Do you know what your family holiday insurance actually covers? Before you get your next policy, make sure you know exactly what you will be covered for if you do have cause to get in touch and make a claim.

Unexpected medical expenses

The last thing you want to have cause to claim for when you’re enjoying your break is medical expenses. However, many travellers unfortunately find themselves ill or injured in some way and in need of medical treatment abroad. In some countries, such as America for example, this can be hugely expensive. A good family holiday insurance policy will pay out if any member of your party is ill or injured, providing it is not a pre-existing condition that requires treatment. If you do have such a condition it should always be declared prior to taking out a policy.

Specific cancellations or curtailments

No one wants to have a reason to cut their vacation short, much less to have to cancel altogether. However you should find a policy that covers instances where you can be reimbursed if you should have to do this. Family holiday insurance will have plenty of small print that details which specific conditions are relevant in this situation; make sure you read them all prior to agreeing to your policy, so you know what is covered and what is not.

Coverage if your luggage is lost or stolen

Regardless of where you are going or how you are aiming to get there, there is always a possibility your luggage will go missing or that you will be the victim of a crime of theft. If you should lose your luggage or have it stolen from you, a good policy will cover the costs of replacing it. There will normally be an upper limit on this, so check the fine print before you take out a policy. Furthermore, you might find individual items have a set limit on them as well. This more often applies to valuable items such as laptops and so on, so consider this in relation to your own possessions.

As you can see there are lots of things that can be adequately covered if you get appropriate cover for the entire family for the duration of your travel, whether it's a single trip policy or an annual one. Take care to read the terms and conditions in place for every policy so you know where you stand and what the limits are in each case. If you do this you will ensure you get the appropriate family holiday insurance policy to provide you with peace of mind before and during your holiday – wherever in the world you might be going.