Unraveling the Peculiar Terms in Travel Insurance Explanations
Getting ready for your next trip, but lost in a sea of insurance jargon? Worry not! This handy glossary demoystifies common travel insurance terms to ensure you're fully in the loop before embarking on your adventure.
Jargon buster
Adventure & extreme sports: An optional add-on covering medical and transportation expenses if you get hurt during high-risk activities like skydiving, bungee jumping, or motorcross. Check the policy for included activities.
Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR): A flexible add-on that grants you the option to cancel your trip for any reason, up to 48 hours before departure. Say so-long to inconvenient commitments!
Claim: The process of providing proof of a covered event (like a medical emergency or delayed trip) to your insurance provider for reimbursement. Payment depends on the policy's terms.
Emergency care coverage: Coverage for immediate medical attention while traveling, such as hospital visits or doctor consultations.
Emergency evacuation: Transportation to a medical facility that can address your condition in case of a severe injury or illness.
Emergency medical expenses: Coverage for unexpected medical costs while traveling, including doctor bills or medicine.
Excess vs. Primary coverage:
- Excess (Secondary) coverage: Kicks in only after your primary insurance, like health or homeowners, has paid out.
- Primary coverage: Covers costs first, so you don't need to file a claim with another provider.
Exclusions: Situations, events, or activities not covered by your travel insurance policy.
Lookback period: The time period insurance companies review your medical history to determine if a condition is pre-existing.
Pet care: Coverage for unexpected pet health expenses while traveling, including quarantine costs or kenneling fees.
Pre-existing medical conditions: Diagnosed conditions you had before buying travel insurance.
Primary: Denotes the order of payment when filing a claim, such as primary emergency medical benefits which means the travel insurance company covers expenses first.
Rental car care: Additional coverage offered for rental car-related accident and theft expenses.
Repatriation: Arrangements for transporting you home for treatment if you get sick or injured while traveling. Repatriation coverage also includes the transfer of a deceased person’s remains.
Telemedicine: A virtual healthcare service for consulting with doctors 24/7.
Trip cancellation: Coverage for lost, non-refundable travel expenses due to covered reasons like serious illness, death, or unexpected natural disasters.
Trip delay: Compensation for missed or shortened trips due to unforeseen events like flight delays or theft of travel documents.
Trip inconveniences & mishaps: Compensation for travel inconveniences like flight delays, cancellations, or arriving late to a hotel.
Trip interruption: Coverage for travelers who need to cut or extend their trip due to unforeseen circumstances like emergencies at home or illness while traveling.
Urgent care: Medical care that should be addressed promptly but isn't life-threatening.
Vacation rentaldamage protection: Add-on for coverage of unintentional damage to vacation rentals during your stay, such as broken furniture or stained carpets.
Whole-trip travel insurance: Comprehensive coverage for your entire trip, from departure to return, catering to trip, health, and property concerns.
You've now got the tools to decipher travel insurance terms like a pro! Need more insights? Our customer support team's available 24/7 to answer your questions. Dive in further by checking out our blog for expert tips on travel insurance, planning, and safety abroad. Happy travels!
- Before departing on your vacation, ensure you understand the terms of your travel insurance policy, such as Adventure & extreme sports, Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR), Claim, and Emergency care coverage.
- If you find yourself facing flight delays or travel document theft, trip delay coverage might compensate you for the missed or shortened trip.
- When planning your trip, remember to consider add-ons like rental car care, vacation rental damage protection, and pet care if you're bringing along your furry friend.
- Repatriation is essential to know about in case you get sick or injured during your travels, as it arranges for your transportation home for treatment or the return of a deceased person's remains.
