What Does Travel Insurance Cover & How Does It Work?

Best Practice: Purchase within 14-21 days of your initial trip deposit to access maximum benefits including: pre-existing medical condition waivers, cancel for any reason (CFAR) coverage, and primary medical coverage (on select plans)

Late Purchase: Most plans can be bought up to the day before departure, though time-sensitive benefits won't be available. Learn about adding travel insurance after booking.

Travel insurance benefits activate at different times before and during travel:

• Immediate Coverage (Day After Purchase): Trip cancellation, pre-departure medical coverage, cancel for any reason (if purchased)
• Coverage During Travel: Medical emergencies, evacuation, baggage coverage, travel delays, and trip interruption

Travel insurance medical coverage is either primary or secondary coverage: 

• Primary Coverage pays first, before your standard health insurance kicks in. This means faster claims and no deductibles from your health insurance.
• Secondary Coverage pays after your regular health insurance. You'll need to file with your primary insurer first, then submit remaining costs to your travel insurance.

Most comprehensive plans offer secondary medical coverage, while premium plans often include primary medical benefits.

If you need to file a claim on your travel insurance, here's how it works: 

1. Contact Your Insurer Immediately: Policies require notification within 72 hours for cancellations or as soon as reasonably possible for other claims.
2. Document Everything: Take photos, keep receipts, get police reports for theft, obtain medical records for health claims.
3. Submit Required Documentation: Completed claim forms, original receipts and invoices.
4. Follow Up: Stay in contact and provide additional documentation if needed.
5. Receive Payment: Claims are processed within 10-30 days

• Pre-existing conditions (unless you buy early and get a waiver)
• Mental health issues like depression or anxiety (though newer plans are starting to include coverage)
• Routine medical care - vaccinations, prescription refills, elective procedures

• High-risk activities - extreme sports, professional athletics (unless specifically covered)
• Illegal activities - drug use, criminal acts, traveling against government warnings
• Reckless behavior - injuries from drinking, dangerous stunts

• Known events - hurricanes already named, ongoing wars, foreseeable political situations
• Foreseeable circumstances - if you could reasonably expect it to happen

Countries or regions might not be covered due to government travel advisories, active war zones or civil unrest, and areas without adequate medical facilities.

How much non-refundable money have you spent? Higher investments justify more comprehensive coverage.

Pre-existing conditions require early purchase for waiver eligibility. Consider higher medical limits for chronic conditions.

Remote locations or countries with expensive medical care need higher coverage limits.

Make sure your planned activities are covered or purchase additional protection.

Annual plans make sense for travelers taking 2-3+ trips per year.

Consider adding CFAR coverage to give you flexibility to cancel your trip for a specified refund amount.

• Medical Coverage: $50,000-$100,000 for domestic and $100,000-$500,000 for international travel. Pick higher limits for remote destinations or pre-existing conditions.
• Evacuation Coverage: Minimum $500,000 recommended or $1,000,000 for remote destinations
• Trip Cancellation: Should equal your total non-refundable trip cost. Consider CFAR and trip interruption add-ons.