Unraveling the Mysterious Terminology of Travel Insurance Explained
Let's Study Travel Insurance Terms
Navigating travel insurance can feel like deciphering a foreign language, but we're here to help! Dive into this short and sweet glossary to understand your travel insurance plan like a pro, so you can hit the road with confidence.
Travel Insurance Terms Demystified
Adventure & Extreme Sports Coverage: An optional extra covering medical and transportation expenses if you get hurt while participating in hazardous activities. This might include skydiving, bungee jumping, motocross, or free diving. Make sure to check your policy to see which sports are covered.
Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR): A flexible add-on enabling you to cancel your trip for any reason (not just the usual ones)—up to 48 hours before departure. Whether it's a last-minute change of heart or an unexpected conflict, CFAR gives you more control over your plans.
Claim: When you submit proof of a covered event (like a medical emergency or trip delay) to your insurance provider for reimbursement. Payments depend on your policy's coverage terms. Here are a few easy steps for filing a claim with us.
Emergency Care Coverage: Includes necessary medical care that requires immediate attention while traveling. This might include hospital visits, urgent care, or doctor consultations.
Emergency Evacuation: Transportation to a medical facility equipped to treat your condition if you suffer a serious injury or illness while traveling.
Emergency Medical Expenses: Covers unexpected medical costs while traveling, such as doctor visits, hospital stays, and prescription medications.
Excess vs. Primary Coverage: * Excess (Secondary) coverage: Kicks in only after any other applicable insurance (like your health or homeowners' insurance) has paid out.* Primary coverage: Pays first, meaning you don't need to file a claim with another provider before your travel insurance covers costs.
Exclusions: Conditions, events, or activities not covered by your travel insurance plan.
Lookback period: The duration an insurance provider examines your medical history to determine if a condition is pre-existing. This period typically lasts between 60 and 180 days prior to purchasing your policy.
Pet Care: Covers pet-related healthcare expenses if your pet gets sick during your trip or if you're delayed in returning home, leading to additional boarding costs. If your pet is quarantined due to illness, this coverage also applies.
Pre-existing Medical Conditions: Any diagnosed health condition that you had before purchasing travel insurance. To be covered for cancellations or interruptions due to a pre-existing condition, you usually need to:* Purchase the policy within 14 days of your first trip deposit* Be medically fit to travel when you buy the plan
Primary: The priority of payment when you file a claim. For example, if you have a travel insurance plan with primary emergency medical benefits, the travel insurance company foots the bill first for those benefits.
Rental Car Care: An optional add-on offering coverage for rental car accident and theft expenses, such as rental car collision, loss, and damage protection.
Repatriation: If you get sick or injured while traveling, your insurer facilitates your return home for treatment. Also includes handling transportation expenses if you pass away from illness or injury during your travels.
Telemedicine: A 24/7 virtual healthcare service that connects you with licensed doctors for consultations. Some providers might also offer prescription services as allowed by law. Our customers on international trips from over 75 countries can access telemedicine services via Air Doctor.
Trip Cancellation: Covers non-refundable travel costs if you need to cancel your trip due to a covered reason, such as serious illness, death of a covered person, or natural disasters like airline strikes.
Trip Delay: Covers expenses if you miss part of your trip or need to cut it short due to uncontrollable reasons, like flight delays or lost passports. This coverage helps reimburse lost prepaid expenses and unexpected travel costs to get home.
Trip Inconveniences & Snafus: Covers issues causing travel disruptions, such as flight delays, cancellations, security delays, and arriving late to your hotel.
Trip Interruption: When you need to cut your trip short or extend it unexpectedly due to unforeseen circumstances, such as an emergency at home or illness during your trip.
Urgent Care: Medical care that should not be delayed but doesn't present a life-threatening situation.
Vacation Rental Damage Protection: An optional add-on offering coverage for unintentional damage to a vacation rental during your stay, such as broken furniture or stained carpets.
Whole-trip Travel Insurance: A comprehensive insurance plan covering your entire trip, from departure to return day. Our whole-trip protection plan safeguards your trip, your health, and your belongings. You can learn more about our coverage options here.
Questions About Our Coverage?
Need more info on our coverage? Our customer support team is available 24/7, 365 days a year—even on the weekends and holidays. Chat with us through our iOS or Android app or reach us at support@ourwebsite.
Travel Tips and Insights
Looking for more travel tips and advice? Check out our blog for expert insights on travel insurance, trip planning, and safety tips for your travels. Learn more here.
- As you plan your upcoming vacation, consider adding adventure & extreme sports coverage to your travel insurance policy to protect yourself from potential medical and transportation expenses during risky activities.
- Purchasing a flexible Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) add-on allows you to cancel your trip for any reason, up to 48 hours before departure, providing more flexibility and control over your travel plans.
- Remember to file a claim with your insurance provider for reimbursement if you encounter covered events like medical emergencies, trip delays, or lost passports during your travels.
- If you experience an emergency while traveling, be aware that your travel insurance plan should cover necessary medical care, emergency evacuation, and emergency medical expenses, ensuring your wellbeing during your trip.
