When buying insurance, there are many terms and definitions to comb through, and we understand it can be daunting. Here are some key travel insurance terms you might come across when looking for the best policy.
AD&D is a travel insurance benefit that provides a cash payment in the event of accidental loss of life or limb during a covered trip.
Learn more about Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) Coverage
Adventure Sports Coverage is a type of coverage that protects against injuries or losses resulting from high-risk activities that are commonly excluded from standard travel insurance plans.
AM Best’s Financial Strength is used to assess a travel insurance provider’s ability to fulfil claim obligations, helping travelers gauge the reliability of a company.
Baggage Loss is a travel insurance benefit that reimburses the cost of lost, stolen, or damaged luggage.
CFAR is an optional travel insurance upgrade that offers the most comprehensive cancellation coverage, providing partial reimbursement if you cancel your trip for a reason not otherwise covered by your policy.
A Certificate of Insurance is an official document provided by an insurer post-purchase that details the specific coverage limits, benefits, exclusions, and conditions of your travel insurance policy.
Co-insurance is the percentage of medical costs that you are responsible for after your travel insurance policy’s medical deductible is met, with your provider covering the remaining portion.
A common carrier is a licensed commercial transportation service, such as an airline or cruise line, that is licensed to transport passengers and for which travel insurance may provide specific coverage benefits.
Comprehensive travel insurance is a type of coverage that bundles multiple benefits, including coverage for cancellations, medical emergencies, and evacuations, into a single policy.
Concierge services are a travel insurance feature offered by some that can help you make dinner reservations, arrange local transportation, book golf tee times, and purchase event tickets.
Travel insurance exclusions refer to the specific expenses, activities, or scenarios that are not covered by your travel insurance policy, which can be found in your Certificate of Insurance.
Financial Default is a cancellation benefit that reimburses your prepaid trip costs if your travel supplier, such as a tour operator or airline, ceases business operations due to bankruptcy or financial insolvency.
Terrorism coverage is a cancellation benefit that reimburses your prepaid trip costs if a terrorist incident occurs at your travel destination and you’re forced to cancel or interrupt your travel plans.
Dental travel insurance is a travel medical benefit that covers emergency dental treatment costs incurred while traveling.
Emergency Assistance Services refers to the 24/7 support offered by your travel insurance provider that can assist with medical referrals, emergency evacuations, lost documents, and translation assistance.
Emergency Medical is a travel insurance benefit that reimburses the costs incurred to treat a medical emergency during a trip, such as hospital stays and doctor visits.
Flight accident coverage, commonly referred to as Flight Only AD&D, provides a cash payment in the event of accidental loss of life or limb while on board a commercial aircraft during a covered trip.
A Free Look Period is the period of time after purchasing travel insurance during which you may cancel or modify your policy without penalty.
In travel insurance, an immediate family member is typically a relative whose serious illness, injury, or death may qualify you for certain benefits, such as Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption.
Inclement weather refers to severe weather conditions, such as heavy rain, snow, and fog, that delay the arrival or departure of a common carrier.
Your insured trip costs are the sum of all your prepaid, non-refundable expenses made towards a trip, such as airfare, hotel bookings, and tour deposits.
A Look Back Period is a specific period of time before your policy purchase date during which your provider can review your medical history to identify pre-existing conditions that may impact your coverage eligibility or claim.
Medical Evacuation is a travel insurance benefit that arranges and pays for emergency transportation services, such as an air ambulance, to the closest adequate medical facility if you suffer a serious illness or injury while traveling.
Missed Connection is a travel insurance benefit that compensates for extra transportation, lodging, or meals required to catch up to your trip if a previously covered delay forces you to miss a flight, cruise, or tour departure.
Multi-Trip or Annual travel insurance is a type of travel insurance that protects you for an entire year, regardless of how many trips you take during the coverage period, eliminating the need to buy a separate policy for each trip.
A travel insurance policy’s beneficiary is an individual who receives a payout from a plan’s AD&D benefit in the event of the accidental death of the policyholder while traveling.
Your travel insurance policy’s effective date is the date your coverage goes into effect, which typically occurs the day after you purchase your plan.
A pre-existing condition waiver is an optional travel insurance provision that allows coverage for certain pre-existing medical conditions, provided specific eligibility requirements are met.
Your primary residence is the location where you live most of the time, and is used by insurers to determine coverage eligibility, repatriation logistics, and more.
Rental Car Damage is a travel insurance benefit, typically available as an add-on, that provides reimbursement for rental car damage, vandalism, or theft during a covered trip.
Single-Trip travel insurance is a type of policy that protects you for the duration of one specific trip, from departure to return.
A travel companion is someone traveling with you for all or some of your trip whose illness, injury, or covered event may make you eligible for certain travel insurance benefits.
Travel insurance benefits are the types of coverage included within a policy that determine what expenses are reimbursed for covered events.
A claim is the official process of requesting reimbursement from your travel insurance provider for a covered expense or loss that occurred during your trip.
A coverage period is the duration of time you’ll be protected by a travel insurance policy, which is determined by your travel dates and the type of coverage you purchase.
A travel insurance medical deductible is the specified dollar amount that must be paid before your insurer begins covering eligible medical costs, such as hospital stays and doctor visits.
Trip Cancellation is a travel insurance benefit included in comprehensive policies that reimburses your prepaid, non-refundable travel costs if you are forced to cancel your trip due to a covered reason.
Trip Delay is a travel insurance benefit that provides reimbursement for meals, lodging, and local transportation expenses if your trip is significantly delayed due to a covered reason.
Your trip departure date is the exact day that you leave your home to begin your insured trip and is used by insurers to determine coverage eligibility for certain benefits.
Your initial trip deposit date is the exact date you made your first payment toward your trip, and it is often used to determine your eligibility for certain travel insurance benefits.
Trip Interruption is a travel insurance benefit included in comprehensive policies that reimburses your unused travel expenses if your trip is cut short due to a covered reason.
Trip Interruption Return Air Only is a travel insurance benefit that covers the cost of airfare to get you home if you’re forced to end your trip prematurely for a reason covered by your policy.
Your trip return date is the exact day that you expect to return home at the end of your trip and is typically the day your travel insurance coverage comes to an end.
An underwriter is an insurer that is responsible for issuing the policy, setting its terms, and paying out covered travel insurance claims.
An unforeseen event is an unexpected occurrence that was not known at the time you purchased your coverage and is covered by your travel insurance policy.