Last updated: . This update clarifies selected insurance terminology and plan-specific considerations; policies, eligibility, and terms vary, and the family’s earlier travel decisions are historical. Date information added October 28, 2026.
A family insurance-planning article first published July 18, 2024. The Beijing hospital reimbursement and our full-time travel and healthcare choices below are personal accounts from that period. The old comparison table is retained as archival material, with current provider and consumer-information links for checking today’s policies. Eligibility and coverage depend on the exact plan, residence, travelers, and trip.
Travel insurance is one part of trip planning, alongside any health coverage you already have and the costs or disruptions you want to prepare for. The policies described in this article have terms, limits, exclusions, and eligibility rules that differ.
Insurance needs depend on the traveler, trip, existing coverage, and the policy terms. Check whether current health coverage applies abroad and review any separate medical evacuation or repatriation benefits, exclusions, limits, and eligibility before relying on a plan.
Insurance cost depends on trip details, traveler, destination, residence, and selected benefits. I’m not a big fan of insurance in general, but we have kept plans in place for some worst-case items. We tend to be fairly healthy and visit the doctor rarely, but serious medical events can be expensive. We’ve paid out of pocket for many items abroad and found some were similar to or less than our U.S. deductible or out-of-pocket expense; that is our family’s experience, not a general comparison of medical costs. Accidents can happen anywhere, and a long ICU stay can add up.
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Whether travel insurance is useful depends on your existing coverage, trip, and risk tolerance. Our family has had unexpected accidents and an emergency-room stay in Beijing; the experience is described below as our own, and it does not guarantee how another policy or claim will work.
This article was first published July 18, 2024. The comparison and table below are retained from the original article; their figures and descriptions have not been independently verified for that date or for current policies. Treat them as an archived comparison, not a current quote or recommendation. Product availability, premiums, eligibility, benefits, and exclusions vary by policy and residence.
The providers and products differ, and none should be assumed to fit every family. Check the policy wording and current quote for the travelers, destination, dates, health circumstances, planned activities, and coverage you need.
Grab your favorite travel mug, fill it with your beverage of choice (no judgment here! I’m a big Swig fan when I’m home in Utah), and let’s look at insurance questions to consider. We had traveled to 49 countries with our kids by the time this article was first published; that milestone is our family’s history. We were traveling with five kids, so we always had to check how family and child coverage worked for our group.
Picture this: You’re all set for your epic family getaway, and BAM! Life throws you a curveball. One of ours was when we invited many of our StroudInc contractors to Beijing, China to explore with us for a few days. As we traveled to the Great Wall, one of our dear kiddos started to have some serious diarrhea. Trust me when I say this: tummy troubles are NOT fun when you have Chinese bathrooms to deal with.
As the day progressed, he got worse and worse. At 4 am, we knew he had to go to the ER as he was practically unresponsive. I’ll never forget running around the quiet streets of Beijing, Google Maps in hand, trying to find an ER. A sweet taxi driver took pity on us and drove us around the block to the entrance we couldn’t find in all our worry and stress. Thankfully, two nights in the hospital, some meds, and IV fluids later, all was well! However, we did use our travel insurance (and a Chinese-speaking friend to translate docs) to get reimbursed for this stay.
Unexpected illness, injury, cancellations, baggage problems, activity exclusions, or delays may or may not qualify for benefits under a particular policy. Check the current wording rather than assuming a cost or event is covered.
When comparing a policy, look for its exact terms on these possible benefit categories:
The sections below retain historical comparison details. Current policy terms control any coverage decision.
Families considering extended travel should compare travel-medical policies with any broader health coverage they may need. Eligibility, home-country rules, maximum trip or policy duration, renewal, and available benefits differ; check the current documents for the exact product and residence.
When we left in 2018 for full-time travel, our family used a U.S. healthcare arrangement. We had to start over on some pre-existing-condition matters from previous accidents, which was acceptable for us. We chose Zion’s Healthshare and liked our experience. Zion HealthShare describes itself as a medical cost-sharing community, not insurance; those arrangements have different rules from an insurance policy. In the 2024 article, I described returning for procedures, including a tonsil removal the prior year, keeping well-child visits on the U.S. vaccination schedule, and seeing our doctors during U.S. summer visits. These are our family’s past choices, not advice or a statement about current eligibility or benefits. We also had health care options in Portugal, so returning to familiar U.S. doctors was a source of comfort for us rather than our only care option.
Ongoing health needs can affect travel planning, especially when care, medication, or follow-up is needed. Talk with your healthcare team and prospective insurers about your needs, local care, prescriptions, and exclusions before making plans. We have also had international health insurance in Portugal; that describes our family’s experience, not a promise that a visitor can qualify or use a friend’s address.
If you are comparing options for extended travel, check whether the product is travel medical coverage or broader health insurance, whether it covers your country of residence, and its current renewal and maximum-duration rules. Some older plans in this post were described as monthly or limited-term; do not assume those terms still apply.
Archived comparison of TravelEx, SafetyWing, and World Nomads. This table is preserved as it appeared in the article first published July 18, 2024. Its figures and descriptions are not independently verified as of that publication date or today; use current policy wording and quotes for decisions.
Current review links: Travelex family plan details (read current child-pricing conditions and policy); SafetyWing plan FAQ (plan type, eligibility, and coverage differ); World Nomads policy documents (products change and coverage varies by residence); and the NAIC travel-insurance consumer overview (U.S. consumer guidance on policy types and common exclusions). These sources do not establish that a policy is available or suitable for every reader. Compare the policy wording and current quote for your residence, trip, travelers, health needs, and activities. This article is informational, not insurance or financial advice.
| Feature | TravelEx | SafetyWing | World Nomads |
| Product | Family Travel Insurance | Nomad Health Insurance | Travel Insurance for Adventure |
| Geographic Coverage | All countries except specific exclusions (e.g., Crimea, Iran, North Korea) | 175+ countries | Africa, Asia, Europe, and the U.S. |
| Child Coverage | Included under 17 at no additional cost | Up to 2 children under 10 per family free | Children included in family plan |
| Pricing (Estimates) | Variable; flat rate from $60 for Travel America Plan (14 days or less) | From $82/month for ages 0-17, $199/month for ages 40-49 (You can sign up for automatic coverage extensions every 4 weeks until you cancel or for a maximum of 364 days, like a subscription.) | From $2,334.28 for 6 months |
| Medical Coverage | Emergency medical protection | Full-fledged health insurance | Overseas medical care, Medevac |
| Trip Cancellation/Delay | Yes | No | Yes |
| Adventure Activity Coverage | No | Limited | Covers 150+ activities |
| Gear/Electronics Coverage | No | Limited | Up to $3,000 |
| Rental Car Damage | No | No | Yes (Explorer Plan) |
| Pregnancy Complications | No | Yes | Yes (not birth) |
| Emergency Dental | No | Yes | Yes |
| Age Limits | None specified | Covers up to age 69 | None specified |
| Ease of Claims | Standard | Easy online submission | Online claims submission |
| Policy Duration | Variable | Monthly | Up to 180 days |
| Trip Cancellation Coverage | Yes | No | Yes |
| Deductible Options | Not specified | Yes | Not specified |
The table above is retained from the original article comparison and is not a current policy summary. For a current decision, compare the actual policy document, certificate, and quote for each eligible traveler and trip.
For TravelEx , start with the current plan documents and a quote for your residence, travelers, dates, destination, and trip cost. Travelex’s family page describes children-included pricing on its Ultimate plan subject to conditions; it is not a blanket benefit on every plan.
SafetyWing distinguishes its Essential travel-medical plan from its Complete global-health plan. These are different products with different eligibility and benefits; travel medical coverage should not be assumed to replace broader health insurance.
World Nomads says its products change over time and coverage varies by country of residence. Obtain the current policy wording and quote for your residence before deciding whether it fits your family.
We also updated our estate documents, including medical powers of attorney. We had tackled that before this article was first published, and I’m grateful we did.
Review the policy documents and confirm any questions directly with the insurer or licensed agent before purchase.
Safe travels!
Xoxo, Leslie
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