Group travel insurance

A group travel insurance policy works in exactly the same way as an individual policy, apart from the fact that it covers a group of people, rather than just one person...

Policies can cover all kinds of groups: families, friends that are travelling together, clubs…

But as with all insurance policies, it's important to read the terms and conditions before buying to see exactly what is covered – and what is not.

If you are over 65, for example, you may have to take out a specialist policy. Similarly, if anyone in the group suffers from a pre-existing medical condition, a specialist policy may be required. (It is essential to let your insurer know about any pre-existing conditions, as not declaring them could invalidate the policy.

Other things to look out for include what happens if you take out a family policy and your children go away with relatives, for example. Some insurers will cover them subject to certain conditions, so it is worth checking before forking out for a separate policy.

It's also important to find out whether the adults on a family annual policy are covered to travel separately, as well as how much excess the policy requires you to pay towards a claim.

Some group travel insurance providers charge an excess for each member of the party, which could end up costing more than your claim.

You will also have to decide whether to opt for a European or worldwide policy. While it may sound obvious, check that the country you are travelling to is actually covered. Some insurers don't consider Turkey, for example, to be within Europe, meaning you would have to buy their worldwide policy to cover trips there.

Do not skimp on ensuring you are getting the best protection. Here are the levels of cover we recommend...

It's really important that you get a comprehensive level of cover. There are plenty of cheap insurance policies out there, but there is little point buying one of these if it will let you down when you need to put a claim in. We recommend that you look for a policy with at least the following levels of cover per person:

• £2million for medical expenses (medical expenses abroad and emergency repatriation can run into hundreds of thousands of pounds so it is essential you have a high level of protection in place)
• £1million personal liability
• Cancellation cover that will at least cover the cost of your trip and any scheduled activities
• £1,500 baggage (or enough to cover the cost of replacing all your possessions)
• £250 cash
• Policy excess under £100
• Cover for scheduled airline failure or end supplier failure (as appropriate) if your holiday is not ATOL protected
• Delay cover

You can get added protection in Europe by ensuring that you and the other members of your group have EHIC cards...

If you're travelling to Europe, it's important to ensure everyone in your family or group has a valid EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) that gives access to medical care for the same cost as a local resident. If you don't have a card, you can apply for one for free through the NHS website.

Never accept the first price you come across. Shop around to find out exactly what you can get for your money...

TravelSupermarket's travel insurance tool will help you do just that by allowing you to look at the best deals and the most comprehensive policies side-by side.

At TravelSupermarket we can offer cover online for up to two adults and five children on one group policy. If your group is larger than this, you may need to contact a specialist company.