What Are Travel Companions? Protecting Friends & Family With Travel Insurance
Trips are often best when shared with others. However, traveling with others can also come with its own unique stresses and challenges.
As you plan your group’s itinerary, travel arrangements, and accommodations, it’s also important to consider the potential risks that lay ahead, and how you can mitigate the impact they may have on your trip with travel insurance.
Follow along as we discuss how to purchase travel insurance for two or more people, whether you’re taking a romantic couples getaway, fun-filled family retreat, or a vacation with your closest friends.
What is a Travel Companion?
A “Travel Companion” is generally defined as someone you’re traveling with that’s listed on the same travel insurance policy. This can be a friend, relative, or significant other that shares the same travel arrangements.
Can I Add A Travel Companion to My Policy?
Yes, more often than not, travelers purchase insurance for more than just themselves. However, there are a few restrictions you may encounter when adding another traveler to your policy.
Due to state insurance regulations, some travel insurance companies require that all travel companions reside in the same state to be covered under one policy. If someone in your group lives in a different state or has separate travel plans, it may be best for them to purchase their own policy.
How to Add People to Your Travel Insurance Plan?
Adding travel companions to your plan is simple when done during the initial purchase. Most insurance providers allow you to include multiple travelers when getting initial quotes.
Because some travel insurance policies have age restrictions, you’ll be asked to provide the ages of all travelers in your group when requesting quotes. Providers will also use this information to determine premiums, as age plays a significant role in travel insurance pricing.
During the checkout process, you will be then asked to provide a few additional details about your group. Including their first name, last name, and date of birth. If you run into issues or have questions, you may contact your provider at any time.
Does Travel Insurance Get More Expensive When You Add Travel Companions?
Yes, the total cost of travel insurance usually goes up when you add more travelers to a policy. That’s because the premium is based on factors like each traveler’s age and the total trip cost. So, the more people you insure, the higher the overall price.
However, the cost per person typically remains the same whether you’re all on one policy or each person has their own. Buying a single policy for the whole group can still be more convenient, and sometimes more cost-effective, than purchasing separate plans. It can also make the claims process simpler if a trip disruption affects everyone in your group.
How Many Travel Companions Can I Add?
Most travel insurance policies let you cover up to 10 people on a single plan. This can be spouses, family, friends, or a combination of the three. If you plan on purchasing a policy for more than 10 travelers, you may be better off purchasing a group travel insurance plan. Group travel insurance is a type of policy that’s designed for groups of 10 or more travelers who are going on the same trip. These policies provide a simple, often cost-effective solution to protect larger parties.
Can I Add People to My Plan After Purchasing?
In some cases, it may be possible to add or remove travelers from your policy after you’ve paid for coverage. However, changes to your policy may result in premium increases or may impact your eligibility for time-sensitive benefits like Pre-Existing Conditions coverage or Cancel For Any Reason.
The best way to modify your policy by adding or removing travelers is to contact your travel insurance provider directly. The earlier you’re able to make changes to your plan, the better, as changes to coverage can be more complicated closer to your trip’s departure date.
In the event you’re unable to add travel companions to your plan, a separate policy may be needed for the additional traveler. The most important thing is that all travelers within your party are financially protected against the unexpected.