Parent's guide
Child accident insurance in the UK — how it works and what it costs
The NHS treats your child. It does not cover the unpaid time off work, the hospital parking, the food, or the private physio that gets them back on the pitch. Child accident insurance pays you cash to cover exactly that — from £6 a month for every child you have.
From £6/month
About 20p a day, fixed price.
All your children
One plan, birth to age 23.
2-minute apply
No medical questions.
What child accident insurance actually covers
Child accident cover is not health insurance and it does not replace the NHS. It is a fixed cash benefit: if something covered happens, the insurer pays money directly into your bank account and you decide what to spend it on.
Typically covered
- Broken bones — £100 to £600 per bone depending on plan and break, covered worldwide
- Hospital stays — £100 per night, in the UK and Europe
- Serious illness — up to £10,000
- Pre-existing conditions (hospitalisation) — after the plan is held 12 months
- Accidents at home, school, the park or playing sport
- 24/7 virtual private GP for the whole family
- Unlimited claims, no excess
Not covered
- Routine illnesses that do not require hospitalisation
- Sickness-related hospitalisation in the first 12 months
- Pre-existing conditions in the first 12 months
- Anything excluded in the MetLife policy terms
What it costs, and what you get back
| Cover | £6/month | £11/month |
|---|---|---|
| Children covered | All of them | All of them |
| Minor broken bone | £100 | £200 |
| Major broken bone | £300 | £600 |
| Hospitalisation per 24 hours* | £50 | £100 |
| Intensive care (ICU) per 24 hours | £150 | £300 |
| Serious conditions† | £5,000 | £10,000 |
| 24/7 virtual GP | Included | Included |
| Excess | None | None |
*Hospitalisation for illness, self-inflicted injuries and pregnancy-related complications is covered once the plan has been held for 12 months. †Bacterial meningitis, type-1 diabetes, rheumatic fever, burns, paralysis, cancer and benign brain tumour. See the policy documents for the full schedule.
Frequently asked questions
Can both parents hold a plan for the same children?
Yes. Each parent can take out their own ChildShield plan and each plan pays out in full on a valid claim, so a single accident can result in two separate cash payments to the family. Many parents do this to double the amount they receive.
Can I take this out if I already have accident or critical illness cover through work?
Yes. ChildShield pays in addition to any cover you already hold, including accident or critical illness cover provided by an employer. If one parent is covered through work, the other parent can still take out a plan — there is nothing to stop it and the payouts are not reduced.
What is child accident insurance?
Child accident insurance is a protection plan that pays you a cash lump sum if your child is injured in an accident, spends time in hospital, or is diagnosed with a covered serious illness. Unlike the NHS, which treats your child, the payout covers the costs around the treatment — time off work, travel and hospital parking, food, and private physiotherapy.
How much does child accident insurance cost in the UK?
ChildShield costs £6 a month for Cover Level 1 or £11 a month for Cover Level 2. That is roughly 20p a day. The price is fixed and one plan covers every child in your family — there is no extra charge per child.
Does one policy cover all my children?
Yes. One ChildShield plan covers all of your children, from birth up to age 23. Whether you have one child or five, you pay the same £6 or £11 a month.
Are there medical questions or health checks?
No. There are no medical questions and no health screening. Acceptance is immediate and the online application takes about two minutes.
How much does ChildShield pay out?
Payouts depend on the claim and the plan. Broken bones pay £100 for a minor break or £300 for a major one on the £6 plan (£200 and £600 on the £11 plan). Hospital stays pay £50 per 24 hours (£100 on the £11 plan), intensive care £150 per 24 hours (£300 on the £11 plan), and covered serious conditions such as cancer, burns or bacterial meningitis pay £5,000 (£10,000 on the £11 plan). There is no excess and claims are unlimited. Money is paid straight into your bank account for you to spend however you need.
Are pre-existing conditions covered?
Yes — for hospitalisation, pre-existing conditions are covered once your plan has been held for 12 months. Everything else starts from day one: accidents, broken bones, serious illness and the 24/7 virtual GP. There are no medical questions when you apply, so a child's existing condition never stops you getting covered.
Is my child covered abroad or on holiday?
Yes. Broken bones are covered anywhere in the world — whether that's a fall on a UK playground or a ski trip. Hospitalisation is covered in the UK and Europe, and the 24/7 virtual GP works worldwide, so you can speak to a UK-qualified doctor from abroad.
What if my child breaks a bone playing football or sport?
Sport accidents are exactly what this cover is for. Accidents at home, at school, at the park or playing any sport are covered. A broken bone pays a cash lump sum straight into your bank account — £100 to £600 per bone depending on the plan and the break — with no excess to pay, and broken bones are covered worldwide.
Is child accident insurance the same as private medical insurance?
No — they do different things. Private medical insurance (PMI) lets you get private treatment. Child accident insurance pays cash directly to the parent when a covered accident, hospital stay or serious illness happens. The NHS still treats your child; the payout is there to help with the costs around that treatment, such as time off work, hospital parking, food, travel, childcare for siblings or private physio.
What can the payout be spent on?
Anything. The money is paid straight into the parent's bank account with no restrictions. Most families use it for time off work, travel and hospital parking, food, childcare for other children, or private physiotherapy — but it is yours to spend however your family needs.
Are there claim limits or excesses?
No excess and no cap on the number of valid claims. Each claim is paid up to the benefit amounts in the MetLife Policy Booklet, and making a claim does not increase your premium.
Who underwrites ChildShield?
ChildShield is underwritten by MetLife Europe d.a.c., one of the world's largest insurers. childshield.online is an authorised route to apply for the plan online.
Can I cancel, and is there a money-back guarantee?
Yes. There is a 30-day money-back guarantee — if the plan is not right for you within the first 30 days you get your money back. After that you can cancel at any time.
Is child accident cover worth it?
For most UK families the sums are simple. A single accident can mean unpaid time off work, repeated hospital trips, parking and food, and private physio to speed up recovery — commonly £500 to £2,000 out of pocket. ChildShield costs about 20p a day and pays cash directly to you, so it typically pays for itself with a single claim.
Keep reading
Get every child covered — from £6 a month
No medical questions. Cover starts today. 30-day money-back guarantee.
Start my applicationChildShield is underwritten by MetLife Europe d.a.c.