Travel insurance for accidental death

Most travel insurance policies will pay benefits to a policyholder's estate or beneficiaries if they pass away on their trip. A death benefit might not be one of the most important aspects of cover for you to consider, but it can be looked at alongside other features to work out what kind of value for money you're getting with different policies.

Looking to learn more first? Keep reading to find out about the general terms and conditions surrounding accidental death cover.

Compare travel insurance policies that cover accidental death

You can compare policies in the table below which shows how different insurers will cover accidental death for its comprehensive policy (or equivalent).

Most insurers will decrease the cover limit for dependents. Some have a specific limit, others may offer a percentage of the adult limit. If you're planning to travel with family and this is applicable to you, check with your insurer directly.

Note: Data last confirmed as accurate April 2024

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How and when do travel insurance policies pay for death?

Travel insurance policies will usually cover death either as a standalone benefit or as part of the available accidental injury benefits.

It is important to remember that claims need to include details of both the accident and the injuries or death which resulted, and that both of these factors need to meet all requirements.

It has to be a physical accident. Death benefits are typically only paid in the event of an accidental injury which resulted in death. In other words, there needs to be a specific eligible claimable event (eg a car accident or injury while skiing), clear injuries which resulted from it, and then those injuries need to be the cause of death. Unless it says otherwise, you can assume that a travel insurance policy will only pay death benefits in these situations.

• If an accident leads to an illness or disease, and then that illness or disease proves fatal, it may or may not be covered depending on the wording of your policy. Some insurers will specifically exclude these.
• Some insurers specify that there is no cover for deaths resulting from the accumulation of multiple injuries and that there needs to be a single injury identifiable as the cause of death. This can rule out certain accidents that would otherwise be covered.

How do travel insurance policies cover disappearances?

Missing doesn't mean dead. Missing people are covered by travel insurance death benefits in very different ways depending on the insurer.

• Some insurers specify that they need reasonable cause to believe a missing person died of accidental injuries in line with the policy terms.
• Some insurers will accept people missing in transport accidents as dead of injuries.
• Some insurers, who do not specify any form of death benefits for missing people, will typically not pay any benefits in the event of a disappearance.

What happens if the death doesn't happen while travelling?

Time limits do apply when it comes to whether a death benefit is claimable but it doesn't necessarily need to happen on your trip. Benefits are only payable, however, if the death occurs within 12 months of the claimable event and if it was caused by an injury sustained in this incident.

The accident and the death are not the same. The event which caused the injury (the accident) and the injury which caused the death are two separate parts of a claim and separate conditions can apply to both.

• Some, but not all, insurers specify that the death must take place while you're travelling and while your policy is active. Others can still pay benefits even when death occurs after returning home.
• All insurers specify that the accident must occur while you're travelling.
• Some travel insurance policies have a window after an accident in which policyholders can make claims for losses that resulted in death. For some insurers, this window is 12 months after an accident, while for others the window closes as soon as the policyholder returns home.

Accidental death benefits are also subject to general exclusions and need to meet all applicable policy conditions.

Exclusions: When will travel insurance policies not pay death benefits?

Benefits payable may be subject to both general exclusions and specific ones. In particular, it may be impacted by:

• Reckless or unreasonable behaviour: When considering any claim, insurers will assess whether your actions were reasonable in the situation. Claims may be denied if they result from actions where you knowingly put yourself or others in danger, or did something that a reasonable person in your situation would not have done.
• Terminal illnesses and pre-existing conditions: Terminal illnesses qualify as pre-existing conditions, and death benefits for those are typically not payable on the grounds that it's a pre-existing condition. In the unlikely event that a pre-existing condition is shown to be in any way responsible for the accident, in that it wouldn't have happened otherwise, benefits may still be declined.
• Failure to take precautions and obey instruction: If you were not taking reasonable safety precautions such as wearing a helmet while motorcycling, or were not obeying all instruction (including local laws) at the time of an accident, insurers may refuse a claim regardless of whether or not doing so would have prevented the accident.
• Deliberate injury and suicide: Deliberately self-inflicted harm, including suicide, is not covered by travel insurance policies.

How much do accidental death benefits usually pay?

Travel insurance policies are not designed to provide long-term benefits for your dependants. That's what life insurance is for. Instead, travel insurance death benefits are designed to cover the unexpected costs, make sure you have the resources to return home or carry on, and generally offer a small form of compensation.

• Maximum benefits are usually in the $20,000 to $25,000 range with international comprehensive travel insurance policies, and are generally about half that, or not included at all, with more basic cover.
• When included as part of the accidental injury benefits, rather than as standalone death benefits, other accidental injury claims will also count towards the same limits.
• Accompanied dependants are typically covered to much lower limits, but with all the same conditions. Whether someone can qualify as an accompanied dependant, or has to get their own travel insurance policy, depends on the insurer and may be worth considering when comparing travel insurance policy death benefits.

How to compare accidental death benefits

The numbers are only part of the picture when it comes to comparing benefits. You will also need to read the PDS to review the different conditions and circumstances in which a policy can pay out. This can help you pick out the insurers that offer additional benefits or more helpful options. On this page, for example, you might consider some outstanding insurers:

• American Express: Can pay death benefits even in the event of terrorism. The other insurers listed here do not cover terrorist attacks.
• InsureandGo: Has relatively high limits and can pay more benefits in the event of an accidental death claim for both policyholders and dependants.
• American Express, Budget Direct, FastCover and STA: Can pay death benefits if a traveller is missing for 12 months, without proof of death.

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Written by

Jessica Prasida

Travel Insurance Expert

Jessica Prasida brings a decade of experience in the travel industry, including over four years as a travel agent and branch manager at STA Travel. She holds a Bachelor of Business and a Master of Marketing from the University of Technology, Sydney, as well as a Tier 1 General Insurance qualification that complies with ASIC guidelines. An avid traveller herself, Jessica combines her professional expertise with a passion for ensuring safe and enjoyable journeys for all travellers. Jessica was a Travel Insurance Publisher at Finder from 2019 to 2024. See full bio