As with any industry, travel insurance has a large amount of industry specific terminology and a range of products that to the majority of people can be somewhat confusing and ambiguous. As such, please find a number of frequently asked questions that relate generally to the travel insurance industry. Please check your specific details with your insurer
Policy Wording
The terms and conditions of the cover you have purchased, this will also show you the emergency telephone numbers and information on how to make a claim.
Loss adjuster
The claims handling company that will assess any claim you might have to make on a policy
Consequential loss
Losses resulting indirectly from an insured incident. An example being if your House key gets stolen, policies will generally cover the cost to replace the key, but not for the cost of replacing locks or items that might be stolen from your home as a result of the key being stolen.
Credit card travel insurance
Often credit card companies and banks offer travel insurance free with the account. It is worth checking both the sections it covers and the limits of cover offered. Often these will be a fraction of what is required to adequately cover yourself whilst on a trip. Also look out for Travel Accident insurance as this is usually not travel insurance, but rather a Personal Accident insurance for your trip. It may not cover you for medical costs of cancellation costs.
Gap year travel insurance
Also know as
Backpacker travel insurance or long stay travel insurance. Cover aimed at people going on a trip for a long duration. Usually rates are available for one month up to eighteen months in any one trip. This cover is not to be confused with Annual multi-trip travel insurance. As a number of people taking a trip for long duration may work or partake in activities whilst abroad, check that the insurance will cover you.
Annual multi-trip travel insurance
Also know as
annual holiday insurance, annual insurance and multi-trip insurance. These policies do not cover you for a twelve month trip, that is the purpose of gap year travel insurance. Instead an annual holiday insurance policy allows you to buy travel insurance once a year and travel throughout that year up to a maximum duration for each trip usually 21 or 31 day per trip with unlimited trips throughout the year.
Pre-existing medical condition
Some travel insurers will exclude any cover and thus cost associated with a pre-existing medical condition. Others will allow them to be declared and additional terms agreed dependent on severity and insurers experience. Regardless of whether you buy travel insurance on an annual holiday insurance, single trip travel insurance or gap year travel insurance basis the same situation applies. Generally speaking a pre-existing medical condition is defined as something which you have had treatment for in the last two years, any condition that you take prescribed medication for or any condition which you are awaiting tests, investigations or treatment for. Most insurers will have particular interest in heart or circulatory conditions, breathing conditions, cancer or diabetes, but you should advise the insurer of everything to be sure that you cover is not compromised. You should also tell your insurer if your health changes between buying the policy and travelling.
Repatriation
Cover applying to the costs of bringing you home in the event of a medical emergency
Curtailment
Cover applying to the cost of having to cut short your trip, usually due to a medical emergency
Hazardous activities
This is perhaps one of the broadest terms used by insurers and the exact meaning really can differ from insurer to insurer. In (very) general terms this will mean any sport or activity that requires any element of skill or involves increased risk of injury over that of a standard city break or beach holiday. Most good insurers will have cover within the premium for standard holiday activities like ball games, standard water sports, etc. If you are not sure if your chosen activity is covered be sure to ask. If you are taking part in a winter sports holiday, be sure to buy a specialist winter sports travel insurance.
Most insurers, even those that sell online travel insurance, will have an advice line. If you are in any doubt about your insurance, make sure you check with the insurer before travelling.
