Traveling as a family or couple changes the insurance equation. More people means more risk exposure, but family plans can offer significant savings over individual policies. Children have specific coverage needs, and pregnancy adds complexity most nomads don't consider.
This guide covers insurance strategies for couples and families living the nomad lifestyle.
This article is part of our complete digital nomad travel insurance guide.
Individual vs Family Plans
Cost Comparison
| Scenario | Individual Policies | Family Plan | Savings | |----------|--------------------| ------------|---------| | Couple (both age 30) | $96/month ($48 × 2) | $80-90/month | ~15% | | Family (2 adults + 1 child) | $144/month | $90-110/month | ~30% | | Family (2 adults + 2 children) | $192/month | $100-120/month | ~40% |
Key insight: Family plans offer substantial savings, especially for larger families.
SafetyWing Family Pricing
SafetyWing offers some of the best family value:
- Children under 10: Free when traveling with insured parent
- Additional adults: Discounted family rate
- Subscription model: Same flexibility as individual
Example family (2 adults age 32, 2 children ages 6 and 8):
- Individual pricing: 2 × $48 = $96/month (children free)
- Same coverage, significant savings over competitors
World Nomads Family Pricing
World Nomads covers families under single policies:
- Per-person pricing but discounts for multiple travelers
- Children age limits: Usually 0-17
- Family maximum: Typically 8-10 travelers per policy
Example quote (2 adults, 2 children, 30 days, US residents):
- Standard plan: ~$250-350 total
- Explorer plan: ~$400-500 total
Insured Nomads Family Options
Insured Nomads offers family plans with:
- Dependent coverage under primary insured
- Children rates significantly lower than adult
- Telehealth for the whole family
Child-Specific Coverage Considerations
Coverage Differences for Children
| Consideration | Impact | |--------------|--------| | Medical coverage | Same limits as adults | | Vaccinations | Typically not covered | | Pediatric specialists | May need direct payment + reimbursement | | School accidents | Covered same as other accidents | | Babysitter scenarios | Coverage continues without parent present |
Age Limits and Categories
Most policies use age brackets:
| Age Category | Typical Coverage | |--------------|-----------------| | 0-10 | Often free with parent (SafetyWing) | | 10-17 | Child rates (lower premium) | | 18+ | Adult rates |
Vaccination and Preventive Care
Travel insurance doesn't cover:
- Routine vaccinations
- Well-child visits
- Preventive screenings
Consider:
- Getting vaccinations before departure
- International health insurance if preventive care needed regularly
- Local healthcare for routine needs (often affordable)
International Schools and Activities
If children attend school abroad:
- School accidents: Generally covered under medical
- Sports activities: Check exclusions for specific sports
- Field trips: Coverage extends to normal activities
Pregnancy and Travel Insurance
Coverage Limitations
Most travel insurance has significant pregnancy restrictions:
| Stage | Typical Coverage | |-------|-----------------| | First trimester | Usually covered for complications | | Second trimester (up to 26 weeks) | Usually covered for complications | | After 26 weeks | Often excluded entirely | | Planned childbirth | Never covered | | Newborn (immediate) | May not be covered |
What's Covered
- Pregnancy complications before cutoff (usually 26 weeks)
- Emergency care for pregnancy-related issues
- Miscarriage requiring medical treatment
What's NOT Covered
- Routine prenatal care
- Planned delivery (anywhere)
- Delivery complications if beyond gestational limit
- Immediate newborn care (policy may not cover new person)
If You're Pregnant and Nomading
Before traveling:
- Verify exact gestational limits in your policy
- Understand what "pregnancy complications" means to your insurer
- Research healthcare quality at destinations
- Have a plan for delivery (where, who will cover costs)
Recommendations:
- Consider staying put after 26-28 weeks
- Have savings for delivery costs (can be significant)
- Research local insurance options in country of delivery
- Consider short-term international health insurance with maternity coverage
Newborn Coverage
The Coverage Gap
Your policy covers you, not your unborn child. When the baby is born:
- Baby is a new person not covered by your policy
- Must be added to policy or enrolled separately
- May have waiting periods before coverage starts
Adding a Newborn
SafetyWing:
- Newborns can be added immediately
- Coverage begins from date added
- Children under 10 free with insured parent
World Nomads:
- Contact to add newborn to existing policy
- May need new policy depending on remaining duration
Insured Nomads:
- Newborns can be added as dependents
- Contact customer service for process
Recommendations for Expecting Nomads
- Plan birth location with healthcare and coverage in mind
- Budget for delivery as out-of-pocket expense
- Add baby to policy immediately after birth
- Have local insurance or cash reserves for immediate newborn care
Couples Coverage Strategies
Option 1: Separate Individual Policies
Pros:
- Complete flexibility
- Each person manages own coverage
- Can have different coverage levels if needed
Cons:
- Higher total cost
- More policies to track
Option 2: Couple/Family Policy
Pros:
- Cost savings (10-20% for couples)
- Single policy to manage
- Easier claims if both involved in incident
Cons:
- Must stay together (geographically)
- Same coverage for both
When Separate Makes Sense
- Different travel patterns (not always together)
- Different risk profiles (one does extreme sports)
- One needs higher coverage (pre-existing condition)
When Combined Makes Sense
- Travel together constantly
- Similar risk profiles
- Budget optimization priority
Trip Cancellation for Family Emergencies
What's Typically Covered
Trip cancellation/interruption for:
- Family member illness or death (check definition of "family")
- Your own illness preventing travel
- Family emergency at home requiring your presence
Family Member Definitions
Policies define "family" differently. Typical coverage:
| Relationship | Usually Covered? | |--------------|-----------------| | Spouse/Partner | Yes | | Children | Yes | | Parents | Yes | | Siblings | Usually | | In-laws | Often | | Grandparents | Sometimes | | Aunts/Uncles | Rarely | | Friends | No |
Always verify: Check your specific policy's family definition.
Documentation Required
To claim family emergency cancellation:
- Death certificate (for death)
- Doctor's statement (for illness)
- Proof of relationship
- Original booking confirmations
Worldschooling and Long-Term Family Travel
Special Considerations
Families on extended travel (worldschooling) need:
Medical continuity:
- Vaccinations on schedule
- Growth monitoring
- Dental checkups
Educational considerations:
- No insurance coverage for education
- Plan for healthcare access at each location
Coverage Recommendations for Worldschooling Families
Budget-conscious: SafetyWing family plan
- Children under 10 free
- Subscription model works for indefinite travel
- Basic but adequate coverage
Comprehensive: Insured Nomads family plans
- Higher limits
- Telehealth for minor issues
- Better peace of mind
Full healthcare: International health insurance
- Routine care covered
- Preventive visits included
- Higher cost but comprehensive
Cost Optimization Strategies
Maximize Family Savings
- Use providers with free child coverage (SafetyWing for under-10s)
- Buy family/group policies vs individual
- Consider annual vs monthly (savings for committed families)
- Bundle trip insurance with ongoing medical coverage
Sample Family Budgets
Budget family (2 adults, 2 children under 10): | Option | Monthly Cost | |--------|--------------| | SafetyWing | ~$100-120 | | Children | Free | | Total | ~$100-120 |
Comprehensive family (2 adults, 2 children): | Option | Monthly Cost | |--------|--------------| | Insured Nomads | ~$250-350 | | Children | ~$50-80 each | | Total | ~$300-450 |
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Guides
- Complete Digital Nomad Travel Insurance Guide
- SafetyWing Review 2026
- Best Budget Travel Insurance Under $100/Month
- International Health Insurance vs Travel Insurance
- SafetyWing vs World Nomads vs Insured Nomads
Traveling as a family doesn't have to mean expensive insurance. Family plans offer significant savings, especially for larger families. Understand the specific considerations—pregnancy limitations, newborn gaps, child-specific needs—and choose coverage that protects everyone appropriately.
For most nomad families, SafetyWing's family pricing (free children under 10) combined with their subscription flexibility makes them the best value choice. Families with greater healthcare needs or wanting comprehensive coverage should consider family plans from Insured Nomads or international health insurance.
The most important thing is having coverage that protects everyone. Family travel is incredible—make sure everyone is protected so you can focus on the adventure.
