
Remember that your EHIC will only cover you until 31/12/2020, the time of Brexit. Make sure you have both EHIC and travel insurance before travelling. Many insurers will ask you to get your EHIC if travelling in Europe, and would waive the excess if you have a valid card with you.
Compare best couple travel insurances
Finding good and cheap travel insurance for couple is always a challenge. To make you save time and money, we've come up with a selection of insurers you could apply for your eyes closed:
Travel insurer | Travel insurance price | Our reviews | See insurer offer |
---|---|---|---|
£12,91 |
| Get quote | |
£14,63 |
| Get quote | |
£12,01 |
| At source |
*Quotes above are for a 30 years couple going for a 7 days trip to Europe.
Even better, use our comparison tool to find the best deal for you! At Safe, we’ve checked out hundreds of travel insurance providers and we are now able to allow you to compare dozens of holiday insurance deals in only a few seconds without giving any personal details.
Should I choose single trip or annual couple travel insurance?
There is no straight answer to this question. The best way to find out is to get both single and annual couple travel insurance quotes and to make up your own mind.
If you are going away for a romantic trip with your partner once or twice a year, applying for a single trip couple travel insurance policy for the two of you might be the best option in terms of value for money.
However, if you are planning regular trips during the year because you have extra miles and would like to take advantage of this time for the two of you, then you might rather go for annual couple travel insurance.
Applying for annual couple travel insurance might give you access to more benefits during the year for example you can be covered if you are travelling separately. You could also get extra discounts for couples.
As a reminder:
Travel insurance type | Explanation |
---|---|
Single trip couple travel insurance | These travel insurance policies are for one-off holidays. You will be covered from the start of the journey until the end. You can decide the number of days you want to be covered for. There is usually a limit of both a maximum number of days days you can travel per trip as well as an upper age limit. |
Annual multi-trip couple insurance | These policies are made for frequent travellers going away for couple holidays several times a year. You would need to check whether it is more competitive to buy two or three single trip insurance policies or an annual multi-trip policy. |
Watch out!
Always remember to check limits and excess amounts, maximum number of days per trip and exclusions in an insurer’s policy terms and conditions booklet.
What should your couple travel insurance cover?
Each couple travel insurance policy is different, since it is the insurer who determines the content of the contracts it offers: guarantees, compensation limits, deductibles, travel insurance prices, etc.
However, all couple travel insurance contracts must include at least the following guarantees, applicable in Europe or worldwide, for all individuals mentioned on the policy:
- Medical expenses: compensation of any medical expenses during your couple stay (consultation, analysis, emergency treatment, longer hospital stay, etc.)
- Repatriation assistance to the UK: financial and logistical support by a dedicated 24/7 team for your early return to your country of residence if necessary
- Trip cancellation and cover for delayed or missed departure: compensation if you need to cancel your trip for whatever reason or if you missed your departure
- Personal liability: compensation for any damage or injury made to a third party
- Baggage: compensation for any lost or theft of baggage while travelling
Most of the time, travel insurers offer different formulas. Cover types involved are usually the same but the compensation limits and deductibles vary.
When applying for holiday insurance for couple, you should pay close attention to:
Compensation | Average amount | Good to check |
---|---|---|
Medical expenses compensation amount | From £5M to £10M (depending on your medical situation and your destination) |
|
Repatriation compensation amount | Real fees |
|
Trip cancellation / curtailment | £10 000 (depending on your destination) |
|
Baggage | Minimum of £1500 limit |
|
Missed departure, delay | Minimum £500 limit (minimum £200 limit for delay) |
|
Personal liability | Average £2M limit |
|
Legal expenses | Average £15000 limit |
|
What are the should-have features for your couple travel insurance?
Maybe you would also like to be covered with nice-to-have protection add-ons while travelling. Here are some examples below:
Compensation | Average amount | What you should particularly pay attention to |
---|---|---|
Money and cash | Minimum £500 for money (pre-paid tickets, travellers cheque etc.) Minimum £200 for cash |
|
Dental emergency | Minimum £250 |
|
Loss of passport or documentation | Minimum £250 |
|
What are the extras you may choose for couple holiday insurance?
Extras | |
---|---|
Sports cover | Extra cover for activities such as winter sports. |
Gadget cover | Extra cover for smartphones, laptops, cameras, GoPro that you may have to record your couple holidays. |
Cruise gear cover | Extra cover for your couple cruise gear travel. |
Additional trip cancellation cover for couple | Higher compensation limit if you need to cancel your couple trip because of medical reasons, bereavement etc. |
Additional personal belongings cover for couple | Higher compensation limit to safely protect all your couple belongings. |
Can I buy worldwide or europe couple travel insurance?
After you’ve made your choice between single or annual joint travel insurance, you will also need to indicate the destination you’d like to reach for your romantic holidays. Usually, insurers split destinations between 4 main groups:
- Europe
- Wolrdwide excluding the USA, Canada, Caribbean and Mexico
- Worldwide
- Australia and New-Zealand
Note that applying for USA couple travel insurance from UK will of course cost you more than a romantic european trip. Flights are more expensive, healthcare costs out there are prohibitive. Insurers will therefore make you pay higher to provide you with the same level of cover than in Europe.
What are the benefits of couple holiday insurance?
Adding two names to the same insurance contract allows you to benefit from certain advantages. First of all, you will have the possibility of having only one policy for both of you, and therefore one contact, one renewal date for all your trips (if you apply for annual couple holiday insurance).
But you can also take advantage of:
- the possibility to be covered whilst travelling individually
- couple discounts
- higher compensation amounts for same deductibles to be paid.
Does travel insurance for couple cover individuals travelling alone?
If you applied for an annual couple travel insurance, you may ask yourself the question: am I covered if I travel alone, without my partner? That can be useful if you are for example visiting family abroad several times a year and you can’t always go together at the same time.
This only applies to annual couple travel insurance and may vary from one insurer to another. Carefully check before getting quote.
How much is couple travel insurance?
The table below shows indicative quotes for couple applying for travel insurance policies:
Age range | Single trip USA - 7 days* | Single trip Europe - 7 days* | Annual multi-trip Europe |
---|---|---|---|
Couple of 30 years old | £41,12 | £12,47 | £55,37 |
Couple of 60 years old | £51,41 | £15,58 | £57,41 |
It is, however, quite difficult to give precise ranges of how much a travel insurance will cost for you as prices are based on a wide range of criteria. It will mainly depend on:
- If you’re going for a single or annual multi-trips as mentioned above
- If you’re subscribing to upgrades such as cruise, activities or gadget cover
- If one of the travellers have pre-existing medical conditions
- The duration and destination of your stay
- The financial limits you’d like to get in case of a claim
- The excess amount you’re willing to pay
- What you will be doing abroad.
What about pre-existing medical conditions for couple travel insurances?
As well as for any other type of travel insurance, you are required by law to declare any pre-existing medical condition of a named travellers when purchasing travel insurance.
Watch out!
Not disclosing medical condition could invalidate future claims as well as your entire travel insurance policy.
Get to know more on travel insurance and pre-existing medical condition here.
A pre-existing medical condition is typically one for which you have been diagnosed and have received treatment before you apply for any travel insurance policy, regardless of whether this is short- or long-term. Here is a list of most common pre-existing medical conditions you may also need to declare:
- Diabetes (with insulin injections)
- Heart-related conditions (stroke, cardiomyopathy, etc.)
- Any respiratory illness (lung problems, asthma)
- Blood-circulatory conditions (high-blood pressure, high cholesterol)
- Any mental or physical disability (depression, etc.)
- Any neurological problem (e.g. Alzheimer’s)
- Any treatment related to cancer care
- HIV
- Any allergies
- Crohn’s disease
- Hernia conditions, etc.
The exact definition of what counts as a pre-existing medical condition and what needs medical screening may vary from one insurer to another. Carefully check our reviews as well as insurers’ policy booklets to be sure your medical condition is well covered.
Watch out!
Note that, in case of chronicle disease, any named travellers on the holiday insurance must travel with GP consent.
What does couple travel insurance not cover?
Most travel insurers will not give financial compensation for:
- Any claim made as a result of a pre-existing medical condition or pending diagnosis undeclared at the time of purchase
- Any claim made as a result of being under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Difficulties due to natural disaster, war, civil unrest (look out for strikes)
- Any claim made as a result of a terrorist act (except if you took out this cover as an option)
- Any claim made as a result of extreme sport practice not disclosed at the time of applying.
Watch out!
We would strongly advise you to carefully check your policy booklet for the main exclusions before leaving home with your partner.
What else should you pay attention to while shopping around for couple travel insurance?
While shopping around for holiday insurance for couple, always pay attention to:
- The upper age limit of the policy you applied for.
- The compensation amount you will get in case of a claim (especially for medical expenses, trip cancellation, personal liability, baggage and personal belongings).
- The deductible amounts you’ll have to pay in case of a claim (don’t forget that you need to pay the excess on each claim).
- The exclusions you may have in your policy (sports, strike, cancellation trip due to carrier default, etc.).
- Coverage included in policies or available as upgrades (winter sports, business trip, etc.).
- The claim process (100% online? How many days do you have to make a claim?).
- The maximum duration of each trip included as standard (at least 31 days).
Watch out!
Never forget to disclose any pre-existing medical condition you may have to your insurer before leaving.