Travel insurance policies vary enormously between providers, but a few categories of coverage and exclusion show up consistently enough to be worth understanding before you buy.
What's usually covered
- •Trip cancellation or interruption for a covered reason (illness, a death in the family, certain airline disruptions)
- •Emergency medical treatment abroad, and medical evacuation
- •Lost, delayed, or damaged baggage
- •Delayed flights, past a specified threshold, for reasonable incidental expenses
Preexisting conditions
Many policies exclude preexisting medical conditions entirely, unless you buy a specific waiver — usually only available if you purchase the policy within a short window (often 14–21 days) of your initial trip deposit. If you have an ongoing condition, this single detail can matter more than any other line in the policy.
Adventure and high-risk activities
Standard policies frequently exclude scuba diving past a certain depth, skiing off marked trails, motorcycle riding, and other activities classified as high-risk. If your trip includes any of these, check for an add-on rider rather than assuming you're covered by default.
Filing a claim
- •Keep every receipt, boarding pass, and airline delay notice — insurers require documentation, not just an explanation.
- •Report the issue (lost bag, missed connection) to the airline or provider immediately and get it in writing, since insurers usually require proof you reported it at the time.
- •File as soon as possible after you return; most policies have a claims deadline measured in weeks, not months.
Is it worth it?
For expensive, non-refundable, or international trips — especially ones involving countries where your home health coverage doesn't apply — the cost of a policy is usually small relative to the financial exposure it removes. For short, low-cost domestic trips, it's a more personal calculation.