Comprehensive travel insurance can reimburse cancellation costs, and the cost of getting home early, if a relative dies or becomes seriously ill.
The relative usually needs to meet the insurer's definition of "relative", and the death or illness must be unexpected.
Some circumstances aren't covered, and age limits can apply, so it's worth checking the PDS carefully.
Losing a family member, or getting the call that one is seriously ill, can be incredibly distressing when you're so far from home. Especially since money is the last thing you want to think about during these circumstances. The good news is that comprehensive travel insurance can help with the cost of cancelling your trip or getting home at short notice. Here's how it works, and what to check.
Does travel insurance cover you for a death in the family?
Yes. If a family member falls ill or dies while you are travelling or before you depart, comprehensive travel insurance can help you recover your cancellation costs, including pre-booked tickets and hotels, costs associated with returning home at short notice and costs associated with resuming your journey at a later date. Most insurers have the following conditions:
Many policies include this type of cover as part of a 'family emergency benefit' or 'cancellation cover'. It's handy to look out for these terms in the Product Disclosure Description (PDS) when you're comparing your different travel insurance options.
Does travel insurance cover the death of an elderly parent or grandparent?
This is one of the most common questions, and the answer usually comes down to age. Many insurers will cover the unexpected death or serious illness of a parent or grandparent, but a lot of policies set a maximum age, often around 90, after which a death is no longer treated as "unexpected" and cover may not apply.
Some insurers don't state an age limit at all, but may instead consider the relative's health and any known conditions. If your parent or grandparent is elderly or unwell, this is the single most important thing to check before you travel. Read the PDS carefully and, if you're unsure, call the insurer and ask them directly about your situation.
How am I covered by travel insurance for family emergency? Compare your options
Brand
Maximum age of relative
Conditions
Not stated
You are covered for the sudden disabling injury, sickness or disease or death of relative.
No cover if you were aware of any pre-existing medical condition before the policy started.
84
You are covered for the unexpected death, injury or hospitalisation of a relative in Australia or New Zealand.
If your relative is hospitalised or dies due to a pre-existing medical condition, you are only covered if you were unaware of the likelihood of hospitalisation or death when you purchased your policy.
Not stated
You are covered for the unexpected death, sudden injury or illness of relative.
No cover if you were aware of any pre-existing medical condition before the policy started.
Not stated
You are covered for the unexpected death, sudden injury or illness of a relative who is in Australia at the time the event occurs.
You are not covered for any of your relative's medical conditions you knew about before the policy started.
Not stated
You are covered for the sudden disabling injury, sickness or disease or death of relative.
No cover if you were aware of any pre-existing medical condition before the policy started.
Not stated
You are covered if you are unable to start or finish the trip because of the death, sudden serious illness or serious injury that occurs before or during the trip.
No cover if you were aware of any pre-existing medical condition before the policy started.
Not stated
You are covered for the unexpected death, sudden injury or illness of relative.
No cover if you were aware of any pre-existing medical condition before the policy started.
Not stated
You are covered for serious illness, injury or death of relative.
No cover if you were aware of any pre-existing medical condition before the policy started.
Not stated
You are covered for the unexpected death, sudden injury or illness of a relative who is in Australia at the time the event occurs.
You are not covered if you are aware of any pre-existing medical condition before the policy started or if during the 90 days before the policy they needed any treatments, consultation, required medication or had been diagnosed with a terminal condition.
Not stated
You are covered for the death, sudden serious illness or serious injury that occurs before or during the trip.
No cover if you were aware of any pre-existing medical condition before the policy started.
Not stated
You are covered for the unexpected death, sudden injury or illness of relative.
No cover if you were aware of any pre-existing medical condition before the policy started.
Not stated
You are covered for the hospitalisation or death of a close relative as a direct result of sudden serious illness or serious injury.
For cover to apply there must be more than five days of the trip, or 25 percent of its length (whichever is the greater) remaining when you return to Australia.
Not stated
You are covered for the hospitalisation or death of a close relative as a direct result of sudden serious illness or serious injury.
For cover to apply there must be more than five days of the trip, or 25 percent of its length (whichever is the greater) remaining when you return to Australia.
Note: This information was last updated Janaury 2025
What do insurers consider as a ‘relative’?
In order to qualify for trip cancellation cover following the illness or death of a relative, your family member must meet the insurer’s definition of ‘relative’. The term normally refers to a:
Spouse, de facto partner, fiancé or a fiancée
Parent or parent-in-law
Son, daughter, son-in-law or daughter-in-law
Brother, sister, brother-in-law or sister-in-law
Grandchild or grandparent
Step-parent, step-son or step-daughter
You should note that extended family, including uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, and close friends, typically won't be considered as a 'relative'.
Each travel insurance policy will differ in its exact definition of a 'relative'. If you are unsure, it is best to check with your insurer.
Am I covered if my relative falls ill or dies from a pre-existing medical condition?
In most cases, you won't be covered if a relative falls ill or passes away due to a pre-existing condition. This is an exclusion with most insurers. However, if you were unaware of the condition at the time you took out the policy, then travel insurance can cover you.
However, this is not a hard and fast rule. Many insurers may provide limited cover if you were not aware of the likelihood of hospitalisation or death when you bought your policy.
What is considered as 'aware'
Travel insurers will typically exclude cover if your family member is on any sort of waiting list or if you were aware of any recent:
Treatments
Consultation
Diagnosis
Required medication
Upcoming surgery
Can I resume my trip and be covered for it?
Most trip cancellation policies will allow you to resume your journey at a later date after being forced to return home due to the illness or death of a relative. There are normally specific conditions surrounding this type of cover, including:
Your trip must have been for a minimum number of days
Your insurance must have had a minimum period left to run (usually at least 50%)
You must have had no knowledge that such an incident might occur prior to your departure
Your resumption expenses must be pre-approved by your insurer
You must resume your journey before your policy expires.
Example: John and Sue's trip re-arrangement
John and Sue were into the second week of their month-long European holiday when their son called and told them that his 9-year-old daughter, Emily (their granddaughter), was unwell and had been admitted to hospital. She had been diagnosed with a rare blood disease and would be undergoing life-saving treatment in the next few days.
This was completely unexpected news for John and Sue, and they immediately rang their airline and insurance company to arrange to cancel their trip and return home to be with their granddaughter.
Emily remained in hospital for several weeks, but soon began to make a full recovery. A relieved John and Sue were then able to resume their interrupted European holiday, thanks to their resumption of journey cover reimbursing them for the costs associated with rebooking their flights and accommodation.
Costs incurred
Fee for bringing the date of original return flight forward: $200
New round trip flights back to resume journey: $3,500
Fees for changes to accommodation dates: $150
Total costs covered by insurance
$3,700
Out-of-pocket costs
$150 in excess
What to do if a relative dies while you're overseas
If the worst happens while you're away, these steps can help you focus on what matters and protect your claim:
Call your insurer's 24-hour emergency assistance line first. Most comprehensive policies have one, and they can guide you through what to do and what they'll cover.
Get approval before you rebook. Insurers usually need to pre-approve changes to flights or accommodation for those costs to be covered.
Keep everything. Hold on to receipts, booking changes and any documentation, you'll need these for your claim.
Ask about resuming your trip. If you have to come home, many policies will also cover the cost of resuming your journey later, within certain conditions.
Take your time. Your insurer's assistance team deals with these situations regularly and can walk you through it, so you don't have to work it all out alone.
Frequently asked questions
You may be eligible for a free change or refund with the airline, depending on their rules. However, travel insurance can cover you if you need to cancel your trip, including your flights, because of a family emergency such as the unexpected death of a relative.
Yes, it can. Most comprehensive travel insurance policies can cover cancellation if a close family member falls unexpectedly ill. In most cases, it can reimburse you for the cost of your flights home.
Age limits apply to many trip cancellation policies in terms of the illness or death of a relative. The age your relative can be will vary with insurers, but many set a maximum age of around 90, after which the illness or death is not deemed to be 'unexpected' and no cover is offered. Some travel insurance brands do not state an age limit, but the health of your relative is a condition many policies will consider.
If your relative is elderly and you are concerned about whether you will be covered if an incident occurs while you're away, you should read your product disclosure statement (PDS) carefully and contact your insurer for further information.
As with all forms of insurance, trip cancellation cover has certain exclusions or circumstances in which a claim will not be paid. These depend on the individual insurer, but they generally include:
Travelling despite suspecting that your relative might die or become hospitalised
Expenses that you incur while you're at home
Some causes of death, such as suicide or a drug overdose may not be covered
The cost of a return flight home if you haven't already booked one (considered part of normal costs rather than emergency expenses)
Any expenses that you've already claimed for elsewhere in your travel insurance policy
Some providers will cover you for cancellation costs if your pet cat or dog suffers a life threatening injury or illness or dies unexpectedly.
In our experience, this isn't a common feature of travel insurance. From our research online Cover-More is the only provider we've seen so far.
Ceyda Erem is Finder’s senior writer for insurance and has almost 10 years of experience writing about personal finance. Formerly a copywriter for several business and finance clients, Ceyda has written hundreds of articles, guides, blogs and more to ensure Australians stay in the loop about how to best manage their money. She has a Bachelor of Arts, Majoring in Writing from Macquarie University.
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Gary Ross Hunter has over 6 years of expertise writing about insurance, including life, health, home, and car insurance. Having reviewed hundreds of product disclosure statements and published over 800 articles, he loves simplifying complex insurance topics for everyday readers. Gary has contributed to major outlets like Yahoo Finance, The Sydney Morning Herald, and news.com.au, and holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in English Literature from the University of Glasgow, along with a Tier 2 General Advice certification, ensuring his work adheres to ASIC’s RG146 standards.
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