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Policies from top rated insurersEasily compare prices and benefitsOver 100,000 5-star reviews100% safe and secure checkoutInstant confirmation of coverage via emailPrices are regulated by law. You won't find a lower price anywhere else for a specific policy found here. Plus, we only work with top rated providers and will remove their policies if their rating on our site drops below 4 out of 5 stars.
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Travel insurance is a way to financially protect against issues that may arise during a planned trip. But sometimes, it can be challenging to figure out what exactly your policy covers. And failure to fully understand the policy means you could be missing out on potential reimbursements. So, we’re here to help you sift through the noise and understand the different sections of a travel insurance policy document.
The primary reason to review travel insurance documents is to know what is and isn’t covered by the policy. And as important as it is to review documents thoroughly, it’s just as important to review them in a timely manner.
Travel insurance companies typically grant you a free look period of around ten days following purchase. That means you’re often allowed to review the documents and potentially cancel the policy for a refund if you don’t feel it covers what you wanted.
A thorough review also grants an opportunity to ask questions, clarify coverage, and ensure that it aligns with your expectations. Be sure to get in touch with your travel insurance provider if there’s any confusion or misunderstanding about what your policy documents mean.
While each travel insurance policy might use slightly different words, the following sections generally appear in some form in most policies.
The first section of most policy documents is the declaration of coverage. This critical piece of the document outlines information such as:
The benefit summary section will outline each applicable benefit, like lost baggage, trip delay, or trip cancellation, and show the per-person limits for each benefit. This information may be expressed as a percentage (ex: 100% of trip cost insured) or a dollar amount (ex: $500 per person for baggage delay).
The declaration of coverage is designed to offer a brief overview without going into explicit detail. It works closely with the definitions, provisions, coverage, and exclusions (outlined below) to form a complete picture of the maximum coverage resulting from any qualifying loss.
The general definitions section aims to define common terms to make sure the policyholder fully understands the vocabulary used throughout the policy document. For example, the list of terms may include items like “medically necessary” and “family member.”
It’s critical to understand these terms as they will be relevant if you need to submit a claim in the future.
The general provisions section further defines common terms from a legal standpoint. It may define such terms as “legal actions,” “notice of claim,” and “proof of loss.” It’s in this area of the policy document where you’ll find information about how claims will be legally handled and the parameters by which you need to abide to give your claim the best possible chance of reimbursement.
For example, general provisions may state that proof of loss must be a detailed, sworn statement filed with the company within 90 days of the loss. Understanding the timeframes and requirements of general provisions is critical to give you the best chance of having your claim covered.
The coverage section of a travel policy details each type of coverage you may be eligible for under the plan. It will break down events that are eligible for reimbursement and which expenses are deemed reasonable.
For example, a policy with missed connection coverage may view a weather delay as a covered event. And the coverage section would then outline which types of reimbursements are eligible, like additional travel expenses or nonrefundable deposits.
The coverage section is critical to review, especially if you expect the policy to cover a unique scenario around which you have concerns.
If you purchase a travel policy with medical benefits and have other health insurance, the coordination of benefits section will discuss how the policy and your existing health plan work together. It may cover:
As critical as it is to understand what’s covered by your policy, it’s equally important to know what types of things will not be covered. The policy limitations section will outline what the policy will not cover for each subset of coverage, like emergency evacuation or trip interruption. That might include things like:
Each insurance company’s policy document may be slightly different. There are typically a few sections at the end of the document that include:
While you may not necessarily need to lug a complete printout of your travel policy on vacation, it’s best to pull out some key components and keep them handy for easy reference. Be sure to write down:
If you plan to have your phone with you during travel, it may be beneficial to keep a digital copy close by. That way, you can easily reference the document if you find yourself in a situation wondering if you have coverage.
Travel insurance policies are designed to protect you from loss. But if you fail to understand what’s covered and how to file a claim, you might miss out on the benefits. Taking time to read, understand, and know how to access your policy documents means a greater likelihood of using the policy to its fullest extent.
