Travel insurance is not one product. It is a bundle of small policies covering medical treatment, cancellation, baggage, delay and liability, each with its own limit and its own exclusions. People compare prices, when they should be comparing those limits.
This guide is general information, not advice about a specific policy. Read the document the insurer gives you, which is usually called the policy wording or the insurance product information document.
Medical cover is the part that matters most
Everything else is money. Medical cover is the piece that can prevent a genuinely life changing bill. Look for a high limit, ideally in the millions, and confirm that repatriation is included, since flying a patient home with medical escort is the largest cost in most serious cases.
Check whether the insurer pays hospitals directly or reimburses you afterwards. Direct payment is far better when a hospital wants a deposit before treatment. Save the emergency assistance number in your phone and write it on paper too.
Declare pre-existing conditions
This is the single biggest cause of refused claims. Most policies require you to declare existing medical conditions, sometimes including ones that are treated and stable. Not declaring can void the whole medical section, not just the claim related to that condition.
Cancellation and curtailment
Policies list the reasons they accept: illness, injury, jury service, redundancy, serious damage to your home, and similar. Changing your mind is not on the list unless you buy a specific cancel for any reason add on, which costs more and often reimburses only a percentage.
Curtailment means cutting a trip short. Check the limit and check whether it pays the unused portion of your accommodation, the cost of a new flight home, or both.
Baggage, delay and money
- Baggage limits often include a single item limit, so a laptop worth more than that limit is only partly covered.
- Delayed baggage cover usually pays for essentials after a set number of hours, with receipts.
- Travel delay cover typically starts after 4 to 12 hours and pays a modest fixed amount.
- Cash cover is small and usually needs a police report.
Remember that airline liability and insurance are separate routes. If an airline is responsible for lost baggage you normally claim from the airline first, and the insurer covers the difference.
Exclusions that catch people out
- Alcohol. Claims arising while significantly under the influence are commonly excluded.
- Adventure activities. Skiing, diving, motorbikes and even some hiking altitudes need an add on.
- Driving a scooter without the correct licence, which is a frequent problem in south east Asia.
- Travel against government advice for the destination.
- Leaving belongings unattended, including in a locked car boot in some wordings.
Excess and limits
The excess is what you pay per claim, sometimes per section of the policy. A cheap policy with a high excess can be worse than a slightly more expensive one with a low excess, particularly for baggage claims where the total value is modest.
Cover you may already have
Some credit cards and bank accounts include travel insurance, and some employers cover business trips. These policies are real but often have age limits, trip length limits and a requirement that you paid for the trip with that card. Read them with the same care as a policy you buy separately.
If you travel several times a year, an annual multi trip policy is usually cheaper than buying single trip cover each time. Check the maximum trip duration, which is often 31 days.
Making a claim
Claims move faster when you keep evidence at the time something happens, not weeks later from memory. Photograph damaged bags at the airport, ask for a written report from the airline for lost or delayed luggage, and keep every receipt for anything you buy as a result of a delay. A claim without paperwork can still succeed, but it takes far longer and insurers are entitled to ask for reasonable proof.
- Report the incident to the relevant party first, such as the airline for baggage or a local clinic for medical treatment.
- Get everything in writing where possible, including reference numbers.
- Contact the insurer's assistance line as soon as practical, especially for anything medical.
- Keep a simple log of dates, costs and who you spoke to.
- Submit the claim promptly. Most policies set a deadline, often 28 to 31 days after you return.
Family and group policies
A family policy can be cheaper than insuring each person separately, but check the age limit for children and whether it still applies if a grandparent or a friend is also travelling with the group. Group policies for larger parties sometimes require everyone to have identical dates and destinations, which does not suit trips where people join or leave partway through.
Common questions
- Do I need insurance if my destination has public healthcare agreements?
- Reciprocal agreements can cover emergency treatment but rarely cover repatriation, private clinics or lost baggage. Most travellers still buy a policy.
- Will insurance cover a flight cancelled by the airline?
- Usually the airline is responsible for rebooking or refunding first. Insurance may cover consequential costs the airline does not, subject to the policy terms.
- Can I buy insurance after I have already left?
- Some insurers sell it, but cover is limited and there is normally a waiting period. Buying before departure is always better.
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