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Unraveling travel insurance technicalities: A simplified guide to the lingo

Know the conditions of your travel insurance policy before buying. Learn about common terms in our glossary to make an informed decision.

Comprehend the terminology encompassed in your travel insurance policy prior to acquisition....
Comprehend the terminology encompassed in your travel insurance policy prior to acquisition. Discover some common terms explained in our glossary.

Unraveling travel insurance technicalities: A simplified guide to the lingo

Revamped Insider's Guide to Understanding Travel Insurance Jargon

Traveling can be a thrilling adventure, but sometimes the insurance lingo can be as exciting as a roller coaster ride you didn't want to get on. No worries, we've got your back! Here's a simplified glossary to help you navigate your travel insurance plan with ease like a pro.

Deciphering Travel Insurance Terminology

Adventure & Extreme Sports: An exhilarating add-on that safeguards your wallet from unexpected medical and transportation expenses if misfortune strikes while you're living life on the edge, doing hair-raising activities such as skydiving, bungee jumping, or motocross. Always double-check your policy to ensure the adrenaline-pumping activities you love are covered.

Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR): A flexible add-on that gives you peace of mind, allowing you to cancel your trip for any reason – not just the usual ones – up to 48 hours before you take off. Whether it's a sudden change of heart or an unanticipated conflict, CFAR puts the power in your hands to steer your travel plans.

Claim: The process of handing over evidence of a covered event, like a medical emergency or trip delay, to your insurance provider in exchange for reimbursement. Approval and payment depend on the specific policy details. If you're traveling with us, learn how to file a claim with effortless steps.

Emergency care: Medical assistance that's a must-have in dire situations while traveling, such as hospital visits, urgent care, or consultations with doctors.

Emergency evacuation: Transportation to the nearest medical facility, equipped to treat your condition, if you sustain a severe injury or illness.

Emergency medical expenses: Reimbursement for unexpected medical bills while traveling, including doctor visits, hospital stays, and prescription medications.

Excess vs. Primary coverage:

  • Excess (Secondary) coverage: insurance that kicks in only after any other applicable insurance (like your health or homeowners' insurance) has paid out.
  • Primary coverage: insurance that pays first, taking the lead over other policies in covering the costs.

Exclusions: situations, events or activities that your travel insurance policy won't cover.

Lookback period: A window of time your insurance provider reviews your medical history to determine if a condition qualifies as pre-existing. This period generally ranges between 60 to 180 days before purchasing your policy.

Pet care: coverage for pet-related health expenses if your four-legged friend falls ill or is quarantined while you're away. Quarantine refers to a strict medical isolation a recognized government authority or a medical examiner may enforce if your pet is suspected of having a contagious disease, infection, or contamination.

Pre-existing medical conditions: any existing condition you had before buying travel insurance. To be covered for cancellations or interruptions due to a pre-existing condition, you typically have to:

  • Purchase your policy within 14 days of your first trip deposit
  • Be medically fit to travel when you buy your plan

Primary: the order in which your insurance provider pays your claims. For example, if you buy a travel insurance plan with primary emergency medical benefits, that means your travel insurance company will be the first to cover those benefits.

Rental car care: coverage you can add to your travel insurance policy for accident and theft protection for rental cars, including coverage for collision, loss, and damage.

Repatriation: insurance-arranged transportation back home for treatment if you fall ill or get injured while traveling. Repatriation coverage also includes handling your transportation home if you pass away from illness or injury during your trip.

Telemedicine: A virtual healthcare service that enables you to consult with licensed doctors 24/7. Some providers may also offer prescription services when legally permitted. Our policyholders on international trips from more than 75 countries have access to a telemedicine offering through Air Doctor.

Trip cancellation: coverage for reimbursing non-refundable travel costs if you need to cancel your trip due to a covered reason, such as:

  • Serious illness or injury
  • Death of a covered person
  • Unexpected natural disasters or airline strikes
  • Trip delay: when you have to curtail your trip or miss part of it due to uncontrollable reasons, including a flight delay or theft of your passport. This coverage can help reimburse you for lost prepaid expenses and unexpected travel costs to get home.
  • Trip inconveniences & snafus: when your travel plans are disrupted due to flight delays, cancellations, security delays, or arriving late to your hotel.
  • Trip interruption: when you have to cut your trip short or extend it due to unforeseen circumstances, such as an emergency at home or illness while abroad, altering your planned return date.
  • Urgent care: medical assistance that shouldn't be put off but doesn't require immediate lifesaving measures.
  • Vacation rental damage protection: an add-on to your trip that offers coverage for any accidental damage to a vacation rental (such as an Airbnb or Vrbo) during your stay, like broken furniture or stained carpets.
  • Whole-trip travel insurance: end-to-end coverage that safeguards your entire trip, from the moment you leave home until your safe return. Our whole-trip protection covers your trip, your health, and your belongings.

Need More Answers About Our Coverage?

Our dedicated customer experience team is always ready to help, 24/7, 365 days a year – even on weekends and holidays. Chat with us via the our website app on iOS or Android or reach out to us at [email protected].

Thirsty for More Travel Tips?

Check out our blog for expert advice on travel insurance, trip planning, and staying safe abroad. Read more here.

  1. While planning a vacation, it's important to ensure that your travel insurance coverage includes 'adventure & extreme sports,' as these activities can lead to unplanned medical and transportation expenses.
  2. If flexibility during trip planning is crucial for you, consider adding 'Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR)' to your travel insurance policy, allowing you to cancel your trip for any reason within 48 hours before departure.
  3. When unfortunate events such as 'flight delays' or 'passport theft' occur during travel, having a travel insurance policy with 'trip delay' coverage can help reimburse non-refundable travel costs and unexpected travel expenses to get home.
  4. To enhance the security of your vacation, consider adding 'vacation rental damage protection' to your travel insurance policy to cover any accidental damage to a rental property during your stay, like broken furniture or stained carpets.

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