Almost nobody reads a travel insurance policy before buying it, and almost everybody discovers what it excludes at the worst possible moment. This guide is about the choosing, specifically the clauses that decide whether a claim is paid or refused.

What the cover levels actually mean

  • Medical and repatriation. The only genuinely non-negotiable part. Look for a limit in the millions, not the thousands. Repatriation by air ambulance can run into six figures.
  • Cancellation and curtailment. Should cover roughly what your trip cost. Paying for a higher limit than your actual outlay is wasted money.
  • Baggage and personal items. Usually the weakest section, with low single-item limits.
  • Personal liability. Rarely used, occasionally decisive.

The clauses that cause refused claims

Pre-existing conditions

The single biggest cause of refusal. Most policies require you to declare existing medical conditions, and undeclared ones can void the medical section entirely, including for unrelated incidents. Declare everything, even things that feel irrelevant.

The alcohol clause

Nearly every policy excludes incidents where alcohol was a contributing factor. This is applied more often than people expect, particularly for falls and road incidents.

Activities and equipment

Standard policies typically exclude scuba diving, skiing, motorcycling and trekking above certain altitudes. Riding a scooter in Southeast Asia without the correct licence in your home country is usually excluded, which affects a very large number of travellers.

Unattended belongings

A bag left on a beach or a chair is generally not covered. Theft claims usually require a police report filed within 24 hours.

Government travel advice

If your foreign office advises against travel to a region and you go anyway, cover typically lapses for that region.

Single trip, annual, or long stay

Annual multi-trip policies usually pay for themselves at around three trips a year, but almost all cap the length of any single trip, commonly at 31 days. Longer trips need a dedicated backpacker or long-stay policy.

What to check before buying

  • Does it cover your destination? Some policies price the USA separately due to healthcare costs.
  • What is the excess per claim, and is it per person or per policy?
  • Does cancellation cover start from the purchase date? Buying at booking rather than departure is what makes cancellation cover useful at all.
  • Is there a 24 hour emergency assistance line, and is it a real medical team?
  • Does existing cover from a credit card or health insurance already overlap?

When to buy

At the moment you book the trip, not before departure. Cancellation cover only protects the period between purchase and travel, so buying late removes most of its value.

If you need to claim

  1. Call the emergency line before treatment where possible. Many policies require prior authorisation for anything non-emergency.
  2. Keep every receipt, report and discharge note.
  3. File police reports within the stated window for theft.
  4. Submit within the deadline, often 30 days from returning.

Cover you may already have

Before buying, check whether you are already covered, because duplicate cover is wasted money and gaps are usually where people assume rather than check.

  • Credit cards. Many premium cards include travel medical or cancellation cover, but conditions apply. Typically the trip must be paid for with that card, and cover often stops at a set trip length.
  • Home insurance. Some policies extend personal possessions cover away from home, which can overlap with baggage cover.
  • Employer policies. Business travel cover rarely extends to leisure days added onto a work trip.
  • Reciprocal health agreements. Arrangements such as the European health card cover state treatment only. They do not cover repatriation, private clinics, or cutting a trip short, which are the expensive parts.

The common mistake is assuming a reciprocal health card replaces insurance. It does not, and the difference is measured in tens of thousands.

Specific situations that need specific policies

  • Winter sports. Almost always a paid add-on. Off-piste skiing is frequently excluded even with the add-on.
  • Scuba diving. Usually covered only to a stated depth and with certification.
  • Trekking at altitude. Many policies cap cover at 2,000 to 3,000 metres, which excludes a great deal of popular trekking.
  • Motorbike and scooter use. Requires a valid licence for that vehicle class in your home country. This catches a very large number of travellers in Southeast Asia.
  • Pregnancy. Cover typically ends at a certain number of weeks, and varies widely.
  • Over 65s. Premiums rise and medical declarations become more detailed. Specialist insurers often beat mainstream ones.
  • Long trips and one-way tickets. Standard policies assume a return within a set period.

Reading a policy in ten minutes

You do not need to read all of it. Go straight to four sections.

  1. General exclusions. This is where most refused claims originate.
  2. Medical section limits and conditions. Including the pre-existing conditions wording.
  3. Excess amounts. Per claim, per person, or per policy.
  4. Claim procedure and deadlines. Including whether prior authorisation is needed.

Frequently asked questions

Is travel insurance mandatory?

A handful of countries require proof of medical cover for entry. Elsewhere it is optional and still strongly advisable.

Does it cover cancelled flights?

Usually only in specified circumstances. Airline-caused cancellation is generally the airline’s responsibility under passenger rights rules, and insurers will often direct you there first.

What about pandemics or disruption?

Cover for infectious disease events varies enormously between insurers and has changed considerably in recent years. Read the specific wording rather than assuming.

Can I buy insurance after booking?

Yes, and you should buy at booking. Cancellation cover only applies to events after the policy start date.

Does it cover valuables?

Only up to a single-item limit, which is often low. High-value cameras, laptops and jewellery usually need separate specified-item cover.

This is general information rather than financial advice, and policy terms vary considerably by insurer and country, so read the specific wording before buying. For the wider picture, see the complete travel insurance guide.