A family policy is not an individual one multiplied by four. The premium is often priced on the oldest member, the medical questionnaire applies to each person separately, and an exclusion on one person does not exempt the others. Three mechanisms that explain why two families of the same size receive very different quotes.
The premium is rarely a sum of individuals
Many couple and family policies are priced on the age band of the oldest member. Once the age gap in a couple passes ten years or so, two individual policies sometimes cost less than one joint policy at identical cover. Always ask for both quotes. The gap is not marginal, and nobody offers the comparison unprompted.
Everyone answers their own medical questionnaire
Acceptance is individual. A condition in one person can produce an exclusion affecting only them, but also a refusal that leaves that person uncovered while the policy proceeds for everyone else. Check what happens to the contract if one member is declined, before signing rather than after.
Waiting periods, especially on maternity
Maternity almost always carries a waiting period of several months, sometimes a full year, counted from the policy start date rather than the application. A child planned within two years is therefore a decision to make when choosing insurance, not when the pregnancy begins.
Children at school, and what the school actually asks for
International schools generally want proof of cover without specifying an insurer. The point to check is not administrative compliance but paediatrics: the network of paediatric clinics in your city, out-of-hours emergency access, and cover for injuries during school sport, which is often handled separately.
What happens when the family spreads out
Children leave to study, a spouse moves back, the household stops living in one place. Check whether the policy allows a member to be detached onto an individual contract keeping their seniority and without a new medical questionnaire. Without that clause, going to university can mean a fresh application, with exclusions.
The order to decide in
Start with an honest list of everyone's medical history: it determines which insurers are open to you. Then compare joint against separate policies in real money. Then check waiting periods and the paediatric network. In that order, because the first point can make the other two irrelevant.
Frequently asked
Does a family policy cover children born after it starts?
Usually yes, if declared within a set period after birth, and often without a medical questionnaire inside that window. After it, the child is treated as a new applicant.
Should a minor childhood condition be declared?
Yes. An omission, even in good faith, can justify a refused claim years later on a seemingly unrelated matter.
Can a spouse who stayed home be covered?
It depends on the area of cover and how residence is defined. Some policies include the home country, others exclude it explicitly.
Are visiting grandparents covered?
Never under your policy. They need separate travel insurance, where age is also a criterion.