18 Things Your Travel Insurance Policy Won't Cover | SmarterTravel (2024)

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When you purchase travel insurance, it’s not unreasonable to assume that you are, well, insured for all aspects of your trip. Unfortunately, this is rarely the case. Travelers are frequently frustrated to find that their travel insurance coverage is full of holes—with exclusions that are typically stated in the fine print but nonetheless confusing and sometimes counterintuitive.

For example, whether there’s a pandemic or a natural disaster out of your control, trip cancellation insurance doesn’t cover cancellation under every possible circ*mstance: To qualify for those, you must purchase a “cancel for any reason” add-on.

If there’s ever a time to read the fine print, purchasing travel insurance is it. Don’t take my word for any of the following, or the word of the person selling you the policy, or the sales page of the insurance company’s website—read the contract for yourself. It will be an enlightening experience.

The old adage “you get what you pay for” tends to apply here. Less expensive insurance packages typically include less comprehensive coverage.

Below are 18 things travel insurance coverage usually doesn’t include. For purposes of clarity, most apply to the highest tiers offered by most insurance companies; that is, most of these travel insurance exclusions apply to even the most comprehensive policies. In some cases you can purchase special add-ons to cover these exclusions. Ask when purchasing.

18 Things Your Travel Insurance Policy Won't Cover | SmarterTravel (1)

Health Crises (Like Pandemics) That Begin Before You Purchase

As with natural disasters, trip insurance may generally cover losses due to global health emergencies, but you must make the purchase before the crisis is a “known event.” The date from which the event is “known” varies depending on the insurance company; for example in 2020 with COVID-19 it was largely January 21 through 27. Most travel insurance policies won’t cover cancellation due to fear of a pandemic, so if you want to use insurance to protect your payments—particularly nonrefundable airfares—make sure it’s a “cancel for any reason” policy.

With nonrefundable air tickets, your recourse is either to rely on the airline’s generosity (some do waive fees in times of emergency) or buying cancel-for-any-reason insurance. Most policies exclude “foreseeable” contingencies, or existing threats like already-known pandemics.

Related:

Cancel for Any Reason Insurance, Explained

Losses Due to Pre-Existing Conditions

Travel insurance coverage does not extend to most pre-existing medical conditions, and the definition of “pre-existing” often depends on the timing of when you are diagnosed and when you purchase your travel insurance—with a so-called “look-back period” that is usually 60, 90, or 180 days prior to the day you purchase your insurance.

In short, your travel insurance does not cover losses due to conditions for which there were either symptoms or treatment during the look-back period. You will be covered for losses due to so-called “stable” conditions for which no change in treatment or symptoms has occurred.

Say you’ve had arthritis for several years, with no major flare-ups or medication changes in the past six months. In this case you would likely be covered if you had an intense, debilitating flare-up during your trip. But if you had been having trouble with the condition in the months leading up to your vacation, your trip insurance would be unlikely to cover any losses related to your arthritis unless you purchased a specific add-on.

Natural Disasters That Begin Before You Purchase Insurance

Trip insurance generally covers losses due to hurricanes or tropical storms, but you must make the purchase before the storm is named. Similar conditions typically apply to other natural disasters; if you buy a policy after a volcano starts erupting, for example, you won’t be covered for any losses related to that volcano’s activity.

Dental Care

Routine dental care is not included in travel insurance coverage, although dental trauma may be under some circ*mstances. One policy I reviewed provides coverage only for damage to “sound natural teeth,” for example.

Losses Due to Mental or Emotional Disorders

Most travel insurance policies do not cover claims involving psychiatric or emotional disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or depression. (In rare cases policies may cover these conditions if hospitalization is required.)

Related:

15 Tiny Travel Products to Help You Stay Healthy on Vacation

Travel for Medical Procedures

Most trip insurance will not cover issues that arise for those traveling specifically to get medical treatment (such as procedures available overseas that are not available or are too expensive at home).

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18 Things Your Travel Insurance Policy Won't Cover | SmarterTravel (2)

Pregnancy and Childbirth

If you are pregnant and give birth while traveling, your travel insurance coverage generally will not include childbirth expenses. You might, however, have coverage for complications associated with pregnancy or childbirth. This is one to check carefully in advance if you’re planning to travel while pregnant.

Risky Activities and Sports

Active travelers, take note: Many travel insurance policies exclude losses due to adventure sports such as bungee jumping, backcountry skiing, snowboarding, rafting, caving, sky diving, scuba diving … you get the idea. Some policies take this even further, applying exemptions for any sports involving bodily contact. (That means your kid’s football tournament might not be covered.) If you’re planning an active vacation, carefully check the terms of your policy before committing.

Some of Your Favorite Stuff

Baggage delay, damage, and loss policies don’t cover everything in your bags. Common travel insurance exclusions include glasses, hearing aids, dental bridges, tickets, passports, keys, cash, and cell phones. In some cases these items are covered but only up to a certain dollar limit, so if you have multiple expensive electronic items (such as a laptop, a tablet, and a cell phone), you might not have enough coverage to pay for the loss of all such items.

Bad Weather

Travel insurance tends not to cover weather that limits your activities on a trip. For example, you’re covered if the weather is bad enough to delay or cancel your flight, but not if it pours during a jungle hike. And unless you bought a “cancel for any reason” rider, you can’t call off your beach vacation just because the forecast calls for rain and clouds.

Related:

The 18 Germiest Places You Encounter While Traveling

Flights Purchased with Miles

Most policies do not cover flights purchased with miles or points. They may cover associated fees if you decide to cancel or change an award fare, however.

Security Delays or Overbooked Flights

According to travel insurance comparison site Squaremouth, your policy typically won’t protect you if you miss a flight due to long airport security lines, or if you’re bumped from an overbooked flight and miss a subsequent connection or cruise departure.

Lost Reservations or Double-Booked Accommodations

It’s also important to note that travel insurance coverage doesn’t include certain lodging snafus. A lost hotel reservation will have to be taken up with the company or travel agent that lost it. And if you find someone else in the vacation rental you reserved, you’ll have to take it up with the site through which you booked.

Accommodations That Aren’t as Expected

An accommodation that’s a lot less desirable when you arrive than it looked to be online generally isn’t covered by travel insurance. Researching accommodations on review sites like Tripadvisor falls on you. The exception is if your hotel or vacation rental is uninhabitable due to a natural disaster, structural damage, or the like.

18 Things Your Travel Insurance Policy Won't Cover | SmarterTravel (3)

Ticket Scams

If you find your event or sightseeing excursion ticket turns out to be fake, typical travel insurance won’t cover you, says Squaremouth. Make sure you’re using a trusted ticket or tour outlet.

Related:

Last-Minute Changes

If your cruise line or tour operator makes a last-minute itinerary or excursion change, travel insurance typically won’t cover any travel issues caused by it, unless it involves complete curtailment. You can try contacting the operator responsible for the changes about compensation.

Anything for Which You Lack Documentation

If you don’t have a solid paper trail for all causes and costs involved in your claim, your chances of reimbursem*nt plummet. Keep records like your wallet depends on it.

Anything NOT in the List of Covered Items

Travel insurance works largely by inclusion of items specifically noted to be covered, and anything not mentioned is likely not covered. If you have a concern that you don’t see listed in the fine print, contact the travel insurance company to see if you can purchase an appropriate add-on.

Editor’s note: This story was originally published in 2017. It has been updated to reflect the most current information. Ed Perkins contributed to this story.

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18 Things Your Travel Insurance Policy Won't Cover | SmarterTravel (2024)

FAQs

What will travel insurance not cover? ›

Most travel insurance policies won't pay out if you're negligent while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and have an accident or have property stolen.

Which of these incidents is not covered by travel insurance? ›

Claims due to known, foreseeable, or expected events, epidemics, government prohibitions, warnings, or travel advisories or fear of travel are generally not covered (coverage can vary by state.)

What does travel insurance not cover in the USA? ›

Other Things Not Covered

Depending on the plan, some of the other things that travel insurance won't usually cover include: Any unlawful acts. Participation in organized amateur and interscholastic athletic or sports competition events. Being under the influence of drugs or intoxicants, unless prescribed by a Physician.

What is the most common travel insurance claim? ›

The most common reasons for claims in the U.S. were respiratory illnesses, injury and fractures.

What reasons are not covered by traveler's insurance? ›

According to Allianz Global Assistance, a travel insurance provider, "Trip cancellations and trip interruptions due to known, foreseeable, or expected events, epidemics, or fear of travel are generally not covered."

What would void travel insurance? ›

When it comes to travel insurance, honesty is key, and failing to disclose pre-existing medical conditions can lead to a voided insurance claim. You may need to disclose the medications you're taking, vaccination status, ongoing treatments, and even any pending diagnoses to be safe.

Which travel insurance is best at paying claims? ›

We named Nationwide travel insurance as our pick for the most coverage reimbursed. It offers 100% trip cancellation coverage and up to 200% trip interruption protection, depending on your plan choice. Nationwide also provides some of the best policies for cruise ship passengers, based on our review.

What is a covered reason for trip cancellation? ›

Here are some examples: The unexpected death, sickness or injury of you, a travelling companion, or a family member. You need to attend the birth of a family member's child. Travel carrier cannot get you to your destination due to a natural disaster or severe weather.

What should be included in travel insurance? ›

Your travel insurance should always include the following cover: medical expenses and cover for getting you home if you're injured or fall ill abroad. personal injury and cover for accidents or damage caused by you. cover for lost or damaged items.

Does travel insurance cover flight cancellation due to illness? ›

Travel insurance can provide cover if you need to cancel your flight. This means that if you have to cancel your flight or your holiday for an insured reason such as illness, redundancy or your home becoming uninhabitable you can make a claim on your travel insurance to recoup the cost.

Does travel insurance pay out? ›

Travel insurance helps by providing you with financial protection and can cover the costs of: Emergency medical expenses – Your travel insurance can pay towards your healthcare costs including medical, surgical and hospital treatment. Ambulance transport – If an ambulance is needed to transport you to the hospital.

How much travel insurance is enough? ›

As a general guideline, it's wise to buy at least $100,000 in travel medical expense coverage. The most generous travel insurance plans provide $500,000 per person for emergency medical expenses. Other good plans have ample medical coverage of $250,000 or $100,000 per person.

What is the most expensive travel insurance claim? ›

At the top of the list is a claim for $187,604, which was paid to the family of a 14 year-old boy who fractured his shoulder while getting out of an outdoor hot tub and had to have emergency surgery while on holiday in the USA.

What are the two 2 basic types of travel insurance? ›

There are two main types of travel insurance: trip protection plans and travel medical plans. Trip protection protects U.S. residents while traveling within the United States and abroad and is important if you don't want to lose the money you paid for your trip if you must cancel, interrupt, or delay your trip.

What insurance should I get for Travelling? ›

There are different types of insurance you should consider: (1) trip cancellation or travel disruption insurance, (2) travel health insurance, and (3) medical evacuation insurance. These will cover different situations and may give you financial peace of mind, as well as allow for safe and healthy travel.

What are travel insurance exclusions? ›

Travel Insurance Exclusions and Limitations

Here are some of the most common insurance exclusions to be aware of: Pre-existing medical conditions. Expected storms and natural disasters. Disease outbreaks. Dangerous activities like skydiving or jet skiing.

What does travel insurance protect you against? ›

personal injury and death. lost, stolen or damaged items, including baggage, passports and money. accidental damage or injury caused by you.

Is it worth claiming on travel insurance? ›

Travel insurance can give you extra protection if your holiday doesn't go as planned. This is very important if you are travelling independently because you may find yourself stranded with no way to get home and no rep to help sort out your holiday problem.

What does a travel policy cover? ›

Cancellations, medical expenses, evacuations, loss or delays, and 24/7 assistance. These are the 5 basic types of coverage provided with vacation insurance. This is the #1 concern with most travelers.

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